Balrog, known as M. Bison (マイク・バイソン Maiku Baison) in Japan, is a video game character from the Street Fighter series, first appearing as a non-playable boss in Street Fighter II before becoming playable in its update, Street Fighter II: Champion Edition. He is a greedy American boxer and personal bodyguard to M. Bison.
He is voiced by Paul Dobson.
Personality[]
Balrog is generally self-centered, hot-tempered, arrogant and sadistic. He is a belligerent pugilist who possesses an insatiable urge for money and a vicious, bullying mean streak, often refusing to take responsibility for his actions. Despite being a once great prize boxer, Balrog has intentionally cheated in his fights whenever he felt like it, and has even killed one of his opponents (though by accident).
Balrog is also shown to be somewhat unintelligent; when M. Bison was believed to be dead after the events of Street Fighter Alpha 3, the role of leader of the organization fell to him, and it collapsed immediately (obviously due to his poor intelligence and complete lack of management skills), which forced him to work security at casinos and other places just to get by. Much of this is said to be attributed to his unruly and delinquent youth, as his pursuit for strength and dominance in the mean streets of his home city saw him deliberately drop out of school in his later years.
His motivations for joining Shadaloo and M. Bison throughout the Street Fighter series have always been to attain massive wealth, fame and glory so he can be on easy street for life. As such, though Balrog would cheat, steal or even kill to this end, he is not evil so much as he is greedy, and takes little substantial interest in Shadaloo affairs otherwise; he also relates to characters with similar motivations (e.g. C. Viper).
The only depiction of empathy and humanity in him is his relationship with Ed, showing that deep down, he is capable of proper relationships, empathy and even fellowship. Even after their fight and the latter leaving, he is shown to care genuinely.
The Great Summer Season Trek[]
He is recruited again by Bison who decided to join Vilgax for his own personal gain. He works for his alien master to be paid and tags along with Vega and Bison against Cap Knuckles, but he is defeated by him, Flapjack and Nigel Uno. Balrog decides to get even with some help from Dolpliss. Of course this fails, and he unfortunately is the first villain to die as Reaver shoots him for messing his statue.
Relationship[]
M. Bison[]
Vega[]
F.A.N.G.[]
Ed[]
Gallery[]
