The father of fighting games is back with a bunch of newcomers.
Let's start by explaining that there are three different Street Fighter 3 games, similar to what happened back when Street Fighter 2 was the latest game. These new versions add new characters and even change stages and some characters get new stories and endings. More importantly they try to make the game more balanced and more playable. Depending on who you ask you will get varied answers on what version is the most balanced. This is my take on the latest version of SF3.
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The game has a total of nineteen characters to choose from, mostly newcomers with some classic characters in the mix. It's a good combination of characters, and it is arguable that having more classic characters would have given this game a bigger chance but since its arcade release back in ´97 people still arrange tournaments and compete in it. What makes it so special is its gameplay which is full of techniques to use and learn and it does have one of the best gameplays I have ever experienced in a fighting game.
Being your standard Street fighter game you are given three punches and three kicks ranging from weak to fierce. Some new tricks that they have implemented is the "Parry system" and the "EX system" which add tons of custom combos and increases the intensity of battles tenfold.
First let's cover the parry system. It is a defensive technique usable by all characters which lets you "absorb" an attack or multiple by pressing forward before an attack lands. Successfully executing a parry gives you an opportunity to land whatever combo you would want, but this doesn't stop your opponent from executing a parry to counter your counter. Some battles are heavy on parries while others end without any. Thanks to this some battles are so intense it'll make you heart race.
The EX system lets you use your "Super art" bar to increase the strength of your regular special attacks such as the famous Hadouken. An EX Hadouken has multiple hits and causes fire damage unlike the regular one. This lets you customize your gameplay and further develop new combos as you go, and strategically plan better use of your special moves to maximize your fighting potential.
This game is a perfect example of looking like a simple fighting game on the surface that anyone can pick and play. It's true that anyone can play it but it has a lot of depth and it can take years to master the characters. Being a fighting game its potential can only be tapped when it's "1P vs 2P". Not only is this crazy fun but its competitive nature makes the game into an contest of wits, luck and skill.
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Being made back in ´97 the graphics are still one of the best 2D graphics ever made, not to mention the animations. There's not a whole lot more to say about the graphics. It's just mind blowing.
The biggest problem this game has is the soundtrack, which in my opinion is one of the worst choices they could have made. Instead of being similar to older street fighter games with happy and catchy anime-ish songs they choose fusion jazz and hip-hop and/or rap. This complaint is not as personal as it might seem - I have nothing against these types of music but comparing the soundtracks is just disappointing.
Other than that there isn't a lot to complain about. Certain people say that the parry system ruined the game considering how the tournaments are played. I can certainly see problems with it, but I gotta say it's an amazing cool technique to have in a game. 3D fighting games are still just about button mashing with little to no strategy, basically begging for something like this. The parry system could have needed some more thought but it's in there and personally I find it a good feature.
One thing that could be the biggest flaw with this game is that the characters are of different tiers, meaning that certain characters are automatically in disadvantage against others of higher a higher tier. This leads to people just using the same characters and the others just vanish in the background. This is again mostly noticeable in tournaments where you need to be in your best shape and character to stand a chance. This I think is a huge mistake as it alienates people who are fond of certain characters and they end up losing interest.
Well for me this is the most enjoyable Street Fighter to play and it has been for years. Street Fighter 2 still has a large part in my heart as that is where you first learned the basics. All time spent in front of that game is too much to count. But who regrets it? Not me...