Street Fighter Alpha

Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams[lower-alpha 1] is a 2D 1995 fighting game by Capcom originally released for the arcade for the CP System II hardware. It was the first all new Street Fighter game produced by Capcom since the release of Street Fighter II in 1991. The working title for the game was Street Fighter Legends.

Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams
Developer(s)Capcom
Publisher(s)Capcom
PlayStation, Saturn and Game Boy Color
Designer(s)Noritaka Funamizu
Haruo Murata
Hideaki Itsuno
Programmer(s)Chan Cho Choy
Pon
Arikichi
Hard Yas
Super Sailor
Artist(s)Konomi
Buppo
Shibata Kayoko
Akiko Matsunaga
Nakagawa Daisuke
Jun Matsumura
Alien Pole
Takechan
Composer(s)Isao Abe
Syun Nishigaki
Setsuo Yamamoto
Yuko Takehara
Naoaki Iwami
Naoshi Mizuta
SeriesStreet Fighter
Platform(s)Arcade
Game Boy Color
PlayStation
Sega Saturn
Windows
CPS Changer
Java ME
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: June 5, 1995
  • NA: June 27, 1995
  • AU: July 14, 1995
  • EU: July 27, 1995
  • SA: November 9, 1995
CPS Changer
  • US: July 27, 1995 (Publicity)
  • JP: October 20, 1995
PlayStation
  • JP: December 22, 1995
  • NA: February 7, 1996
  • AU: April 12, 1996
  • EU: May 3, 1996
Saturn
  • JP: January 26, 1996
  • EU: January 25, 1996
  • NA: June 6, 1996
Game Boy Color
  • EU: December 17, 1999
  • NA: March 24, 2000
  • AU: October 27, 2000
  • JP: March 30, 2001
PC
  • NA: June 14, 1998
Genre(s)Fighting
Mode(s)Up to 2 players simultaneously
Arcade systemCP System II

The game introduces several new features, expanding on the Super Combo system previously featured in Super Street Fighter II Turbo, with graphics drawn in a similar art style to the one Capcom employed in Darkstalkers and X-Men: Children of the Atom.[1][2] The plot of Street Fighter Alpha is set after the original Street Fighter but before Street Fighter II and thus the game features younger versions of established characters, as well as characters from the original Street Fighter and Final Fight, and a few who are new to the series.

Gameplay

Street Fighter Alpha revamps the Super Combo system introduced in Super Street Fighter II Turbo by adding a three-level Super Combo gauge. Like in Super Turbo, the Super Combo gauge fills in as the player performs regular and special techniques. When the gauge reaches Level 1 or higher, the player can perform a Super Combo technique. The number of punch or kick buttons pressed simultaneously when performing a Super Combo determines the amount that will be used. In addition to Super Combos, the player can also perform a special counterattacking technique called an Alpha Counter (Zero Counter in the Japanese version) after blocking an opponent's attack, which consumes a level of the Super Combo Gauge.[3]

There are two playing styles that can be selected after choosing a character: "Normal" and "Auto". Auto differs from Normal in that the character automatically guards against a limited number of attacks (provided the character is not in the middle of performing an attack). Auto also allows the player to perform an instant Super Combo by pressing a punch and kick of the same strength simultaneously, but at the expense of reducing the maximum level of the Super Combo gauge to one.[3]

There are also new basic techniques such as Air Blocking, the ability to guard during mid-air, and Chain Combos (also known as Alpha Combos, or Zero Combos in Japan), which are combos that are performed by interrupting the animation of one basic move by performing another of equal or greater strength. In addition to recovering from an opponent's throw, the player also has the ability to roll on the ground when they fall to the ground after an attack.

The single player mode consists of seven random computer-controlled opponents and a final opponent whose identity depends on the storyline of the player's selected character. M. Bison is the final boss for half of the characters. There are also two hidden characters: Akuma, who returns from Super Turbo as an alternate final boss only after certain in-game requirements are met, and a new character named Dan (a popular Capcom spoof character), who challenges the player during the course of the game if certain requirements are met.

The game also features a secret two-on-one Dramatic Battle mode in which two players as Ryu and Ken fight against a computer-controlled M. Bison, a match inspired by the final fight between the characters in Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie[4] (the Japanese arcade version of the game plays an instrumental rendition of the movie's battle theme, "Itoshisato Setsunasato Kokorozuyosato", which was replaced by M. Bison's regular theme in the overseas releases).

Characters

The immediate character roster includes Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li and Sagat from the Street Fighter II series, along with Birdie (a dark-skinned punk whose stage is in Italy, despite being British) and Adon (Sagat's former apprentice) from the original Street Fighter, who make their first appearances as playable characters in this game. Guy, one of the main playable characters from Final Fight, also appears along with Sodom, a boss character from the same game.[5] New to the series are Charlie, Guile's combat buddy who uses the same special techniques, and Rose, an Italian female fortune teller who uses an energy known as "Soul Power".

In addition to the ten regular characters, there are also three boss characters in the game. Street Fighter II antagonist M. Bison appears as a final opponent for many of the characters in the single-player mode, while Akuma from Super Street Fighter II Turbo once again appears as a secret final opponent. Another secret character, Dan, Capcom's parody of SNK characters Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia, makes his first appearance in this game. All three characters can be selected by the player by inputting a specific code for each.

History

Due to the small amount of character animation data in Street Fighter Alpha, Capcom was able to do a relatively straight port to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation; source code from the arcade version is incorporated into both home versions.[6]

A slightly downgraded version of Street Fighter Alpha was also released for Capcom's older CPS I arcade board. This was done because Capcom feared that some arcades would not be willing to upgrade to the CPS II board. This version features a different soundtrack with less sound effects.[7]

Ports of Street Fighter Alpha were initially released for the PlayStation and the Sega Saturn. Both versions feature an arranged soundtrack with a choice between the Arranged and Original versions. In addition to a dedicated two-player "Versus Mode", these ports were also the first console Street Fighter ports to feature a Training Mode, allowing players to practice their techniques and combos on a non-hostile character. As part of their Capcom licensing deal, the home versions were published in Europe by Virgin Interactive instead of Capcom.[8] The PlayStation version of Street Fighter Alpha was re-released for the PSP and PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network on August 14, 2008 in North America.[9]

A port for Capcom's CPS Changer was also released as a mail order release in 1996 in Japan. This version was based on the CPS I version. A Windows PC version was released in 1998, based on the PlayStation version.

A Game Boy Color version (ported by Crawfish Interactive) was released in 1999, featuring downscaled graphics and sound. The Game Boy Color version has no link cable support and is single-player only. The Japanese version of the Game Boy Color port was released using the Alpha name, rather than the Zero name.

The original Street Fighter Alpha and its sequels are featured in Street Fighter Alpha Anthology for the PlayStation 2. The version of Alpha in this compilation features Arcade, Versus and Training modes like the previous PlayStation and Saturn ports, as well as Survival and Dramatic Battle modes. The Dramatic Battle on the main menu differs from the one in the original arcade game in that the player can select any pair of characters and face against a series of four computer-controlled opponents (Adon, Sagat, M. Bison and Akuma), not just Ryu and Ken against Bison. Furthermore, the player can turn on an option to allow Super Cancels, that is, canceling a special move into a Super Combo.

Street Fighter Alpha was one of the eleven games released as part of the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection in its emulated arcade form. This version is on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch and Steam with the feature of save states.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Street Fighter Alpha on their August 1, 1995 issue as being the second most-successful arcade game of the year.[29] Reviewing the arcade version, a critic for Next Generation derided the game's lack of major changes from previous iterations of the series, but concluded, "Capcom's right, in a way. Street Fighter only needs subtle changes for now; it's already got the most important thing: great gameplay." He gave it three out of five stars.[30]

Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version their "Game of the Month" award, and reviewers for Electronic Gaming Monthly, GamePro, and Maximum all hailed it as being virtually identical to the arcade version,[13][24][31] though some of them complained about the load times.[13][24] GamePro called it "easily the best argument that the PlayStation is not just a polygon-based system",[31] while Maximum deemed it "the next logical evolvement of the most popular fighting game of all time."[24] Reviewers were also pleased with Alpha's new gameplay mechanics such as alpha counters.[13][24][31]

Reviewing the Saturn version, Sega Saturn Magazine commented: "The graphics are great, the sound's great, it plays very well indeed and it's tough enough to keep you going for ages even without a second player to hand." However, they also remarked that the game was outclassed by the recently released X-Men: Children of the Atom and that most gamers should get that one instead.[27] GamePro criticized that some of the game's new characters were not as powerful or fun to play as the series regulars, but praised the gameplay additions and deemed the Saturn version "a near-perfect arcade conversion."[32] Maximum argued that while the game has fewer characters and backgrounds than Super Street Fighter II Turbo and makes few innovations to the series, it is refined to the point where "Everything that Street Fighter does so well has been taken to new levels in Alpha." They commented on the accuracy of the Saturn version[25] and gave it their "Maximum Game of the Month" award.[33] Both GamePro and Maximum particularly applauded the coloration of the Super Move shadows in the Saturn version.[32][25]

The Game Boy Color version was a runner-up for GameSpot's annual "Best Game Boy Color Game" and "Best Fighting Game" awards, losing to Dragon Warrior I & II and Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000, respectively.[34]

Legacy

Sequels

Street Fighter Alpha was followed by two sequels: Street Fighter Alpha 2 in 1996 and Street Fighter Alpha 3 in 1998. Like Alpha, the two games were originally released for the arcades, followed by a few upgraded editions and home versions. All three games in the series and their variations were included in the PlayStation 2 compilation Street Fighter Alpha Anthology, released in 2006.

A manga adaptation based on the original Alpha and Alpha 2 by Masahiko Nakahira was published in Gamest game from 1995 to 1996, and was later adapted into English by UDON in 2007. Two different animated adaptations were also produced: Street Fighter Alpha: The Animation in 1999 and Street Fighter Alpha: Generations in 2005.

Notes
  1. Known as Street Fighter Zero (Japanese: ストリートファイター ZERO (ゼロ)) in Japan, Asia, South America, and Oceania

References
  1. "Video Games PC Xbox 360 PS3 Wii PSP DS PS2 PlayStation 2 GameCube GBA PlayStation 3". GameSpot. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
  2. "Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 1. Emap International Limited. October 1995. pp. 48–58.
  3. Street Fighter Alpha Anthology - Instruction Manual
  4. "Two Players Can Now Challenge M Bison!! His Psycho Power Can Utterly Destroy You!!". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 2. Emap International Limited. November 1995. p. 55.
  5. Harrod, Gus and Gary (February 1996). "Capcom Speak". Mean Machines Sega. No. 40. p. 23.
  6. "The Maximum Street Fighter Alpha R&D Interview". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 4. Emap International Limited. March 1996. pp. 68–69.
  7. "Street Fighter Producer Yoshinori Ono on His Love Affair With the Games". Wired.com. 2015-12-10. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  8. "PlayStation Version Confirmed". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 2. Emap International Limited. November 1995. p. 51.
  9. "Grant > Manage Blog". Capcom-unity.com. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  10. "Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams for PlayStation (1995) MobyRank". MobyGames.com. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  11. "Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams for SEGA Saturn (1996) MobyRank". MobyGames.com. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  12. "Computer and Video Games - Issue 173 (1996-04)(EMAP Images)(GB)". Archive.org. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  13. "Review Crew: Street Fighter Alpha". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 79. Ziff Davis. February 1996. p. 30.
  14. "ストリートファイターZERO まとめ [PS] / ファミ通.com". Famitsu.com. 2014-12-03. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  15. "ストリートファイターZERO まとめ [セガサターン] / ファミ通.com". Famitsu.com. 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  16. "Review: Street Fighter Alpha". 1997-01-17. Archived from the original on 1997-01-17. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  17. GameFan, volume 4, issue 2 (February 1996), page 16
  18. GameFan, volume 4, issue 3 (March 1996), page 11
  19. GamesMaster, issue 40 (March 1996), pages 42-43
  20. GamesMaster, issue 42 (May 1996), pages 50-51
  21. Play, issue 5 (March 1996), pages 32-34, published 21 February 1996
  22. Play, issue 7 (May 1996), pages 64-65, published 25 April 1996
  23. Review, PSM, Issue 5, April 1998
  24. "Maximum Reviews: Street Fighter Alpha". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 4. Emap International Limited. 1996. pp. 146–7.
  25. Maximum, issue 5, April 1996, EMAP, pages 146-147
  26. Mean Machines Sega, issue 43, pages 74-77
  27. Automatic, Rad (April 1996). "Review: Street Fighter Alpha". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 6. Emap International Limited. pp. 74–75.
  28. Gamest, The Best Game 2: Gamest Mook Vol. 112, pp. 6-26
  29. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 500. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 August 1995. p. 25.
  30. "Street Fighter Alpha: Warrior Dreams". Next Generation. No. 10. Imagine Media. October 1995. p. 130.
  31. "ProReview: Street Fighter Alpha". GamePro. No. 90. IDG. March 1996. p. 46.
  32. GamePro, issue 91 (April 1996), page 74
  33. "The Essential Buyers Guide Reviews". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 5. Emap International Limited. April 1996. p. 145.
  34. GameSpot Staff (January 5, 2001). "Best and Worst of 2000". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 13, 2002.

Sources
  • Erik Suzuki; Matt Taylor; Graham Wolfe (1996). Street Fighter Alpha Strategy Guide. Dimension Publishing.
  • Studio Bent Stuff (Sep 2000). All About Capcom Head-to-Head Fighting Games 1987-2000. A.A. Game History Series (Vol. 1) (in Japanese). Dempa Publications, Inc. ISBN 4-88554-676-1.
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