Stages: Dhalsim

Note: the title should be read as a parody of David Bowie's "Changes" (i.e Staaa aages)

I imagine the conversation in Capcom's offices circa 1988 went something like this:

Capcom Exec -Hey we need an eccentric character for that world champions fighting sequel
Capcom Creative-Ooh I know, how about someone from India? those people are crazy what with their funny hats and recent wars with Pakistan and China...
Capcom Exec -Good idea but how are we going to animate the character's stage?
Capcom Creative -Elephants. Dont they worship a crazy elephant with six arms? well lets just get lots of elephants!

Maybe it wasn't that simple but it certainly feels like it. Dhalsim truly is the eccentric, voodoo, mystery character who can get away with doing supernatural things in an otherwise non-supernatural game. So he can extend his arms and legs, so he can breathe fire, its because he's into that kooky religion! there's your explanation.

His stage suffers from much the same oversimplification and overdependence on the whole ascerbic Hindi thing. Ganesh is there not because he's the Hindu god, nor because it has any special significance for Dhalsim's abilities but rather because he's a recognizable symbol of the religion. Probably the most recognizable symbol, in fact.

Besides the big Ganesh in the middle there's not much else to look at. It's a sort of palace, there are other elephants because that's what you would expect. What else is going to be included? they weren't going to make any political statements so no Gandhi, no nuclear weapons, no mention of the wars with Pakistan or China. But none of this is necessary because this is not an educational game, it was not intended for IR majors, it was certainly not intended for people in India either.

Not that any of this is all bad, with technological and global limitations this was the best they could do. At least they maintained the elephant gimmick in subsequent games, even as they added more elements and beefed up the character.