Akira ‘Nin-Nin’ Nishitani is a legendary figure in the Fighting Game Community, renowned for his pivotal role in developing Street Fighter 2 and the Street Fighter EX series. After leaving Capcom in 1995, he founded Arika, the team behind Fighting EX Layer.

Nishitani’s insights from a 1991 interview reveal the innovative mindset that propelled the creation of Street Fighter 2, despite limitations in CPU speed and memory. Rather than succumbing to these challenges, the team focused on harnessing creativity. Nishitani emphasized, “If someone thinks of a good idea, let’s do whatever we can to try and make it work.” This proactive approach led to groundbreaking features that still influence fighting games today.

While acknowledging the immense pressure this mindset created for his team, Nishitani expressed a desire to carry this optimistic spirit into his future projects. His journey remains a testament to the power of creativity and determination in shaping the fighting game landscape.