Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max

With Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max, there is now a definitive fighting game that certainly fans will enjoy, but even those usually uninterested in fighters will have fun if only for its portability.

Back in the heyday of 2D fighters, Capcom released a glut of Street Fighter games each identified by qualifies such as Max, Alpha, or some number in a series. To diehards, such distinctions made all the difference in the world; each game had minute details different from the others. To casual players, such intricacy proved too complicated. So, in a gesture to those diehard Street Fighter fans, Capcom has released Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max on the PSP, remake of one of the most popular installment in the Street Fighter series.

Besides Darkstalkers Chronicle, a launch title from the Capcom camp, the PSP hasn't had many fighting games released for it. With Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max, there is now a definitive fighting game that certainly fans will enjoy, but even those usually uninterested in fighters will have fun if only for its portability.

Round Three, Fight!
So what does it have to offer? It essentially has everything Alpha 3 had with a few tweaks and added features. The roster of characters stands at a staggering 37, and that's without the 6 unlockable characters. While there aren't nearly as many as there are fighters, the 15 different modes ranging from old standbys like Arcade and Versus to Dramatic Battle and Final Battle, there's something for every player or mood. Dramatic Battle can be especially fun; facing a two on one battle that creates a bit more tension and excitement than your usual head-to-head. Final Battle too makes for some interesting gameplay by removing all those filler battles against enemies and instead throws you into the ring against the final boss. All these modes have their draw, but most people will likely find their favorite two or three modes and stick with them.

Graphically, the game is a crisp and clear reproduction of its source material. Characters and environments retain the hand-drawn artistic qualities found in the arcade and 16-bit consoles of yore. The menu system is bland by the standard of today's over-the-top user interfaces, but in this case, function supersedes form.

Hadou-Ken!
What brings Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max down isn't the game itself, but rather the hardware it's released on. Yes, the game is essentially a port of a decade old fighter and it can be hard as hell, but all the horsepower the PSP brings to the table can't keep this game from being at times mind-numbing frustrating when it comes to control. Put simply, the D-pad the PSP has just isn't cut out to be used for a fighting game, where fast fingers and accurate directional control is paramount. Here's to hoping some form of accessory is released that can snap onto the PSP to facilitate those who wants a truer fighting game experience.

But besides for the controls, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max has a lot going for it. Strong graphics mixed with an amazing selection of fighters, along with tons of modes and a wifi connection for wireless fighting make this, for sheer lack of competition, the best fighting game on the PSP.

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