Publisher: Capcom, www.capcom.com
Ages:
eleven and up.
Family
Rating: 
Parental
Advisory:
Non-bloody fight game
Some Game Boy Advance titles are virtually on par with cutting-edge console and arcade titles from just a few years back, and this is definitely the case with Capcom's amazing Street Fighter Alpha 3. This fight title plays just like the original arcade game and features many of the same characters, moves, strategy and options.
Street Fighter Alpha 3 is a conversion of Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, an arcade fighting game that was released last year in Japan. Street Fighter Alpha 3 boasts the largest cast in the series, reuniting some 30 well-known characters from the Street Fighter games and adds three new characters from Capcom vs. SNK 2. The Game Boy Advance (GBA) version also includes special hidden characters from the arcade version and lets two players play head-to-head using the link cable (they'll also need two copies of the game).
Street Fighter Alpha 3 is like a fighting "who's who" that brings together Street Fighter favorites that include: Ryu, Ken, E. Honda, Sagat, Vega, Cammy, Chun Li, Charlie, Rose, Birdie, Adon, Dan, Akuma, Bison, and Gen. The game also sees the return of Sakura, Rolento, Sodom, Guy and Cody from the Final Fight series. Three from the Street Fighter II series, yoga master Dhalsim, the Russian wrestler Zangief and Blanka join the line-up.
From the Super Street Fighter II series are T. Hawk, Dee' Jay and Fei-Long. Karin the arch rival of Sakura and R. Mika a wrestler are also included. This GBA version unlocks Juli and Juni the new mysterious henchmen of Bison and Balrog who were previously hidden characters in the arcade version. And joining the cast from Capcom vs. SNK 2 are Yun, Maki, and Eagle.
Street Fighter Alpha 3 offers different modes of play. Single mode is basically the classic arcade game that pits players against computer-controlled characters in stages. Survival mode lets players fight against a series of enemies until they get knocked-out. Dramatic Battle mode, which is particularly fun, lets players team up with a computer-controlled character to fight an enemy. Final Battle mode has players fighting final bosses.
StreetFighter Alpha 3 offers new options and includes conventions from prior games. There were also some accommodations that were made so that the game could work with the GBA's buttons, and the approach works well.
The graphics aren't as detailed as those in the original game, but are colorful and smoothly animated. As a fight game, the action is violent. But Street Fighter Alpha 3 doesn't go over the top, nor does it spread the blood the way that games such as Metro3D's Duel Blades or Midway's Mortal Kombat do. Opponents simply get knocked out. As a result, the game is not as violent as it could be.
In all, it's amazing that such an in-depth game plays so well on the Game Boy Advance and Street Fighter Alpha 3 definitely delivers the fighting goods.
2/27/03 www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
