Street Fighter EX3
Street Fighter EX3by Capcom USA
Platform: PlayStation2
ESRB Rating: Teen
ASIN: B00004U5VE
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Features:
• Part of the popular Street Fighter series
• All of the old characters and controls
• 3-on-1 and 2-on-2 fights
• Switch between tag partners or work them together in double-team attack
• New, indefensible Hard Attack reduces foes
Amazon.com: Given its immense popularity, not to mention first-rate pedigree, it's not surprising that Street Fighter EX3 is among the first PlayStation2 titles. After the relative success of the first game for the original PlayStation (PSX) and the disaster of the second, it'll be interesting to see how long-term fans of the series take to yet another 3-D brawler with the Street Fighter moniker. Even with classic characters--like Sagat, Blanka, Ken, and (of course) Ryu--back to duke it out, this might be one horse that's been beaten to death.
In Street Fighter EX3, players will be able to take advantage of a new system that allows character switching at any time throughout the battle. Not only will you be able to swap at will, but your dynamic duo also will have double-teaming tag combos to enhance an opponent's agony. This means that gamers will face three other opponents, and have four incredibly detailed fighters battling it out on screen at any one time in the ultimate handicap match. Take them out, and one might ask to join as your sidekick. Form a stable of four, and all of you can take your turn kicking Bison's tail, as well as that of any of the other famous Street Fighter characters in the game.
The control is predictable, but that's what fans want... nay, crave. Super combos, dizzies, and a number of other staple Street Fighter combos are here and look incredible. Lighting effects are much more mature: the animated sparks fly, and the pyrotechnics flame up all over the place. Character models have come a long way since the days of the first blocky Street Fighter EX game. Although they still lack necks, these brawlers are seamless and well defined. Their victorious poses rival any graphics that previously have been seen on a console.
Not everything is peaches 'n' cream with EX3, however. The endings of the EX series always have been a bit lacking: all you get in EX3 is a frozen frame with text; then, while the credits roll, a little consolation prize: over 10 enemies onscreen at once, all wanting to put the boots to you. This isn't the "true" ending we'd hoped for, but it's a nice gesture (and it shows off the system's power).
Capcom is doing everything it can to make Street Fighter EX3 the fighting game of choice for the PlayStation2; but, with Namco's Tekken Tag Tournament set to hit the market at the same time, it'll be a tough sell. Still, this is a Street Fighter game, and that alone justifies at least a play. --Todd Mowatt
Pros:
Switch characters at any time during fighting
Seamless and well-defined character models
Cons:
Predictable controls
Lackluster ending
Product Description: One of the most popular series in video game history enters the PlayStation2 platform with Street Fighter EX3. Building on the EX branch of the series, this game has all of the old fighters you love (and love to hate) as well as the same controls. What's new is that these characters are now dynamic 3-D models working through a system of tag-team bouts. Try taking on three of these studied fighters at the same time. If you do well, one of them will choose to be your tag-team partner. You'll be able to switch between the two fighters at will or work them together in lethal dual combos. Also new to the series is the game's Hard Attack--an indefensible blow that reduces the competition.
GameSpot Review: Capcom's Street Fighter EX series, developed by Arika, takes the standard Street Fighter 2D gameplay and throws it into a 3D world, adding a few new characters and moves along the way. The original Street Fighter EX fared pretty poorly in arcades, but after a few revisions it found a greater audience at home on the PlayStation. Street Fighter EX2 added a few new moves and characters, but it never really made much of a splash in Japan (a US PlayStation release of EX2 is scheduled for next month). Street Fighter EX3 takes the gameplay and additional moves of EX2, adds a tag-team element similar to that of Tekken Tag Tournament or Capcom's own Marvel vs. Capcom, and drops it onto the PlayStation2 for a quick and dirty fighting game that seems a little rushed but still manages to be a lot of fun.
The game's main mode is original mode, where you'll pick one character and dive right into a short but sweet fighting quest. Your first match is against three competitors - all at the same time. After winning this, or any, match in this mode, you'll be asked if you'd like to recruit one of your opponents. You can recruit up to three partners as you progress through the six-match quest, which comprises tag battles, team battles, and a two-on-one match. Completing the final battle nets you a screen full of Japanese text and the ending credits. The ending credits serve as a sort of bonus stage, where your main fighter is put on the screen with six or seven generic fighters whom you can beat with only one or two hits. The game gives you an infinite combo meter and keeps track of how many of the generic bad guys you can knock out before the credits end. The other fighting modes in the game let you set up tag battles, dramatic battles, team battles, and four-player matches at will.
The game's other real bonus is the character edit mode, which is an extention of the expert mode that appeared in EX1 and EX2. Instead of having a set number of missions to complete with each character, EX3 gives you Ace, a generic-looking fighter who looks a bit more like a fighter out of the Rival Schools universe than a Street Fighter. When you first start playing, Ace has no special moves whatsoever - he is a completely blank slate. As you complete the expert mode-like tasks (block all attacks, perform a three-hit combo, execute a combo that does over 90 points of damage, and the like), you earn experience points. You use these points to buy Ace's special moves and super combos, which you'll need to complete tasks later in the edit mode. Once you've beefed up Ace, he'll be able to hold his own in the game's other modes.
While the character graphics used in EX3 look pretty amazing when standing still, there are just too many problems with other aspects of the visual presentation to warrant giving the game a higher graphics score. For starters, certain portions of the game are plagued by slowdown. Get more than two characters on the screen at once and execute a special move with any sort of neat visual effects, and the game starts to get choppy. Add a fourth character to the display, and the game slows down even more. The ending-credit sequence is horribly plagued by slowdown, also. Another little problem is that the animation is the same as it was in EX2. Granted, you can't exactly add lots of frames to all the special moves and keep the game's timing as faithful to the Street Fighter series as EX3 is, but now that the 3D Street Fighters don't look all blocky and pixilated, the jerky animation really stands out. Also worth mentioning is the appearance of B.A. Baracus himself. Yes, what appears to be Mr. T's picture adorns the walls of one of the arenas. It's a strange yet heartwarming tribute to such a master thespian.
The audio portion of EX3 is packed with great effects, such as deep, bassy whooshing noises that accompany super-combo fireballs and the like. All of the hits and misses sound terrific, and the character voices are nice and crystal clear. The music, however, doesn't always fit the action. Also, in an annoying demonstration of audio streaming, the music changes tunes on the fly when other characters get tagged in, so you never listen to one song for long - one track fades into another as soon as the action on the screen dictates a change.
Street Fighter EX3 is the game that EX2 should have, and probably would have, been, had this kind of hardware power been available sooner. The tag-team fighting adds a nice new element that the previous game totally lacked. EX3 may feel a bit rushed in some spots, but overall it's a fun and great-looking fighting game that won't disappoint longtime EX fans.--Jeff Gerstmann--Copyright © 2000 GameSpot Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of GameSpot is prohibited.
Customer Reviews:
Maybe next time, November 22, 2002
Reviewer: A gamer from Albuquerque, NM USA
This game is a good attempt for Capcom to bring Street Fighter to the 3D arena. It adds the tag-team element that is foreign to Street Fighter predecessors (except for the new Capcom vs. titles), and the combo attacks are fun to watch. Also there is a neat exhibition game at the end of it where you can basically open a can of "" on a horde of characters that can't really attack back. However, it lacks in story, with very minimal endings for the characters. There is no reason why the characters selected in the game should be there. Why didn't Capcom choose to have more of the characters from the classic series, one will only guess. Likewise, the game itself is easy to beat (over and over again) each time unlocking a "new" character. As soon as you beat it 8 times in a row, you've unlocked all characters. Overall, this game is slightly entertaining. If you want to see where the next generation of Street Fighter goes, wait for the next one, unless you really, really want to play this one.
Street Fighter EX3 was decent but that's about it...., October 10, 2002
Reviewer: blackaciddevil01 from USA
You know, when I first played Street Fighter EX, I thought it was the most awesome 3D fighter around for the PSone. Then, last year, Street Fighter EX2 came out and, after playing it, I was disappointed because it seemed like the first game with a few new characters to fight with. The only redeeming quality it had was where you could record your fights and play them back in your own fashion. It was disappointing playing through the whole game only to be told.."Thank you for playing. See you next game.." Bah! But, I tried to understand as Capcom was working on Street Fighter EX3.
Well, Street Fighter EX3 comes out. I rush to get it and play it and (WHAM!) it was disappointing. Seemed to me, it was even worser than EX2 because it didn't have anything to redeem it from boredom. I mean, it didn't even have FMV endings to it like it did on the first one. You play through the whole game only to be greeted with text telling what happens to your character afterwards. I'll admit, the graphics were lush. It was cool to see all my favorites in high-rez. But, that wasn't enough for me. I had such high hopes for SFEX3 and they let me down.
Do I think the game is worth it for [the] price tag? Definitely. Just to have my collection complete.
Would I pay full-price for it? No way! I don't think it's worth [it].
If and when they come out with a Street Fighter EX4, I hope they do a better job to bring the series back on top (learn from fighters such as Soul Calibur and Virtua Fighter 4). Give us fighting fanatics something to go on about. Not drivle like this.
Play the games you like! sheesh!, October 5, 2002
Reviewer: jmdurden from Quitman, GA USA
Ok first off I want to say i think this is a great game in it's own right. I rate games based on the experience I had with that particular game. Most of the bad reviews for this game were based on a comparison to another game. I totally agree with the guy that said SFA3 had tighter controls. So when I want that I play SFA3!(not forgeting PS2's reverse compatibility)When i buy or rent a new game. I expect something new and different. if you like the game play it. If not..Play whatever it is you like. Don't play all games expecting them to be like another...You'll have alot more fun. That's what it's all about right?
Just Say No...Unless You Love The S.F Series!, September 26, 2002
Reviewer: Jason
In addition to the requisite visual improvements that go hand-in-hand with a PS2 update of a PlayStation title, this third installment of the 3D Street Fighter EX series adds a tag feature similar to Tekken Tag Tournament that allows for two-on-two battles. Also new is a character edit mode that lets you train the character Ace from a weakling with no special moves into a fighting powerhouse. Familiar SF2 characters like Ryu, Guile and Chun Li are on-hand, as are EX regulars such as Skullomania and Doctrine Dark. I have always found the "Street Fighter" series to be the same thing over and over. Whether the graphics improve or new fighters are added, its the same thing. I you love fighting games check out the new Mortal Kombat to be released, as for this dud, I'd pass it up...even for a rental!
Hated it, September 24, 2002
Reviewer: Elbert Batica from St Paul, MN United States
I don't know about the rest of you but I'm just never impressed with the Street Fighter series when it becomes a 3D game. The graphics look terrible. It looks like a 3 year old drew up stick figures and smeered poo on them and said, "look Mommy, it's Blanca!"
Really please, you can't tell me that you're impressed with the same predictable and boring fights with this game? Honestly, Street Fighter was a game that should have never gone 3D because it just doesn't work for the game because even so, you don't even have that because all you do is go back and forth. You can't get stuck in a corner but you also can't side step like Tekken.
If PS2 really wanted to impress people, releasing Street Fighter Alpha 3 would have been the smarter move. I have to say, I'm really hoping that another one of these is not in the making.
Fun!!!, September 5, 2002
Reviewer: steve from USA
i have played a lot of fighting games, and this one is by far the most fun ever! i really enjoy how you can change characters mid-battle or both can attack. it also has some funny things that made me laugh my butt off. it's also interesting how they force you to use different characters to earn new ones.
the saga continues..., September 4, 2002
Reviewer: Denisha Young from Bear, DE United States
this is truly a classic, every street fighter game is a classic no matter what system it's on. i enjoy this game because it is 3D and don't get me wrong i love the 2D era which is classic, but this game has super-duper graphics. some have written that this game lacks ingenuity, how?, or that it is superficial or too easy. i say just enjoy the game for what it is...a 3D spectical.
if you are a true to the genre of fighting games than you'll love each one of them for what they have to offer. that is just the thing each title brings something great to the genre.
love it or hate it!!!
OK, (2.5), August 15, 2002
Reviewer: Cool Kev from You Know where i'm from
This game has a few good moments, but it was not a "Tekken", also my little 8-year-old brother BEAT it in under 50 mins., pretty pothetic huh?
Pros:
Classic Fighting styles??
Original Characters
Cons:
Graphics are not excellent (but hey I don't care, check my Paper Mario review).
Like I've mentioned WAY TO EASY
Not enough characters for a new fighting game
Some stupid moments!
All in all It was OK!
SFEX 3, Best In EX Series!, July 6, 2002
Reviewer: Rod J. from Gaming Paradise
This game rocks! Great graphics and unbelievable fighters add more to its status. I6 available fighters, each with terrific moves and good graphics compel you to the screen. After reading the reviews, I was kind of disappointed, and couldn't take the game back. (I had ordered it and it was on its way.) But after getting the game and playing it, I was shocked with how good the gameplay was and totally forgot the bad reviews people wrote about this extraordinary game. You can choose from 27 fighters,(16 are available, 9 are locked and you have to get in), each with their own special moves, super combos and meteor combos. Another feature is that this game is definetely not a "button masher", as some people wrote about another one of my favorite games, Dead or Alive2. It takes time to master the super combos, which I have, and the meteor combos, which I still have no idea to, which classifies it as a "non-button masher." This game is awesome and if you are compelled to play fighting games hours on end, this is the game for you.
From SNES to PS2, April 15, 2002
Reviewer: megatek2005 from Philadelphia, PA
Street Fighter EX3 is definitely the best street game that I have ever played in my life. As far as graphics is concerned, no other street figher comes close to it. Some things that I miss are the old characters such as Cammy. Some things that are quite new...new characters that appeared out of nowhere. It seems that the partnership of Capcom and Akira brought the introduction of never seen before characters such as Kairi or Garuda. The only character that you can customize, Ace, can be quite powerful if he's assigned the right combination of moves, but gaining experience is a pain as one has to complete "missions". I definitely give it two thumbs up. It's a [good] price for a great game. It has become a little complicated from the snes versions, but it's worth the price--super combos, meteor combos, etc. The only part that I really hate is obtaining the metals to obtain characters such as evil ryu, bison II, etc. Some tasks are easy to achieve, but others--like 2 meteor combos--can prove to be quite impossible.
On the downside, characters no longer have their own stage. What belongs to whom? If it wasn't for the music, which changes according to the character, I would say that the fighting arenas just serve no purpose. In addition, I just missed those old finishing scenes. Each character's ending comprises a letter-format statement...no much creativity there. However, the ending credits are just awesome. Why? Because you can fight an entire group of guys nonstop. Purpose? How about plain fun? How about...how many can you k.o.?
One of the best purchase for PS2 I have made so far. No regrets.
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