Review:
Capcom's
third and last installment to their epic SFIII series brings back the classic
veteran Chun Li and adds some all new faces including: Remy, Makoto, Q and Twelve. The
returning SFIII characters have been given
new moves, many new outfit colors, and some witty new win quotes; many of which are character
specific! The Street Fighter III series quickly became known in the
fighting game universe for it's breathtaking 2D animation
and rock solid gameplay, and 3rd Strike continues the trend with style.
The "parrying" system is still intact and more solid than ever before. Parrying
is a skillful way to defend against your opponents
incoming attacks (by tapping forward in time with your opponents attack), instead of
just holding back to block. By parrying,
you can quickly counter attack your opponent with a priority attack, special
move, or even into a super move if you have such skills.
The fluid pace of SFIII's animation makes it easier for the eyes to see moves coming,
which is why parrying works so well with this game. You can of course parry
while standing, parry low attacks by tapping down; and also parry in the air (with
more punishable outcomes this time around since you're not pushed back like in New
Generation).
Make your first move... so
what's it gonna be?
The commands for air parries, throws 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 "judgment
system," where the winning player is given a letter grade based on their
performance in several different categories: offense, defense, techniques and
extra points... pretty cool!
Parrying also adds
power to your super meter, which of course lets you perform a devastating
super art (or two) against your opponent. Your super meter can also
be used to "enhance" your regular special moves by making them faster or
more damaging (called EX specials), which was introduced in the prequel, Second Impact.
Characters have a great selection of priority attacks, command attacks, special
moves, and a choice of three
awesome super moves. Overall, the characters are represented incredibly well and
are some of the "deepest" 2D fighting game characters to date. Thanks to the greater
character roster, gameplay is definitely more fun than ever, but that's not
all that's changed...
Possibly the best
traditional 2D fighting game of all time.
Third Strike also features a
completely new soundtrack,
which can be described as a mix of hip-hop & jazzy techno... an interesting choice that takes some getting used
to, but it works. Stage BGMs are particularly well done... each song actually "remixes" after every round, and
they do a fine job of creating "atmosphere" in each location. The stages
themselves are also completely new to the SF series, and look great for the most
part.
Also, the character voice acting has been completely re-done for returning characters, most of which are pretty
good; but I actually prefer 2nd Impact's voice acting over Third
Strike's... just a personal preference. 3rd Strike's overall
presentation is well done, from the flashy yet simple introduction to the
superb menu & options. If you didn't know, Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
is one of the all time best 2D fighting game experiences you can possibly have...
it's a timeless game.
Last Updated:
5/21/2010
Developer(s):
Capcom
Publisher(s):
Capcom
Platform(s):
Arcade,
Dreamcast, Playstation 2 ( in Street
Fighter: Anniversary Collection), Xbox (in Street
Fighter: Anniversary Collection)
- Review is for
Dreamcast version of SFIII: Third Strike -
Gameplay
Engine
10 / 10
Story
/ Theme
9 / 10
Overall
Graphics
10 / 10
Animation
10 / 10
Music
/ Sound Effects
9 / 10
Innovation
8.5 / 10
Customization
9.5 / 10
Options / Extras
9.5 / 10
Intro / Presentation
9 / 10
Replayability / Fun
10 / 10
"Ouch" Factor
10 / 10
Characters
10 / 10
BOTTOM LINE
10 /
10
Final
Words:
As far as traditional 2D fighting games go, it really doesn't get much
better than Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. You're simply not a true fan of
2D fighting games if you don't like Third Strike... my words can't really do
this game justice, you just have to play it. Flawless animation, awesome
characters, and breathtaking martial arts action! ...The gameplay and parry
system is what really counts, and it's dead on. A fun game to pick up
and play, but a very tough game to master. ~F.Yagami,
Webmaster
of TFG
.
The fluid pace of SFIII's animation makes it easier for the eyes to see moves coming,
which is why parrying works so well with this game. You can of course parry
while standing, parry low attacks by tapping down; and also parry in the air (with
more punishable outcomes this time around since you're not pushed back like in New
Generation).
