Street Fighter III: the story on HearLore

Street Fighter III

In the annals of fighting game history, few mechanics have sparked as much debate and devotion as the parry system introduced in Street Fighter III. This was not merely a defensive option but a high-stakes gamble that demanded split-second precision, allowing players to deflect any incoming attack without taking damage if timed perfectly. The concept was not entirely new, having been pioneered in the 1994 title Samurai Shodown II, but Street Fighter III elevated it to a central pillar of its identity. Unlike previous entries in the series where blocking was a passive, safe option, parrying required the player to move the controller toward or down at the exact moment an opponent's attack was about to connect. Success meant leaving the opponent vulnerable for a counterattack, while failure resulted in taking full damage. This mechanic transformed the game from a simple test of reflexes into a psychological duel of timing and nerve, where a single misstep could turn the tide of battle. The parry system became the defining feature of Street Fighter III, setting it apart from its contemporaries and earning it a cult following that persists to this day.

A New Generation of Fighters

When Street Fighter III: New Generation launched in 1997, it made a bold decision to discard nearly every character from the previous Street Fighter II roster, keeping only Ryu and Ken. This move was intended to signal a fresh start, but it also alienated many longtime fans who had grown attached to the established cast. The new roster was led by Alex, an American protagonist whose goal was to avenge the defeat of his friend Tom at the hands of Gill, the game's new antagonist. Other characters included Dudley, a British boxer seeking to recover his father's antique Jaguar convertible; Elena, an African princess who used capoeira; and Ibuki, an aspiring female ninja tasked with retrieving the G File from Gill's organization. The development team, led by producer Noritaka Funamizu and character designer Akira Yasuda, faced significant challenges in creating a new cast that felt as iconic as the original. Yasuda himself later expressed regret, stating that if he could change the past, he would rather not have worked on the game at all. Despite these struggles, the new characters brought a unique flair to the series, with designs that ranged from the seclusive hermit Oro, who bound one arm to avoid killing his opponents, to the twin kung fu experts Yun and Yang, who were young leaders of their city in Hong Kong.

The 2D Stand Against 3D

At a time when the fighting game market was rapidly shifting toward 3D polygonal graphics, Capcom made the controversial decision to keep Street Fighter III in 2D. This choice was driven by the belief that 3D was not suitable for head-to-head fighting and that Capcom lacked the techniques to display high-quality 3D graphics. Instead, the team focused on creating elaborate 2D sprites using the new CP System III hardware, which allowed for more detailed animations and higher color counts. Each character in the game was made up of approximately 700 to 1,200 individually drawn frames of animation, running at 60 frames per second. This level of detail was unprecedented for the time, with characters exhibiting multiple hit stun sprites, including a new turned-around state that added depth to the combat. The decision to stick with 2D was a gamble that paid off in terms of visual fidelity but came at a cost. The high budget of 1 billion yen, or approximately 8 million dollars, combined with the limited number of arcade cabinets sold, between 1,000 and 10,000 units worldwide, meant that the game struggled to break even. Despite these financial challenges, the game's graphics and gameplay mechanics earned it critical acclaim, with many reviewers praising its stunning visuals and flawless controls.

Common questions

What is the parry system in Street Fighter III?

The parry system in Street Fighter III is a high-stakes defensive mechanic that allows players to deflect any incoming attack without taking damage if timed perfectly. This system requires the player to move the controller toward or down at the exact moment an opponent's attack is about to connect. Success leaves the opponent vulnerable for a counterattack, while failure results in taking full damage.

Who created the characters in Street Fighter III?

The development team for Street Fighter III was led by producer Noritaka Funamizu and character designer Akira Yasuda. The new roster included characters such as Alex, Dudley, Elena, Ibuki, Oro, Yun, and Yang. Akira Yasuda later expressed regret about working on the game, stating that if he could change the past, he would rather not have worked on it at all.

How many frames of animation does each character in Street Fighter III have?

Each character in Street Fighter III is made up of approximately 700 to 1,200 individually drawn frames of animation. These frames run at 60 frames per second to create elaborate 2D sprites using the CP System III hardware. This level of detail was unprecedented for the time and included multiple hit stun sprites.

Who is the main antagonist in Street Fighter III?

Gill is the leader of the secret organization Shadowlaw and serves as the main antagonist in Street Fighter III. He is the final opponent for all characters in New Generation and 3rd Strike, and for most of the characters in 2nd Impact. Gill manipulates fire and ice to devastating effect and seeks to turn the Earth into a utopia.

When was Street Fighter III 3rd Strike released?

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike was released in 1999 as the final installment of the trilogy. It followed Street Fighter III: New Generation and Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact, which both launched in 1997. The 3rd Strike iteration refined the mechanics and added new Super Arts to the game.

Who composed the music for Street Fighter III?

The music for Street Fighter III was composed by Yuki Iwai for New Generation and 2nd Impact, and Hideki Okugawa for all three games. Canadian rapper Infinite contributed three songs and announcer tracks for 3rd Strike. The soundtrack was released on CD by First Smile Entertainment in 1997 for New Generation and by Mars Colony Music in 2000 for 3rd Strike.

Street Fighter III

A New Generation of Fighters

The 2D Stand Against 3D

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