Capcom's been churning out PlayStation translations of its 2D arcade fighting games for a few years now. While their quality varies, Street Fighter Alpha 3 has quickly scrambled to the top of the PlayStation 2D fighting-game heap with its solid fighting-game engine and extra stuff.
Alpha Modifications
- Capcom's ready to bust some heads on the Dreamcast with Street Fighter Alpha 3, the latest brawler in the legendary fighting game series. The game features the biggest lineup of Street Fighter characters to ever hit home as 31 combatants join the fray, from Ken and Ryu to.
- Street Fighter Alpha 3 is a 2D competitive fighting game originally released by Capcom for the arcades in 1998. It is the third game in the Street Fighter Alpha sub-series, which serves as a prequel to Street Fighter II, and ran on the same CP System II hardware as previous Alpha games. The game was produced after the Street Fighter III sub-series has started, being released after 2nd Impact, but before 3rd Strike. Alpha 3 further expanded the playable fighter roster from Street Fighter Alpha 2.
Street Fighter Alpha 3, known as Street Fighter Zero 3 (ストリートファイターZERO 3) in Japan and Asia, is a 1998 fighting game by Capcom originally released for the CPS II arcade hardware.
As a straight arcade port. Alpha 3 does the job with strong visuals, excellent sound, near-perfect controls, and a tried-and-true fighting formula. One key difference between Alpha 3 and its predecessors is that in Alpha 3, each character can choose from one of three fighting styles before each fight begins. Within each fighting style, you can execute certain moves, and you also gain other strategic advantages. Other notable modifications to Alpha 3 include air recoveries and a Guard Meter, which limits how much you can block.
Excellent Extras
Alpha 3 truly excels with its plethora of extra play-modes. The most noteworthy are the World Tour mode, in which you travel the globe and gain new abilities with each defeated foe, and the Dramatic Batde mode, in which you share the screen with a buddy for a two-on-one gang-up-against-your-computer-opponent fest In addition, 31 fighters fill the regular lineup--the most fighters of any game in the SF series, Alpha or otherwise--including three PlayStation-exclusive battlers: Fei Long, T Hawk, and Dee Jay.
The home version of Alpha 3 faithfully translates the majority of the arcade version's key elements. The graphics retain most of the sprite frames from its arcade big brother with only a few minuscule visual W trims. And even when the screen becomes crammed with splashy super and special moves, the graphics never crap out into a choppy mess.
Sonically, all the smacks and yelps are clearly audible. The only ear-sore is the game-show announcer, who spouts such teeth-grinding phrases as 'Beat 'em up, guy!' and 'Triumph or die!' Fortunately, the powerful music perfectly suits every fight and keeps the action going.
Third Time's a Charm
Longtime Alpha and Street Fighter fens will find Alpha 3 a welcome addition to their gaming libraries. Unlike the dismal Street Fighter III, this Alpha makes counting to 'three' a pleasure.
ProTips:
- In World Tour mode, replay completed stages to build up your experience points and ultimately gain new fighting abilities.
- In a Dramatic Battle game, flank your opponent and use crouching Jab Punches.
Graphics
All the characters sport excellent details, and the screen fills with splashy effects. However, some fighters' pre-fight and victory poses from the arcade version have been inexplicably removed.
Street Fighter Alpha 3 Rom
Sound
Street Fighter Alpha 3 sounds identical to the arcade version--warts and all. The music and sound effects are excellent, but the announcers stupid, glib phrases are annoying and distracting.
Play Street Fighter Alpha Online
Control
Alpha 3s various special moves are a breeze to execute, but some of the super moves (like Chun-Lis Super Spinning-Kick) are stiff and not as responsive as they should be.
Fun Factor
Street Fighter Alpha 3 on the PlayStation delivers all the fun and intense fighting of the arcade version, but the game's extras make it more than just a run-of-the-mill arcade port.
Street Fighter Alpha 3 Psp Fighting Games
Overall rating: 9