Street Fighter Alpha Anthology – Review

In 1987, Capcom released a 2D fighting game called Street Fighter to relatively little fanfare. However, Street Fighter II—with its addictive gameplay, colorful characters, and varied fighting techniques—ushered in the golden age of arcade gaming and sparked a revolution for the entire fighting genre upon its release in 1991. Basking in the franchise’s massive success, the company then created Street Fighter Alpha, an animé-style prequel (story-wise) to Street Fighter II. Now, more than a decade and several sequels later, Capcom cruises down the road of nostalgia with the release of Street Fighter Alpha Anthology for the PlayStation 2, a compilation of games from its classic fighting franchise.

The Anthology includes Street Fighter Alpha, Street Fighter Alpha 2, Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold, Street Fighter Alpha 3, and the bonus addition of Super Gem Fighter MiniMix (also known as Pocket Fighter), for a total of five games. Not only that, but beating all five unlocks what could be considered the sixth game in this definitive collection: Hyper Street Fighter Alpha, which gives you numerous options for character customization and even lets you pit a character from one game with a character from any of the other games.

As mentioned previously, the storyline from the Alpha series is a prequel to the one found in Street Fighter II. The characters are therefore younger looking, which is helped along by the more animé-styled graphics. The Alpha series also introduced new fighting elements such as parrying, airborne blocking, and multiple super-combo gauges. Each series’ iteration features improved graphics, larger character selection, story tweaks, and new additions to gameplay. For example, Street Fighter Alpha introduced the ‘Ism’ system, which consists of different amassed fighting styles you can choose from that influence a character’s moves and super combos.

Although experiencing the progression of a series can be an eye-opener, you’ll soon feel as though you’re playing the same game over and over, regardless of the various modes, additions, and tweaks added to each game. Perhaps this was the reason Capcom included Super Gem Fighter MiniMix in the Anthology, in order to break up the monotony, which it does quite well. With its chibi (super-deformed) style of graphics (reminiscent of the Puzzle Street Fighter series) and its simple, fun gameplay that utilizes the collection of gems to power up your moves, Super Gem Fighter MiniMix is a little jewel of a game that will undoubtedly become a favorite with many gamers—it’s fun, fast, and simple to play, with just three controlling attack buttons instead of the usual six.

Speaking of controls, this is where the Anthology’s Alpha games falter a little. The six arcade controls are translated to the PS2 controller by utilizing all four buttons plus the R1 and R2 shoulder buttons for heavy kicks and punches. The layout isn’t conducive to rapidly and accurately mashing various fighting combos, which can get frustrating—especially when you’re playing as a favorite character.

In regards to graphics, it must be mentioned that these are direct arcade ports of games released a decade ago (the ‘newest’ game is already eight years old). While outdated, they nevertheless retain a fun, colorful feel—and you may find yourself forgetting about the old-school graphics as you immerse yourself in the fighting.

One good thing that can be said about 2D graphics is that they don’t really support the ‘big bouncing breasts’ factor, which makes the stereotype of the sexy female fighter not as in-your-face as other (3D) fighting games. Even so, expect the usual array of large breasts. Although some female fighters’ assets are less noticeable, other elements will come up that may make girl gamers gnash their teeth in annoyance. For example, Sakura wears a school uniform that covers up her chest nicely, but you can still expect plenty of panty shots. These issues are tempered somewhat by the fact that the female characters—while obviously sexualized to a certain degree—are shown with strong, muscular forms. Plus, when played well, they’re more or less equal to all the available male fighters.

The Anthology’s audio is typical of any fighting game. While the punches, kicks, and groans are not much to write home about, they are still aurally adequate. In Street Fighter Alpha 3, the announcer has an annoying habit of trying to be fanciful and touch up the usual “Round 1, FIGHT!” statements with such comments as “Go for broke!” and “Let’s go, man!” On a related note, the characters’ stories and comments are shown in a textual format rather than spoken aloud, so deaf or hard-of-hearing gamers need not worry about missing anything.

Although gamers will have fun with numerous modes and a large roster of characters, similarities among the Alpha games may bring on boredom. The bonus inclusion of Super Gem Fighter MiniMix can relieve that sense of rehashing familiar ground somewhat, although some gamers may find it too cutesy or simple for their liking. As with any fighting game, it’s always more fun to be playing against a friend, making jokes, and yelling mock-threats to each other. Fighting game aficionados and collectors may want to nab a copy to complete their collections, while newcomers to the fighting genre may also enjoy the game (and the history lesson contained within). All in all, Street Fighter Alpha Anthology is a decent collection of 2D fighting games that will bring you a few hours of enjoyment—that is, if you’re interested in or like fighting games.

Review by Mallika