Street Fighter EX3

Overview

Street Fighter EX3 is a 2.5D fighting game developed by Arika and published by Capcom for the PlayStation 2 (as a launch title) in Japan (on March 4, 2000), North America (on October 26, 2000), and Europe (on March 2, 2001).

The third and final installment of Arika's spin-off Street Fighter series (and the only one not to get an arcade release), Street Fighter EX3 adds tag-team fighting similar to the Marvel vs. Capcom series, as well as revised gameplay mechanics (including the "Surprise Blow" attack, which is an overhead attack that replaces Guard Break and uses no meter, and the "Momentary Combo" system, which replaces Excels and allows players to link certain special moves into other attacks).

Gameplay

Street Fighter EX3 is the final game in the EX series, and the only entry on the Playstation 2. Like its predecessors, Street Figther EX3 employs 3D, polygonal graphics, but the fighting primarily takes place on a 2D plane, like the Street Fighter and Street Fighter Alpha series. Returning characters have similar attacks as before, with each being able to pull off a handful of super combos.

The Guard Break system from earlier EX series games was replaced with the Surprise Blow. While guard breaks were unblockable attacks that used up a portion of the super combo bar, surprise blows are blockable, but do not use up the super combo bar. If the attack hits, the enemy is stunned and can be attacked freely. EX3 also features tag battles, allowing players to switch between characters when the appropriate gauge has filled. Each team can have up to four characters, however the life bar of each individual fighter is shortened as more people are added to the team.

Characters

All of the characters included in Street Fighter EX2 Plus (with the exception of Hayate) are added in EX3, some of whom are now locked until players reach certain milestones in the game. The game includes 15 playable characters from the start, 9 unlockable characters, and 3 unlockable character variations, bringing the total to 24 playable characters (27 with variations).

Along with the true secret boss (known as "Shin Bison" or "True Vega"), the game also includes unplayable characters that can only be accessed through cheat devices: three generic unnamed characters and Cycloid, all of whom are unused outside of testing.

New Characters

• Ace (starts with a limited moveset, which can be customized and expanded by "purchasing" new moves in the Character Edit mode)

Returning Characters

• Ryu (has an alternate "Evil" variation as a hidden opponent, which must be unlocked for use)
• Ken
• Chun-Li
• Zangief
• Guile
• Hokuto (can transform into her "Bloody Hokuto" form)
• Doctrine Dark
• Cracker Jack
• Skullomania
• Dhalsim
• Blanka
• Sharon
• Vega (known as Balrog in the Japanese version, has a special unlockable code that allows him to fight unmasked)
• Nanase
• Kairi (hidden opponent, must be unlocked)
• Shadowgeist (hidden opponent, must be unlocked)
• Garuda (mid-boss, must be unlocked)
• M. Bison (known as Vega in the Japanese version, final boss that must be unlocked for use, has two upgraded secret boss forms, one of which is also unlockable for use)
• Sagat (mid-boss, must be unlocked)
• Pullum Purna (must be unlocked)
• Darun Mister (must be unlocked)
• Area (must be unlocked)
• Vulcano Rosso (must be unlocked)