Working out a Story Mode

According to the story as we've been told it, Akira definitely isn't the main character. He's just a really strong guy who wants to get stronger. He does well in the tournaments (1 win and runner up twice), but isn't actually involved in the games story much outside of that. The anime is different of course.

 

No it's the exact opposite. In those games Ryu is a main targtet of the Primary antagonist. Bison/Vega/Dictator/whatever you call him wanted Ryu for his huge fighting potential.

Ryu is also a target for Akuma/Gouki because of this potential. Sagat wants to fight Ryu again and is even prepared to work with Dictator to get the chance to do so. Ken is Ryus primary Rival and has been so for a long time. Ken's wife is the sister of Guile wife. Guile wants revenge on Dictator....

Ryu is pretty central in all that.


Akira on the other hand never actually gets a mention of being a J6 Target. They abducted and brainwashed Sarah, took Kage's mother and turned her into an experimental cybernetic soldier and generally mess with Jacky. They later Kidnap Vanessa, apparently have Shuns student and have some link to Lions family.

Where is the link to Akira? He's just some strong dude who turned up at the first tournament, which he didn't win. He then trains up and finally wins the 2nd one. In the 3rd he loses to Kage who is fighting to save his mother. He doesn't make it to the final of the 4th tournament which was Kage fighting for something to save his mother and Shun fighting to find his student.

Akira's story and Ryu's are nothing alike, other than that they both desire to be strong. The main character in VF would be either Kage or Jacky. If i was choosing a poster boy i'd make it Jacky.