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Street Fighter III
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is a fighting game released for the arcades. Produced for the CD-ROM-based CPS III hardware, which allowed for more elaborate 2D graphics than the CPS II-based Street Fighter Alpha games (the previous incarnation of the Street Fighter), while revamping many of the recurring gameplay features. The game, which was designed as a direct sequel to the Street Fighter II series, discarded all the original characters (with the exception of Street Fighter mainstays Ryu and Ken) with an all new character roster led by Alex (hence the "New Generation" subtitle).
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is a fighting game released for the arcades. Produced for the CD-ROM-based CPS III hardware, which allowed for more elaborate 2D graphics than the CPS II-based Street Fighter Alpha games (the previous incarnation of the Street Fighter), while revamping many of the recurring gameplay features. The game, which was designed as a direct sequel to the Street Fighter II series, discarded all the original characters (with the exception of Street Fighter mainstays Ryu and Ken) with an all new character roster led by Alex (hence the "New Generation" subtitle). Likewise, a new antagonist named Gill took over M. Bisons role from the previous games as the new boss character.
Street Fighter III was followed by an updated version released during the same year titled , which introduced a few new features and characters. A third version, titled , was released for the arcades in .
Gameplay
Street Fighter III
Released on February , the original Street Fighter III features ten unique selectable characters (not counting Yun and Yang separately) and a non-selectable computer-controlled character as the games final opponent. In the single-player mode, the player will face seven computer-controlled opponents, including Gill.
The gameplay of the original Street Fighter III is based on Super Street Fighter II Turbo, but with several new abilities and features introduced. Players can now dash or retreat like in the Darkstalkers series, perform high jumps and do a quick standing after falling from an attack. The game also introduced "leap attacks", which are small jumping attacks used against crouching opponents. However, the player cannot block in the air like in the Street Fighter Alpha series.
The main new feature introduced in Street Fighter III is the inclusion of Super Arts. A Super Art in Street Fighter III is a powerful special move similar to a Super Combo in Super Turbo and the Alpha games. After selecting a character, the player will be prompted to select from one of three character-specific Super Arts to use in battle. Like the Super Combo gauge in the previous game, the player has a Super Art gauge which will fill out as the player performs regular and special moves against an opponent. The player can only perform a Super Art once the gauge is filled. Depending on the Super Art chosen by the player, the length of the Super Art gauge will vary, as well as the amount of filled Super Art gauges the player can stock up.
The other new feature is the ability to "parry" an opponents attack. Parrying, or "blocking" which is the term used in the Japanese version, is the ability to evade an incoming attack without receiving damage. At the exact moment an opponent's attack is about to hit his or her character, the player can move the controller toward or down to Parry the attack without receiving damage, leaving the opponent vulnerable for a counterattack. Additionally, this also allows the player to defend against Special Moves and even Super Arts without sustaining damage, which is what happens when a player blocks a Special Move with the regular defensive stance. However, parrying an attack requires precise timing.
Also, as this and the next two Street Fighter III games run on the CPS III engine, more elaborate 2D sprites were created. Among the elaborated sprites include multiple hit stun sprites, including a new "turned-around state," in which a character is turned around (his or her back faces the opponent) after being hit. Only certain attacks can put characters in a turned-around state, and grabs and throws can now be comboed, as it typically takes longer for an attacked character to recover from this new type of hit stun.
Street Fighter III 2nd Impact
Released on October , the second installment of Street Fighter III brought back all the characters from the first game and introduced two new ones: Hugo and Urien. Yang, who was an alternate version of Yun in the first game, became his own character with his own set of Special Moves and Super Arts. Series' recurring hidden character Akuma also returned as a secret computer-controlled challenger and selectable character. Thus the playable character roster increased to 14. In addition to the regular Akuma, a non-playable computer-controlled version named "Shin Akuma" also appears in the single-player mode.
2nd Impact introduces a few new features to the Street Fighter III series. In addition to a Super Art, the player can also perform slightly more powerful versions of his or her Special Moves called EX Specials. By using a certain portion of the Super Art gauge (usually after the filled portion begins to flash), the player can power-up certain Special Moves when performing the command by pressing two attack buttons instead of just one. Similar type of special move was featured in Night Warriors (ES Specials), as well as in the home version of Street Fighter: The Movie (Super Special Moves). Other new abilities added to the game are "grapple defense", the ability to escape from a throwing attack, and "personal action", a character-specific taunt. Each character's personal action is also accompanied by an additional benefit if completed successfully; for example, Ryu's lowers his stun gauge. If a second-player interrupts the gameplay to challenge the other player, then the first player will be allowed to change the Super Art of his or her selected character.
The single player mode was changed slightly from the first game. The player faces against series of eight opponents, including a character-specific final opponent, who will exchange dialogue with the players character before the match. If certain requirements are met, then the player will also face a rival character during the course of the single player mode and exchange dialogue before a match. If certain other requirements are met, the player will also face against the CPU-controlled Akuma instead of the characters usual final opponent in the single-player mode and depending on the players performance in his or her fight against Akuma, then a match against a more powerful version of Akuma known as Shin Akuma will also take place. 2nd Impact brings back the concept bonus rounds, which was last seen in Super Street Fighter II. At the end of the third CPU match, then the player will participate in a minigame dubbed "Parry the Ball", in which the player can practice his or her parrying skills against a series of basketballs thrown towards the player by Sean.
Street Fighter III 3rd Strike
Released on May , the third and final installment of the Street Fighter III brought back the classic Street Fighter II character Chun-Li, along with four new characters, and Gill could be unlocked as a playable character extending the selectable roster to 20 characters (with Akuma now a regular character). All of the returning characters from the previous Street Fighter III games were given new stages, endings and even voice actors, continuing the overall storyline from where the first two games left off.
The commands for Air Parries, Throws/Holds and Leap Attacks were changed from 2nd Impact. Additionally, the player can perform a "Guard Parry" or a Parry during a Guard Stun if the timing is right. A "Guard Parry" is also known as a "Red Parry" due to the fact that the character turns red when performing it. The game also introduces a grade-based "Judgement System", in which the winning player in a single or two-player match is graded after the match based on Offense, Defense, Techniques and Extra Points. Special Points are also awarded after fulfilling special requirements.
The single player mode consists of ten regular opponents, which includes a character-specific rival as the penultimate opponent and Gill as the final boss for all the characters. Despite his status as a regularly selectable character, the CPU version of Q can only be fought in the single-player mode as a secret challenger. The "Parry the Ball" minigame from 2nd Impact returns as well as a new version of the "Crush the Car" minigame from Street Fighter II.
Characters
Introduced in the original
- Alex - The lead character of the Street Fighter III games. He fights with close-range wrestling and quick rushing attacks. His goal is to avenge the defeat of his friend Tom at the hands of Gill. Voiced by Michael Sommers in New Generation and 2nd Impact, and Patrick Gallagan in 3rd Strike.
- Dudley - A dandy British boxer who is trying to retrieve an antique car that Gill has stolen. Voiced by Bruce Robertson in New Generation and 2nd Impact, and by Francis Diakowsky in 3rd Strike.
- Elena - An African princess from Nairobi who uses the fighting style of capoeira. She seeks to make new friends. All of her attacks are kicks, even the punch button attacks. Voiced by Hotaru Fujino in New Generation and 2nd Impact, and Mie Midori in 3rd Strike.
- Ibuki - An aspiring ninja whose fight in the tournament is part of her final exam. She is very quick and agile. Voiced by Yuri Amano in all three games.
- Ken - Knowing that Ryu has entered the tournament, Ken enters to test his strength against his old friend. Voiced by Koji Tobe in New Generation and 2nd Impact, and Yuji Kishi in 3rd Strike
- Necro — A Russian man who was kidnapped and experimented on in the Illuminati's "G-Project". In 2nd Impact, he finds a companion named Effie who follows him and mimicks his actions. Voiced by Michael X. Sommers in New Generation and 2nd Impact, and by Lawrence Bayne in 3rd Strike.
- Oro — A hermit who seeks a fighter worthy to inherit his fighting style. He binds one arm while fighting, to keep from accidentally killing his opponent (except when performing specific special arts). Voiced by Kan Tokumaru in New Generation and 2nd Impact, and by Takashi Matsuyama in 3rd Strike.
- Ryu - As usual, Ryu enters the tournament to better his skills and find worthy opponents. Voiced by Wataru Takagi in New Generation and 2nd Impact, and by Toru Okawa in 3rd Strike.
- Sean Matsuda - A young Brazilian fighter who is being trained by Ken, Sean wants to improve his skills and prove his ability. Voice by Isshin Chiba in New Generation and 2nd Impact, and Mitsuo Iwata in 3rd Strike. Though his moves are limited, he is considered to be strong for close-range moves and often separates himself from Dan, the joke character of the Street Fighter series.
- Yang - Yang is a Kung Fu expert from Hong Kong, and the twin brother of Yun. In New Generation, Yang is selectable only as a "palette swap" of his brother Yun. In 2nd Impact and 3rd Strike, Yang is a separate character, with his own unique set of Special Moves and Super Arts. Voiced by Wataru Takagi in New Generation and 2nd Impact, and by Kentaro Ito in 3rd Strike.
- Yun - A cocky fighter who, along with Yang, protects his hometown in Hong Kong. He's a happy-go-lucky person who likes to do things his own way. Voiced by Koji Tobe in New Generation and 2nd Impact, and by Masakazu Suzuki in 3rd Strike.
- Gill - The leader of the secret organization known as the Illuminati, he wants to restore balance to the world. He can manipulate fire and ice. He is the final opponent for all the characters in New Generation and 3rd Strike, and for most of the characters in 2nd Impact. He is a playable character only in the console versions of the games. Voiced by Bruce Robertson in New Generation and 2nd Impact, and Lawrence Bayne in 3rd Strike.
Introduced in 2nd Impact
- Akuma (Gouki in Japan) - Appears in 2nd Impact as a secret character and has a non-playable "Shin Akuma" version which can be selected in the Dreamcast version of the game in Double Impact. He is a regular character in 3rd Strike while his "Shin" version was removed, though in the arcade game this version is present as a near-complete character, including a recolored stage. Voiced by Tomomichi Nishimura in 2nd Impact and 3rd Strike.
- Hugo - A professional wrestler who wants to find a strong tag team partner. He is often accompanied by his manager, Poison. Based on the Andore enemy character from Final Fight, also a direct nod to professional wrestler André the Giant. Hugo was planned to be in the first game, as evidenced by his mobile character with unfinished sprites, and the presence of his stage in New Generation. Voiced by Wataru Takagi in 2nd Impact and Len Carlson in 3rd Strike.
- Urien - Gill's younger, bitter brother who wants to forcibly take the Illuminati from him. He can manipulate electricity and metal. Voiced by Yuji Ueda in 2nd Impact and Lawrence Bayne in 3rd Strike.
Introduced in 3rd Strike
- Chun-Li - She is looking for a young orphan under her care who was kidnapped under mysterious circumstances. Voiced by Atsuko Tanaka.
- Makoto — A young Japanese girl, trained in Rindoukan karate. Since her father's death, Makoto's dojo has been floundering, so she finds Ryu and challenges him to restore her dojo to a flourishing state. Her fighting style is suggestive of a more traditional style of karate. Voiced by Makoto Tsumura.
- Q — A mysterious figure, with a featureless facemask and a concealing overcoat. While he can be chosen as a playable character, he is a hidden computer-controlled opponent in the single-player mode. His design is based on K, the main character of the tokusatsu show, Robot Detective K. Voiced by Len Carlson.
- Remy — A long-haired fighter wearing a leather jacket emblazoned with an omega. He bears a grudge against all fighters since his father disappeared and his sister died. His special moves are similar to those used by preceding Street Fighter characters Guile and Charlie as they are mostly charge based specials. Voiced by Eiji Sekiguchi.
- Twelve - One of the first successful soldiers of the Illuminati's "G-Project" experiment, and can shape his body into weapons. Twelve is ordered to hunt down and kill his prototype, Necro, as his first mission. Voiced by Lawrence Bayne.
Home versions
- In , Capcom released Street Fighter III: Double Impact (Street Fighter III: W Impact in Japan) for the Dreamcast, a compilation containing the original game and 2nd Impact. The compilation features an Arcade, Versus, Training and Option Mode for both games, as well as a "Parry Attack Mode" in 2nd Impact, where the player gets to test his or her parrying skills in the games bonus round. This compilation also allows players to use Gill (in both games) and Shin Akuma (in 2nd Impact only), who were exclusively computer-controlled characters in the arcade version.
- In , a Dreamcast version of Street Fighter III 3rd Strike was also released. Like Double Impact, this port features an Arcade, Versus, Training (with normal and parry training) and Options modes, as well as a "System Direction" mode which allows the player to adjust several of the games features. Like in Double Impact, Gill can be selected by the player, but only after fulfilling certain requirements.
- A PlayStation 2 version of 3rd Strike was released in , with all the features from the Dreamcast, including a choice between arcade and Dreamcast versions respective soundtracks. It was released in Japan as a stand-alone game, with a limited edition package containing an All About Street Fighter history book, a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle and a strategy DVD. The PS2 version was released in North America as part of the Street Fighter Anniversary Collection, a two-in-one bundle that also includes Hyper Street Fighter II. The PS2 version was not released in the PAL region. The PS2 version was re-released in Japan on September 18, 2008 in a two in one bundle with Capcom vs. SNK 2.
- An Xbox version of the Street Fighter Anniversary Collection was also released during the year in all three regions. The Xbox version of 3rd Strike includes all the features from the PS2 version, as well as an online Versus Mode.
Sources
External links
Official sites
General resources***
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