Street Fighter Alpha 3

It's often said that violence is the first recourse of the uncivilized. Let's face it, though; it's also the easiest way to settle an argument (though not the best way, kids!). And in this world, time is money.

However, money is something the protagonists in Street Fighter Alpha 3 have little time for. Theirs is a world of aggression, their individual skills honed to perfection over years of intense training, and the purpose of their existence is stupefyingly simple: to beat or be beaten over best-of-three rounds.

The 30-odd playable characters come from all corners of the planet and boast an equally varied number of combat styles. Familiarity with their individual strengths and weaknesses, as well as learning the game's rudimentary elements of blocking, countering and, crucially, stringing attacks together for devastating 'combos', should ensure the quick demise of an opponent's energy bar.

At least that's the theory. In practice you'll find this is a fast-paced, merciless environment, featuring some of the finest computer fighters you'll come across (dependant on the difficulty level selected, naturally). So the time will come to hit the game's Training mode. Practice makes perfect and when it's this enjoyable, this beautifully animated and this responsive, practice can hardly be considered a chore.

If you have the highest gaming expectations and are looking to add a fighting title to your GBA collection then look no further. There isn't another game for this system that could stand next to the incredible depth and playable brilliance of Street Fighter Alpha 3 and reasonably argue its superiority over Capcom's effort. And if it tried, it would probably just come away nursing a bloody nose.

Street Fighter Alpha 3

The way fighting games should be: fast, fluid and infinitely playable.
Score
Joao Diniz Sanches
Joao Diniz Sanches
With three boys under the age of 10, former Edge editor Joao has given up his dream of making it to F1 and instead spends his time being shot at with Nerf darts. When in work mode, he looks after editorial projects associated with the Pocket Gamer and Steel Media brands.