The story of the Street Fighter franchise has mostly focused on martial artists Ryu and his rival Ken as they face the evils posed by villains such as M. Bison and his Shadaloo organization, as well as the heartless fighter Akuma. Other characters in the series have their own highly developed stories, however, and many of them are just as complex and developed. One example is the bare-knuckle brawler Cody, from the game franchise, Final Fight.

The hero of the Final Fight series, Cody took a criminal turn for the worst before finally turning the beat back and running Metro City with a firm yet just hand. This path has made him one of the most developed fighters in all of Street Fighter, and these changes have all brought their fair share of new costumes as well. Here's how Cody got his start back in 1989 and what he's done ever since he cast his first bad stone.

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Who Is Final Fight's Cody Travers?

Cody first appeared in the beat 'em up classic, Final Fight, which quickly munched young gamers' quarters back in 1989. It was originally planned to be a fighting game as well as the first sequel to the original Street Fighter, having the production title of Street Fighter '89. However, following the popularity of Double Dragon, the concept was changed into a new game that would be a beat 'em up instead of a fighting game.

Cody was the main hero of the Final Fight trio, fighting alongside his friend Guy and professional wrestler turned mayor Mike Haggar. Fighting to take their home of Metro City back from the clutches of the villainous Mad Gear Gang, the three also hoped to recover the kidnapped Jessica, Cody's girlfriend and Haggar's daughter. It's worth noting that Cody was based off of the character Tom Cody from the movie Streets of Fire, with many other concepts from Final Fight taking inspiration from the film.

Despite the game's success, Cody wouldn't have a major role in a game again for quite a while. He didn't take part in the story or as a playable character in the second or third Final Fight, with the canon explanation being that he was spending time with Jessica. Over the next few years, he would have a few cameos here and there, namely in Guy's Metro City stage in Street Fighter Alpha 2. His official return and first true role in the Street Fighter series would bring him back under much different circumstances, however.

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Why Was Final Fight's Cody In Prison (And How Did He Get Out)?

After the events of the original Final Fight, Cody and Jessica broke up, with the former going down a particularly dark path. One explanation for his incarceration is that Cody became addicted to fighting and started tussling in the street with anyone who came his way. This penchant for unnecessary violence saw him thrown in jail, which is where his story resumes in Street Fighter Alpha 3.

Cody would eventually break out of prison during a riot, briefly rejoining his friend Guy and the rest of the World Warriors to fight the machinations of M. Bison. Many fans believe that Cody was originally going to instead be Joe, a character from the original Street Fighter. This concept would be referenced in promotional art in later games. The year after Street Fighter Alpha 3 saw the release of Final Fight Revenge, which itself was also a fighting game. Seemingly set before Alpha 3, Cody would be arrested in the game's conclusion after being framed for crimes committed by Mad Gear crook, Poison. He would stay in prison for quite a while as shown in Final Fight: Streetwise, where this time, he took the blame for something that Guy did. This game is generally considered non-canon, especially since it features an aged Cody whose status quo contradicts Street Fighter V.

Cody would fight in the streets once more in his prison uniform in Super Street Fighter IV, wherein he escapes from jail simply because he's bored. This matches up with his being able to easily remove his handcuffs, showing that no jail is too much for the Metro City brawler.

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What Happened To Street Fighter's Cody After Prison?

Cody would make a much more triumphant return in DLC for Street Fighter V, where he's finally put the prison stripes far behind him. Having been exonerated of his former crimes by Mike Haggar, Cody now takes his place as the mayor of Metro City. Fighting his rivals in a fine suit, he relishes both his continued taste for violence as well as his new bureaucratic role. Though he doesn't have any place in the game's story, he is seen in a far different light than when he got his start in 1989.

The Street Fighter games are known for keeping characters in a fairly similar place throughout, unlike franchises like TekkenThe King of Fighters and the Mortal Kombat series, where rosters, moves and everything else about the cast will change with each game. Thus, it's ironic that Cody, a hero from an entirely different Capcom franchise, would be the one to actually change from game to game, and for the better no less.

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