Street Fighter II/Secrets

SNES

 * To allow the selection of the same character by both players, enter      at the Capcom logo.
 * Hold while the world map is on the screen before a match begins in order to change your controller configuration.

Sega Genesis

 * To activate Turbo speed within Champion Mode, wait for the Capcom logo to fade, and for the Street Fighter logo to appear on top of the building, then enter        (or         on a 3 button controller).
 * To disable punches and kicks and only allow special moves during a battle, when the Capcom logo is on the screen, enter        (or         on a 3 button controller).
 * To choose the same character twice in Group Mode, enter the mode selection screen and on the second controller, enter        (or         on a 3 button controller).
 * Select a character with to receive alternate colors.
 * Hold while the world map is on the screen before a match begins in order to change your controller configuration.

SNES

 * To enable higher Turbo speeds beyond the default, enter      on controller 2 at the Capcom logo.
 * To disable the performance of special moves, enter      after the "Licensed by Nintendo" logo fades.
 * To toggle the special moves of a character on or off during a Vs. Battle match, enter      on controller 2 on the Stage Select screen.
 * All of the above codes require an additional  in order for them to work on the Japanese version of the game.

All versions

 * To select alternate outfit colors, press and hold any button while selecting a character.

SNES

 * Hold while the world map is on the screen before a match begins in order to change your controller configuration.
 * To use up to 8 of each fighter in Group Battle instead only two, enter Group Battle mode. Then, using the second controller, alternately and repeatedly tap and  until Vega laughs. Choose Match Play or Elimination from the menu. Each player may now use up to eight instances of each fighter.

Sega Genesis

 * To use up to 8 of each fighter in Group Battle instead only two, enter Group Battle mode. Then, using the second controller, enter       . Choose Match Play or Elimination from the menu. Each player may now use up to eight instances of each fighter.

All versions
Selecting Akuma

On the character select screen, leave the cursor on Ryu or Ken for 3 seconds, then move to T. Hawk, Guile, Cammy, and back to Ryu or Ken, pausing on each one for 3 seconds. Finally, press PPP + Start. If it doesn't work, quickly tap PPP + Start again. (The highlighted letters are supposedly meant to spell out Akuma, but this is just a theory.)

On most home conversions of the game, you simply need to highlight Ryu and press and hold the left and right shoulder buttons to select Akuma.

Fight against Akuma

Also known as Shin-Akuma (or the true Akuma), the computer controlled Akuma is much stronger and faster than the player controlled variety. He has the ability to throw not one, but two air fireballs back to back. In order to face him, you must play the game and lose no more than three rounds by the time you face M. Bison. You must get at least three perfects against your opponents and you may not continue your game if you lose. If you succeed, Akuma will appear just as the fight is about to begin and kill M. Bison before challenging you.

Play as the SSF2 version of a character

When selecting a character to play with in SSF2T, you can opt for the SSF2 version of that character instead of the Turbo version. This mean of course that you will not have the benefit of a Super Meter. In many cases, this is made up for by the fact that characters were generally toned down in order to make the Super Meter a more important aspect of game play. To select the SSF2 version, select a character press and hold the button, and then enter the following your selection's series of joystick directions to activate the SSF2 version: ''Alternatively, if you're having trouble entering these directions in precisely, you can attempt to wiggle the joystick in the two directions that your character requires. This usually works as well.
 * Balrog:
 * Blanka:
 * Cammy:
 * Chun Li:
 * Dee Jay:
 * Dhalsim:
 * E. Honda:
 * Fei Long:
 * Guile:
 * Ken:
 * M. Bison:
 * Ryu:
 * Sagat:
 * T. Hawk:
 * Vega:
 * Zangief:

For Consoles, typically you need only hold the right shoulder button when selecting your character in order to activate the SSF2 style.