​Most gamers can name the original eight of the progenitor of all competitive fighting games, Street Fighter II.

They were Ryu, Ken, Guile, Chun Li, Zangief, Dhalsim, E. Honda and Blanka. Of those characters, six have made it back for SF's latest iteration, Street Fighter V.

Honda and Blanka, however, are missing. While the answer is a bit more obvious with Honda --- he was the least popular and memorable of the bunch -- things aren't so clear cut with Blanka.

The Brazilian beast is routinely cited as a favorite, particularly from those who are more on the casual side. Arcade and online servers alike were flooded with players who loved to mash out his signature electricity attack and frustrate opponents with his vicious Blanka Ball.

So what gives? Will he ever make make the roster? The answer is most likely yes, but that may not be in the best interest of SFV.

Blanka's play style of hit, run, and trickery is hit or miss. In some games, it worked well enough to make Blanka a serious contender on the competitive scene. In others, it made him a low tier nuisance at best.

SFV is not a game that leaves room for a lot of trickery. It's a straightforward and high damage game that comes down to quick decisions and constant offensive pressure. That's never been Blanka's game.

I don't think the true essence of what made people love (and hate) the character can be replicated in a system so restrictive, so perhaps this is something Capcom has taken into consideration with his absence.