Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike

"Immensily Deep, Immensily Fun"

I love Street Fighter. Before I start, I just felt that sentence should be said, because if you're expecting an unbiased review, you're not gonna get one. I've always been a huge fan of Street Fighter, pouring countless amounts of money into the arcades when I was younger. Then, I played the SNES version of Street Fighter 2, and ever since I have been a HUGE fighting fan. Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is not a crappy update. It is, in my opinion, the pinnacle of the series so far. Everything you could possibly want in a Street Fighter game is in this one. Ok, I've babbled on for long enough, time to get to the game itself...

Graphics-- 10
Simply put, this game is AMAZING graphically. It moves so amazingly, and the characters look great. The backgrounds all look marvelous, but they would have been a little better had they changed between rounds, ala Double Impact. However, I really don't think that's a good reason to lower the graphic's score, so it stands. Let's all pray that future 2-D games look this good!

Sound-- 8
The game sounds just like it should. The music fits the game very well, and sounds a lot better than the jazzy score that is included in Marvel vs. Capcom 2. I personally have that damn intro song stuck in my head, as it's so....clever. The voices are crisp, but I wish there was a little more speech.

Gameplay-- 10
This game is the most strategic fighter I have ever played. Screw Virtua Fighter, this game kicks it's butt, at least in my opinion. A button-masher will NEVER beat a master player, and there's a very good chance that a masher will not even inflict damage upon a master player. This is all thanks to the ingenious parry system, which allows you to block an attack without taking any damage, but also gives you an excellent opportunity to counter. I can't help but wish that other Street Fighter games had this, as it adds oodles and oodles of depth to the game. Yes, I did just say oodles, but I feel like that is the only fitting word. It's that good. Add to that the unique characters and my all time favorite Chun Li (who might I add has these awesomely deformed legs), and you've got an awesome roster. I was thinking of giving gameplay a 9, because of how cheap Gill is, but I've decided that the bonus games (break the car returns!) more than cover up his evilness. Over all, the way this game plays is, to me, groundbreaking. Take note, sports fans, parrying is here to stay (I hope).

Replay-- 8
I really wish this game had more modes. However, the fact that it takes forever and a day to master makes up for it. If you find yourself some good competition, the two player mode is probably a blast. However, everyone I play this game with utterly sucks, and therefore I am left to one player in order for a challenge. Still, it's fun to kick butt, especially when using those mammoth Chun Li legs. This game has a wonderful learning curve, and is amazingly deep. However, I really really wanted the option to play the game's bonus rounds out of arcade mode, and therefore I'm going to be an evil bastard and give the replay value an 8.

Overall-- 9
This game is the whole package. It's got amazing graphics, amazing gameplay, very fitting sound, and satisfying replay value. If I could play the bonus rounds outside of arcade mode, it would get a 10. Also, a few extra modes wouldn't hurt.

Buy or Rent?
If you like 2-D fighters, and you don't get this game in the very near future, there's something wrong with you. If you're not the biggest 2-D fan, call Ms. Cleo and ask for her advice. You'll probably get a, ''Yeah, Mon. Ms. Cleo loves Street Fighter III!'' If you're one of those jerks who likes to make Ms. Cleo cry by not calling her, just rent it first. I still recommend buying it, however.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 07/20/01, Updated 07/20/01