SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

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awbacon
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SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by awbacon »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amv0qowxSZI

I am sure I am in the minority but I've never been able to get "good" at SF 2 or 3. I grew up on KOF games (the arcade I went to must have been biased as they always had the newest KOF) so when I tried to play SF the difference in gameplay and control feel always got me. To this day a decent SF 2 played will just annihilate me in a match.

Yet the Alpha series, with its 'alternate' control scheme, clicks almost instantly. Not sure if that's because it feels closer to a KOF game, or my brain just grooves with it better, but its been my all time favorite SF series, and Alpha 3 is my favorite of them all.

Really wish we could get a Alpha 4. HD graphics, tons of awesome sprites and animation, etc etc
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by BIL »

Alpha 3's attract intro is still sharp as all hell. Image Still an impressive production overall, now that I recall the character designs.
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by awbacon »

BIL wrote:Alpha 3's attract intro is still sharp as all hell. Image Still an impressive production overall, now that I recall the character designs.
I make a lot of mentions in the video about my love for the presentation style and overall art work. My only issue (a tiny one) was I wish there was more animation in some of the backgrounds

But the intro, character intros, art style, transitions, and colors are peak Capcom
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by Arcatech »

Alpha 3 is def a really good sf game. I think the only gripe I have with this title is the music. If you go back and listen to alpha 1 and 2 those soundtracks crush whatever was offered in 3 imo. I play a bit of alpha 3 on the 30th anniversary collection for ps4, but its def my least played out of the 4 titles available to play online. I'm always only selecting X-ism Ryu in alpha 3 because I'm still a scrub tactics wise. I'm more of a die hard st and 3s player myself.

My arcade stick is getting repaired right now, but if your ever online on ps4 and have 30th anniversary hmu and we can play a few matches of alpha 3. my username on psn is: prplfrk17 (gf's nickname, this nick was not of my choosing lol)
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by FinalBaton »

I have real soft spot for Alpha 3 as I had a (pretty competent)Playstation copy growing up. such beautiful backgrounds and presentation. And sprites of course. I almost always feture it in crt pics.

I will admit that Alpha 2 feels, to me, like a better game since you don't have to choose the "V-ism" style but instead have it at your disposal at all times. So there's some mystery there, you don't know if your oponent will uses V-Ism (here called custum combos) on you or the regular super moves. whereas in 3 you know what kinda combos you'll get from your opponent.

Despite 2 being a bit better, I play 3 more often. IDK it just jives with me

The character design/sprites for Alpha series is my fave of the SF franchise, and it's combat is towards the top although I can't say for sure it's my fave, I do like SF2 a hell of a lot (many of it's incarnations actually)

EDIT : forgot to add two little things. 1 - I think Alpha 3 moving the throw to a separate button (2 punches/2kicks) is a bit dumb. but not a huge deal. 2 - I just recently started using Alpha Counters, so my game is really weak in this regard. But what a powerful tool that is. Wow. but hard to pull off
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awbacon
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by awbacon »

The art style and character sprites are definitely my favorite across the entire series
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by spmbx »

Its a gorgeous and very underappreciated game. I suck at all vs fighters though but i still love the alphas (and vampire saviour) games.
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by it290 »

I've always been more of a SFA2 advocate over SFA3, the game just feels more cohesively designed and the overall art direction and style just feel more like a real installment in the series vs. SFA3 which is more like a greatest hits remix. That said I have gained a new appreciation for Alpha 3 after spending more time with the arcade version (I think a big part of my aversion in the past was that the ports that were available to me, namely the PSX and DC games, just never felt or looked as good as my copy of Saturn Alpha 2). I still don't know if I'm a big fan of some of the design choices but I can appreciate the game for what it is and have fun with it.

In contrast to your experience, I've been spending a lot of time with SFII lately, mostly CE and Turbo, and jumping in to play a few rounds of Alpha 2 last night felt kind of bizarre. It's not a super 'fast' game by most standards, but it felt like a chaotic combo fest vs. SFII's precisely orchestrated chess match. Almost a Sam Sho II vs. Sam Sho IV problem in a way. I think overall I'm more drawn to these 'chess match' fighters that are maybe more simplistic but require thorough knowledge of spacing, priority, and timing vs. more combo heavy games that are more about executing strings accurately when given the opportunity. I'm a scrub level player so all of this should be taken with a grain of salt, but games like SFII have a movelist and roster small enough for my brain to instinctively react to anything the opponent is doing whereas with something like Alpha 3 I find myself playing more as a 'generalist' and trying to exploit weaknesses but not responding with the same level of precision that I would with a simpler game.

KOF also demands that level of execution so I think your comparison makes sense, but I think for me my 'ideal' fighting game is probably something more like Nidhogg where you have maybe 6 or 9 moves total and it's more about mastering the precise interplay between those—i.e. it's harder to win one rock-paper-scissors scenario but when you do the payoffs are huge vs. more modern stuff like SFA3 where winning a rock-paper-scissors can be huge but you have to be able to capitalize on it properly or else it's relatively inconsequential.
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by BurlyHeart »

Loved Alpha 2 when I was growing up. Big chunky, colorful sprites with super interesting designs and stages. It's also on GOG for very cheap. I never picked up the 30th anniversary, and probably should do for SFIII alone. And SFII. Actually I loved all the games in the series except for SFV.

I don't think I've tried Alpha 3. I remember not buying it when I was younger because I had already bought Alpha 1 & 2. Will definitely give it an in-depth look if I can find the 30th anniversary on sale.
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Mero
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by Mero »

I'm sure Alpha 3 is the only fighting game I've ever 1CCed (I'm terrible at the genre).
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by Austin »

BIL wrote:Alpha 3's attract intro is still sharp as all hell. Image Still an impressive production overall, now that I recall the character designs.
The production and overall style of SFA3 is one of my favorite parts about it. It's one of the few fighting games I still go back to for solo play just because the style and tunes kick so much ass.
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by Xyga »

Played both games for a while with friends back in the days, they had brought the PS1 ports which - I'm no vs. fighters specialist but - seemed pretty good.

(you know, ppl usually complain PS1 2D fighters are mostly bad ports...)
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by Austin »

Xyga wrote:Played both games for a while with friends back in the days, they had brought the PS1 ports which - I'm no vs. fighters specialist but - seemed pretty good.

(you know, ppl usually complain PS1 2D fighters are mostly bad ports...)
I wouldn't say mostly, but the tag team series in particular (X-Men Vs., Marvel Vs., etc) were severely lacking compared to their competition (Saturn) at the time.

The Alpha games fared pretty well though. SFA3 in particular was lauded as one of the best in its class on PS1 when it was current. It's obviously not the best way to play the game now, but it still looks and plays well all things considered.
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by cj iwakura »

As much as I love this game, I used to feel that way until I entered a tournament. The competitive scene for SFA3 is insane.
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by FinalBaton »

it290 wrote:SFII's precisely orchestrated chess match.
YES. That's what makes SF2 so great IMO. every detail is so important and every move is such a commitment, that it FORCES you to think a few move ahead.

Baiting /faking becomes hyper important. Spacing becomes hyper important. choice of Neutral jumps become hyper important, since there's so minimal space to manoeuver.

it's all important in Alpha series too, but I feel like in it you're not required to focus on that as much since you can get by with a strong super combo/custum combo management. And having a larger playfield.

SF2 is absolutely a chessmatch, great analogy. such a tight "dance". every single move counts BIG FUCKING TIME
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by drauch »

Yeah, that's what turned me off about Alpha. I hate the custom combo stuff where you're just powerless in the air getting juggled ad nauseum. That sort of stuff always turned me off. That's while I'll always prefer SFII to pretty much anything, since the current trend seems to be fixated on making the supers cinematic and disrupting the gameplay since SFIV. I miss quick and lean matches, dammit.
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by FinalBaton »

drauch wrote:Yeah, that's what turned me off about Alpha. I hate the custom combo stuff where you're just powerless in the air getting juggled ad nauseum. That sort of stuff always turned me off. That's while I'll always prefer SFII to pretty much anything, since the current trend seems to be fixated on making the supers cinematic and disrupting the gameplay since SFIV. I miss quick and lean matches, dammit.
There are people in the SF Alpha FGC who can take your lifebar from full to zilch with a single custom combo/V-ism chain. Needless to say, online play is not the most fun ever for this series

But for single player/couch gaming with buddies? a real fun time. I especially dig the single player runs.
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by awbacon »

FinalBaton wrote:
drauch wrote:Yeah, that's what turned me off about Alpha. I hate the custom combo stuff where you're just powerless in the air getting juggled ad nauseum. That sort of stuff always turned me off. That's while I'll always prefer SFII to pretty much anything, since the current trend seems to be fixated on making the supers cinematic and disrupting the gameplay since SFIV. I miss quick and lean matches, dammit.
There are people in the SF Alpha FGC who can take your lifebar from full to zilch with a single custom combo/V-ism chain. Needless to say, online play is not the most fun ever for this series

But for single player/couch gaming with buddies? a real fun time. I especially dig the single player runs.
I've never played against a high level Alpha 3 player. Probably for the best lol

But couch gaming with friends and beer? Perfect game
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by Shelcoof »

Never great at any Street Fighters but the Alpha series was the series that I felt most comfortable with.

Not sure why but pulling off moves and special moves weren't as difficult as Super Turbo.

Also I find the art style in the alpha series to be my favorite. Yes even beating out Street Fighter III :shock:
The more cartoony anime style is what did it for me
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by Xyga »

For me the art in the 2D series style goes
II > Alpha > III
The later only has the incredible animations for it, because overall taste is awful (both visually and audibly at that)
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by CIT »

Xyga wrote:For me the art in the 2D series style goes
II > Alpha > III
The later only has the incredible animations for it, because overall taste is awful (both visually and audibly at that)
Agree. SFIII’s character designs are ugly as hell.

Prefer the visuals of the Alpha Series out of all Street Fighters. That was really the high point of Capcom’s 2D prowess.
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by Marc »

There's always one.... but I think the original game still looks amazing. Slightly awkward and amateur in a way, but endearing all the same.
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by Shelcoof »

CIT wrote:
Xyga wrote:For me the art in the 2D series style goes
II > Alpha > III
The later only has the incredible animations for it, because overall taste is awful (both visually and audibly at that)
Agree. SFIII’s character designs are ugly as hell.

Prefer the visuals of the Alpha Series out of all Street Fighters. That was really the high point of Capcom’s 2D prowess.
The only character I thought they messed up on in Alpha was Sagat. He was the first to get juiced up when in reality he was suppose to be tall and lanky :roll:
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BIL
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by BIL »

CPS2 fighter art Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

(^ yeah I know, record_screech.wav - couldn't resist. :mrgreen: https://imgur.com/gallery/GPlx4)
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by Xyga »

Hori Sheet Dat Gallery :shock:
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BIL
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by BIL »

Absolutely mad stuff ain't it Image

KOF99's sunny park always annoyed me - it's a pet peeve of mine when FG backgrounds have bystanders ignoring the fight and looking at something else, like CVS2's desert stage, and this one has a motherfucker feeding the birds mere feet from the raging carnage! The RSPCA will shut the tourney down if a pigeon gets clipped by a stray POWWA WEIBU! :shock: However all is forgiven in its sublime rainy ver :cool:
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by awbacon »

I always thought these fights were so commonplace in the KOF universe that people stopped caring.

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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by awbacon »

Cause seriously they have these tournaments yearly. It must just be another thing that happens like daylight savings time or filing your taxes
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by BIL »

Fair point :lol:
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Re: SF Alpha 3, the only SF game I don't suck at!

Post by werk91 »

CIT wrote:
Xyga wrote:For me the art in the 2D series style goes
II > Alpha > III
The later only has the incredible animations for it, because overall taste is awful (both visually and audibly at that)
Agree. SFIII’s character designs are ugly as hell.

Prefer the visuals of the Alpha Series out of all Street Fighters. That was really the high point of Capcom’s 2D prowess.
I guess I'm the odd one out here but 3rd Strike will always be my favourite SF game. I get that the 'urban' style and soundtrack aren't for everyone though. The reason why I really like it is the the way the fighting feels, its incredibly smooth. The fact that I love the visuals and adore the OST is a bonus really. Alpha 3 comes right after it in my list. Followed by II and IV, and all the vs. crossovers. SFV on the other hand is a disgrace :lol:
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