Street Fighter EX3

"Others take a different view..."

Remember when playing 3D games seemed new and exciting? Think of all the massive worlds to explore, the intricate levels, and that wonderful feeling of experience something totally unique. It's been about ten years since the gaming world changed from the flat and sidescrolling place we used to know, replaced by hills, buildings, and everything else that had some semblance of realism. But who knows what will happen when you try to take a devoutly 2D gaming franchise and attempt to change it into something new? The shift in perspective was a mixed bag, offering unprecedented success of some games and the utter damnation of others. We've all had our fill of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid, and every Goldeneye clone known to mankind. But for all of those famous 3D games of yesteryear, there are plenty of others that didn't get the same kind of fanfare. Case in point: Street Fighter EX3.

I know what you're thinking. A Street Fighter game in 3D?! Blasphemy! The Street Fighter series has proven to be a 2D sensation, a powerhouse of entertainment and incredible fun. There's something magical about taking down Bison on the hardest difficulty setting and utterly decimating foes with Chun Li's sleek legs. But having Ryu and the rest of the gang decked out in full three-dimensional glory? That's a step that some hardened fans won't be ready for. The fact that Street Fighter EX3 features only a handful of characters from the original roster doesn't help its appeal, either. It does, however, blend old school characters like Ryu, Ken, Sagat and Guile with a large lineup of new characters, including new fighters like Hokuto, Jack, and Nanase, each with their own looks and fighting abilities. Sure, none of these fresh faces can replace E.Honda, Akuma, or Cammy, but they'll offer enough style to get your attention. Despite the lack of old timers, the goal is still the same: stop Bison from taking over the world…again! How's that for originality?

However, the overused plot and older characters are the only things that Street Fighter EX3 has in common with its 2D predecessors. Unlike previous tournaments, you won't merely fight contenders from around the world; they'll come to you in droves, sometimes ganging up on you at once. They'll be able to tag in and out of the fray, keeping up their stamina as they slowly whittle yours down. There will also be a plethora of tag attacks, flashy special moves, guard breaks, new spins on old special attacks, and a truckload of new combos and combos just waiting to be tried out. Many of the classic attacks, such as the Hadoken, Tiger Uppercut, and the Sonic Boom have been revamped to allow for chained combos, juggles, and plenty of other strategies that come standard with contemporary fighting games. Should you manage to seize victory from your opponent's team, you'll get the chance to recruit one of them to join you. As the tournament progresses, you'll get to build up your team, eventually making up a four-person ensemble of some of the most dangerous fighters ever assembled. After a few bouts, it's straight to Bison's place for an unusually easy final battle for the world's salvation. Needless to say, this isn't just about becoming a world champion anymore.

Incredibly brief Original Mode aside, Street Fighter EX3 has a few other things to keep you from plugging your SNES and Street Fighter II Turbo back in. Once you've unlocked all of the bonus characters and gotten bored beating Bison for the umpteenth time, the Arena Mode will give you something to look over. You'll be able to play Tag Battles with a partner of your choosing and face off against any two-person combination of characters from the roster. Should you take part in a Dramatic Battle, you'll get to control two characters at once, utterly annihilating your foes with your team's synchronized moves. But if you feel like pulling out all the stops, the Team Battle Mode allows you pit two teams of up to five characters against each other in an all-out brawl for Street Fighter supremacy. If all else fails, the Character Edit mode allows you to create your own fighter and customize him with a wide variety of moves and specials, then use him in the game's various battle scenarios. With so many characters and options at your disposal, it's a fair bet that you won't be reaching for that SNES controller anytime soon.

While the game features some remarkably diverse gameplay, it falters a little in the graphics department. Street Fighter EX3 was released in the PS2's early days, and its presentation shows it. The backgrounds are nothing more than 2D backdrops that vary ever so slightly to imitate 3D perspectives. The camera tends to change erratically, often getting closer and suddenly backing away to keep up with the battle. All of the characters come with their usual costumes, such as Ryu and Ken's gi, Vega's claw and Guile's commando garb. However, they all seem a little blocky and wooden. Bison doesn't look like the sleek killing machine of yesteryear, but a giant chunk of color with a head on top. Everyone is designed with sufficient attack animations and moves, but everything moves slow and choppy, as if they were fighting in a tub of molasses. This is a far cry from the mind-numbingly fast gameplay of Street Fighter II Turbo, Alpha, and countless other 2D renditions of the series. At least the special attacks are detailed well, including massive flames from Ken's Shouryuken or the bright sparks from Blanka's signature electrical attack. At least the audio hasn't changed too much; you can still hear Ryu and Sagat sound off their usual Hadokens and Tiger Genocides with ease. Of course, this doesn't make up for the game's substandard presentation. While this may be far from the stylized fighting games we've come to expect in the past few years, the effort is still appreciated.

Street Fighter EX3 had some great potential. Sure, it was one a few 3D games based on a 2D franchise, but it had enough of the right stuff to stand on its own, Street Fighter or not. It had a solid cast of fighters to choose from, a wonderfully varied combat system to master, a enough features and modes to keep fighting game fans playing long after the arcade mode got stale. Unfortunately, its almost nonexistant difficulty and lacking presentation might be enough to keep seasoned gamers from considering this game. With incredibly popular titles like Tekken 5 and Soul Calibur III dominating the market, this game will likely end up in a bargain bin with all the other washed-up PS2 titles of yesteryear. However, don't be detered by the simplistic style and barebones features; Street Fighter EX3 may not be the best fighting game out there, but the game's got it where it counts.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 04/20/06