Chun-Li - Reception

Reception

Chun-Li has become widely regarded as one of the most popular characters in the series. She was voted number one in Capcom's own 2002 poll of top 85 characters for the 15th anniversary of Street Fighter. She was ranked third in IGN's 2009 list of top Street Fighter characters, noting that while sexism is factored into her initial design, she has "come a long way over the years. She's by far the most popular female fighting game character out there, and if you try to start naming off better-known women in videogaming period, you're going to wind up with a pretty short list." GameDaily ranked her as number one on their 2009 list of top Street Fighter characters of all time, praising her character evolution and for balanced gameplay. The same site ranked her as second in their 2008 list of top Capcom characters of all time and as the favorite character from the Street Fighter series. UGO Networks ranked her as third on their 2010 list of top Street Fighter characters, adding that as the first female fighting game character, Chun-Li "was one of few female characters in the early 90s not cast in a role of damsel in distress, but instead showed that female characters could fight just as same as their male counterparts." She is also a popular subject of cosplay. Her return in Street Fighter III: Third Strike has been called as the main and best addition to the game IGN and GamePro. Nevertheless, she has been noted to be one of the most overpowered characters from the game alongside Ken and Yun.

Chun-Li is also often appearing in the top list type articles for the fighting game genre, all video games, and in even fiction in general. She was awarded the title of the "Hottest Babe of 1992" by Electronic Gaming Monthly, tying with Blaze from Streets of Rage. Chun-Li's cameo in the role-playing game Breath of Fire was included in Expert Gamer's 1998 list of the 50 greatest video game secrets. Spike featured her in their 2008's contest "Top 10 Video Game Vixens" at number four, citing a preference for her muscular thighs. In Game Informer's 2009 list of top ten best fighting game characters Chun-Li was seventh. UGO placed her as ninth on their list of top "videogame hotties", stating "Chun-Li's female presence and early dominance of the fighting game genre propelled her into the minds of many early fanboys." In addition, UGO ranked her as number one on their 2011 list of fighting games' finest female fighters, stating "For the record: There's nothing wrong with Chun-Li's thighs, and they are definitely not 'too big'," also including her in their list of "hottest fictional women of 2012". In 2009, she was included in Manolith's list of the 25 "hottest" video game female protagonists, with a comment that "Chun Li is possibly the most absolutely loved and best remembered of all characters from the fighting game that birthed all other fighting games." In 2010, CraveOnline listed her as one of top ten "hottest girls in gaming", stating "For millions of early-generation gamers, Capcom's arcade release of Street Fighter II was the very first real taste of a video-game crush." Similarly, Videogamer.com included her in the 2010 list of top ten "video game crushes", noting that gamers have loved her since 1992. Mania Entertainment put her second in 2010s list of "video game women that kick ass". In 2011, Complex ranked her naked appearance in Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie as seventh on the list of the "hottest cartoon women" of all time. In 2012, Complex ranked her as the ninth "most dominant" fighting game character, adding that "Chun-Li and her infamous thighs are instantly recognizable." Complex also pitted her against Mai Shiranui in the "battle of the beauties" feature, commenting "Breasts or legs? (...) Personally, we'll take 'em both." In 2012, Complex ranked her as the second best Asian character in video games, commenting, "Easily one of the most recognizable characters in video games as a whole, Chun Li seems to pop up in every list you can think of." That same year, GamesRadar ranked this "first lady of fighters (as in, literally the first one ever)" as the 85th "most memorable, influential, and badass" protagonist in games, calling her "as one of the most recognizable heroines in gaming" praising her for "her combat prowess and positive attitude" and also for "her muscular thunder thighs."