(LAST UPDATE: 7/13/09)
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Developer(s): Arika
Publisher(s): Capcom
Platform(s): Playstation 2
Release: 2001
Characters: Ryu, Ken, Ace, Chun Li, Dhalsim, Guile, Sagat, Nanase, Kairi, Zangief, Sakura, Hokuto, Skullomania, Pullum, Darun, C. Jack, D. Dark, Area, Vulcano Rosso, Sharon, Shadow Giest, Blanka, Garuda, Bison
Related Games: Street Fighter, Street Fighter 2, Street Fighter 2 Champion Edition, Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Super Street Fighter 2, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo: Revival, Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix, Street Fighter 3: New Generation, Street Fighter 3: Second Impact, Street Fighter 3: Third Strike, Street Fighter 4, Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter Alpha 2, Street Fighter Alpha 3, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max, Street Fighter Alpha: Anthology, Street Fighter Anniversary Collection, Street Fighter EX, Street Fighter EX 2, Street Fighter EX 3, Street Fighter: The Movie, Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo, Super Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo HD Remix, Pocket Fighter
Review: Street Fighter EX 3 was an attempt at bringing the Street Fighter franchise "into the next-gen" as a PS2 launch title. Unfortunately, the game was a rushed project, and lacked the qualities of a true sequel to Street Fighter EX 2. Along with a weak intro using the games average real-time graphics, not much new was added this time around. The main difference in the core gameplay was that the "guard break" system was taken out and replaced with the "hard attack", which doesn't use your super meter but can be blocked by a standing opponent. Other new additions are the "critical parade" and "momentary combo". Many of the combos and meteor combos also return from SF EX2.
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The graphics have improved
slightly showing off smoother, more detailed character models & textures,
but the character rendering is downright bad for the most part... Awkward
skeleton-looking hands and weirdly shaped faces are only a few of the problems
with the 3D models. The background designs and BGMs of SF EX3 are also uninspiring,
arguably inferior to the prequels... Which is quite a feat. Even though
the backgrounds have more 3D elements this time around, they are indeed some of
the most BORING backgrounds ever to be seen in a fighting game. 
Nearly every stage has a lonely / how-the-f*ck-did-I-end-up-here kind of
vibe.
Possibly the only real
enhancement to the gameplay are the new "tag team" & "dramatic
battle" modes. In the single-player mode, the player can assemble a team of
up to four characters, which then can be assigned to teams of 2. The 2P tag-team
mode compliments the gameplay rather well, however, at the end of the day the gameplay is practically the
same as SFEX2 or SFEX
if you took out the tag team element... Thus, EX 3 game really does feel
aged. On top of that,
there were NO new characters added for this sequel... 
WTF? They couldn't even bring back all of the previous characters, as quite a
few classics were actually missing like Blaire,
Allen,
Hayate, and even Akuma...
WTFIA??? (Where
the f*ck is Akuma). 
The only new face is a
actually a customizable character named "Ace," whom players can create a
move-set for, using other characters' moves of course... Unfortunately you can't change
the way he looks, so it's kind of a pointless
feature. Returning characters didn't get much new as far as moves go, but fans
of the EX series should be glad that characters at least play just as they did
in the prequels.
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6 / 10 |
Closing Comment:
How could a sequel not introduce any new characters? Think we wouldn't
notice that Arika?
The tag team gameplay & dramatic battle are nice innovations to the
gameplay, but it's too bad there aren't new characters to compliment the
semi-decent new modes. EX3 was so terribly rushed, just to be a disappointing
PS2 launch title... This is a game that really should have been delayed
and improved before it was released. ~F.Yagami,
Webmaster
of TFG
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