Street Fighter Alpha 3

Street Fighter Alpha 3 is a sequel to Street Fighter Alpha 2 in story and spirit only. It is more of an evolution than the change from SFA1 to SFA2. SFA3 retains the anime style and spirit of the Alpha series, but takes the core engine and mixes things up a little bit.

When a player chooses a character from the SFA3 roster (the largest in the series), he must then also choose an "ISM", either X, A, or V. The ISM chosen determines which rules and abilities the character uses. This, in essense, triples your choices when selectign a character. X-ISM is a style of play that most closely resembles Super Street Fighter II Turbo (or SSF2 X as it was known in Japan). The A in A-ISM stands for Alpha, and is the core style used in the previous two Alpha games. And the V-ISM style represents the Variable (or Custom) Combo aspect of Alpha introduced in SFA2. Only V-ISM style characters can use Variable Combos, and as a trade off, they have no predetermined Super Moves.

Not every move that a character knows is available to that character in every ISM. So it's important to reference the move list to determine which moves a character has access to in a given ISM. An X, A, or V next to the move indicates that the move is available in that ISM. In addition to these three ISMs, there are three hidden modes of play, Classic, Mazi, and Saikyou, which can be unlocked to provide more alternatives. In addition to these changes, the character selection has been greatly expanded over SFA2. Upgraded versions of SFA3 have continued to expand on that selection.

SFA3 was ported somewhat successfully to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation consoles. The Saturn's use of an optional 4 Meg RAM cartridge helped its conversion out considerably, but the PlayStation's limited RAM prevented its port from being entirely accurrate. SFA3 made a tremendous splash on the newly arrived Sega Dreamcast where it saw a sizeable roster increase. This version was later ported back to the arcade in Japan as Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper. Several years later, a version appeared on the Game Boy Advance which included three new characters taken from Capcom vs. SNK 2. Although still entitled SFA3, it was known as Street Fighter Zero 3 Double Upper in Japan. SFA3 was upgraded once again, this time for the PSP, where it introduced one new character, Ingrd from Capcom Fighting Evolution. This version was known as Street Fighter Alpha MAX.

Cast and story

Storywise, the events in SFA3 occur after the events depicted in SFA2. The entire cast of SFA2 are all present, and their stories are the same. Several new characters are also selectable.

SFA3 characters

Click on the character's names to be taken to their individual move lists. These new characters are initially selectable in SFA3

• Blanka: (Initially from Street Fighter II) A little younger and a little wilder, Blanka is still a cheerful and good hearted fighter. It seems that he shares a friendship with Dan.
• Cammy: (Initially from Super Street Fighter II) Although present as a hidden character in the Saturn version SFA2 Gold, Cammy official enters the Alpha series here. She is somewhere between being under M. Bison's control as one of the 12 Killer Bees, and questioning her purpose in life.
• Cody: (Initially from Final Fight) Once a proud hero of Metro City, Cody is depicted in Alpha 3 is an escaped convict. The story relating this unfortunate circumstance is told in Final Fight Revenge where corrupt cop and former Mad Gears gang member Edi E. framed Cody for a crime he did not commit as an act of revenge.
• E. Honda: (Initially from Street Fighter II) E. Honda's presense in the Alpha 3 series does more to promote the game's ties to the original Street Fighter II than anything for the story. E. Honda is still trying to prove that Sumo Wrestling is the greatest form of martial arts.
• Karin Kanzuki: (Original character) Karin is thought to be to Ken was Sakura is to Ryu, a younger female version. But Karin's style is distinctly different from Ken's or any other character's. She is a wealthy rival of Sakura's and she employs a lot of combination and counter attacks.
• Rainbow Mika: (Original character) R. Mika is an energetic and charismatic wrestler. She is most easily explained as a female version of Zangief, but she has her own wide array of wrestling holds, including a super move that requires fast entry to pull off a dizzying selection of moves.
• Vega: (Initially from Street Fighter II) M. Bison's Spanish assasin appears with his familiar claw and mask. In Alpha, it is actually possible to knock off Vega's claw and mask, but he can quickly pick them back up. Vega is generally considered to be in charge of M. Bison's Killer Bee squad

SFA3 secret characters

These characters are secret in the original SFA3 and must be unlocked. They are ordinarily selectable in the Dreamcast version and beyond.

• Balrog: (Initially from Street Fighter II) The disgraced boxer appears as a bodyguard and henchman under M. Bison's direct employment. He is often dispatched to do away with you before you must ultimately face M. Bison himself.
• Juli: (Original character) Juli is one of M. Bison's 12 Killer Bees. She is a brainwashed assasin with a fighting style similar to Cammy's. She frequently fights side by side with her partner Juni.
• Juni: (Original character) Juni is also a Killer Bee. Undergoing the process of transfomation to a Killer Bee, Juni is stripped of her identity and taught only to execute the will of M. Bison. Juni frequently attacks her targets with he partner Juli.

SFA3 Upper characters

Rounding out the cast in SFA3 Upper are the remaining characters from Super Street Fighter II that have not yet appeared in the Alpha series. These characters are selectable in the Dreamcast version and beyond.

• Dee Jay: (Initially from Super Street Fighter II) Dee Jay is out to show the world his combination of rythem and fighting style.
• Evil Ryu: (Initially from SFA2) The Ryu of Murderous Intent makes an official appearance as his own character this time around.
• Fei Long: (Initially from Super Street Fighter II) Fei Long is a successful martial artist and actor who is out to prove that his moves are not just camera magic.
• Guile: (Initially from Street Fighter II) At long last, Guile is brought in to the fold as he bravely follows Shadoloo's trail to find the whereabouts of his friend and commander, Charlie.
• T. Hawk: (Initially from Super Street Fighter II) T. Hawk suspects that Shadoloo is behind the kidnapping of his younger sister, and is determined to find the source of the brainwashed Killer Bees.

SFA3 Double Upper characters

When SFA3 appeared on the Game Boy Advance, Crawfish Interactive saw fit to introduce three new characters from the Capcom universe who recently appeared in Capcom vs. SNK 2. These characters are selectable in the Game Boy Advance version and beyond.

• Eagle: (Initially from Street Fighter I) After having not been heard from in the initial Street Fighting tournament, Baton wielding Eagle is back to steal the spotlight from his unsophistocated rival, Birdie.
• Maki Genryusai: (Initially from Final Fight 2) Maki aided Haggar in the second Final Fight adventure when Guy was unavailable. Maki has a similar fighting style to Guy's.
• Yun: (Initially from Street Fighter III) The only character from the SF3 series to be brought back in time, Yun would be a mere child during the events of the Alpha series. His presense is merely a "what if" scenario.

SFA3 MAX characters

As Capcom prepared an even bigger SFA3 for the PSP, they decided upon the inclusion of the mysterious Ingrid from Capcom Fighting Evolution. This character is presently only selectable on the PSP.

• Ingrid: (Initially from Capcom Fighting Evolution) Very little is known about this mysterious girl, but she claims to use the sun as the very source of her powers.