Although Ryu and Ken are from two seperate countries, they are best friends. They became friends when Ken went to Japan to learn karate. Over the years, they kept in touch. Ken invites Ryu to come visit him in the United States and,in a heartbeat, Ryu accepts Ken\'s invitation and he is on a plane heading to California.

While in California, Ken and Ryu, pick a street fight with a strong Air Force officer, Guile, who in turn royally kicks their butts. Both are shocked that they lost this fight, thinking that they had mastered all there is to know about martial arts and fighting.

Now discovering that they have way more to learn, Ken and Ryu start wild adventure across the globe to discover all the forms of street fighting and martial arts. The first place they end up is Hong Kong, where they meet the beautiful Chun Li, who ends up tagging long with them, as they travel in many different countries.

So when Ken, Ryu, and Chun Li are busy learning , traveling, fighting and meeting very interesting people, the evil M. Bison is plotting to take over the world. He wants to do this using the Hadou, a mystical form of strength that comes from the soul. In order to take over the world, M. Bison has to find all the best street fighters in the world.