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| PLATFORM: PSP |
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| PORTABLE PUNCHING POWERHOUSE |
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 ormally when I hear the words “fighting game” and “handheld,” I instantly sigh and come to grips with the fact that the next couple days of work are going to be arduous. Thankfully, the PSP and Capcom have changed all that. Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max is truly a great port of a classic 2D fighter. As you would guess, it looks gorgeous on the PSP’s hi-res screen, but I was also pleasantly surprised to find that the load times are disguised well, so the game is pretty much seamless after the initial boot.
Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max features a plethora of game modes, including the always-entertaining World Tour single-player adventure that lets you build up a character as you tackle various challenges. There are also a ton of fighters (over 30), including four new combatants over the original arcade release: Yun, Maki, Eagle, and Ingrid.
All told, it’s basically a perfect arcade port that will please Street Fighter fans. While there is no internet play, you can take on another player via ad hoc with little to no lag as long as you sit in close proximity. There may be nothing revolutionary here, but putting an arcade classic in the palm of your hand is never something to scoff at, especially when you consider the less-than-glowing history of handheld fighters.
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I realize that the hardcore Street Fighter crowd is going to freak out over any sub-9 score, but I can’t fathom why anyone who isn’t already part of that demographic is going to get into this game. Yes, it’s a great conversion of Street Fighter Alpha 3, and works quite well on the PSP, but how many times does this title have to be remade? The gaming universe has moved on, and it’s awfully tough to go back. The rules of the game have become so arcane with attack priority, frames, and crazy combos that 2D fighters just aren’t pick-up-and-play at all. Fans will be well served here, but it seems like Capcom is content to preach to the choir. |
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7.75 |
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| CONCEPT: |
| Take the arcade classic, throw in a bunch of expected modes, a dash of different characters and viola! |
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| GRAPHICS: |
| Still one of the best 2D fighters around |
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| SOUND: |
| It’s in Q Sound. Need I say more? |
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| PLAYABILITY: |
| The PSP’s d-pad and analog stick can be a tad unreliable, but they are certainly sufficient |
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| ENTERTAINMENT: |
| Street Fighter fans will love the luxury of playing on the go on the PSP’s crisp screen |
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| Copyright
1991 -
2009
:: Game Informer Magazine
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