You know what they say! Its the Third Strike that counts! Capcom really did an excellent job with this one.
Graphics/Animation:
Incredible. I am a big fan of fighters with true, traditional 2D graphics. Capcom really pushed the 2D graphics to a ground breaking level when they made this title. The extreme detail in the sprites, the movement in the clothes, and the flexing of the muscles is down right cool. The HD sprites also adds a lot of flavor to the game if you are looking for a little extra pop.
The reactions to hits in the game is revolutionary as well. There is some really nice realistic looking reactions to the hits. For example, Ken's hurricane kick slaps people silly, especially in ex mode. It is so painful it is kinda funny. Every hit from ken's hurricane kick makes the victim's head spin back. The way characters fall really made it look like the characters really have weight. If you can't take my word for it, then look at the Hugo's fighting and ko animations. It is absolutely breath taking.
Music:
Capcom made a bold move to distance themselves from the repetitive nature of Street Fighter 2 theme songs. The game has a mix of hip hop, guitar, a hint of techno, and up beat soundtracks that is sure to get you pumped. And if the original tracks are not enough, then you can unlock a remix of every stage and use those in place of the original tracks. Very impressive.
Gameplay:
The gameplay really isn't all that different from the original game. The game has the typical 3 punches and 3 kicks, throws, parries, ex specials (enhanced versions of special moves), and super arts (more powerful special attacks). You build up you power meter by attacking, taking damage, and using parries. The action is fast paced and the parry system really adds depth and gives you the opportunity to unleash a nasty surprise with the correct timing and quick reflexes.
Game Modes:
This is where the game shines, because it has plenty of modes to enhance the experience of SF 3rd Strike. There is the traditional arcade, trial, online, challenge, and vault modes.
Arcade- fight random fighters and face gill at the end to unlock character endings.
Trial- use this mode to learn and master basic techniques and character combos. I advise you use this mode, because it will really help you become a better player.
Challenge- take on a number of preset challenges.
Vault- use this mode to unlock endings, pictures, movies, and remixes. You also use this mode to set what tracks you want to hear.
The game also has an interesting screen around the edges that actually keeps track of stats.
Online:
I thought it would be better to have a separate section to talk about the online mode. The online experience is perfect. The game is practically lag free. And that is not all. You can take all of your battles and upload them directly to your Youtube account. I tested it today and it works perfectly. The picture quality is really good too.
There are quite a few options available for setting up lobbies. 8 people can join a lobby. You can ban the use of certain characters. Banning characters is actually a cool feature. It was a smart choice because Gill would most likely be the character a lot of people would like to eliminate since he is too powerful to use against others online.
There is also a variety of rules that can be set. For example, you can set a tournament with tournament rules. I haven't tried it out yet; but it sounds like a lot of fun. I really didn't try any of the modes out; however I am sure the modes are interesting.
Final Thoughts:
Pros:
Beautiful 2D graphics
Plenty of game modes
Trial mode will make you better
Near perfect online netcode
Good Remixes
Realistic reactions to hits
Cons:
Sometimes the background music stops playing. That is only a small problem though, because it doesn't happen a lot.
Capcom handled 3rd Strike with great care when they brought it back. Online experience is great and the trial mode will allow those who know the game and those who don't to sharpen their skills. The ability to upload videos sweetens the deal even more. Great job Capcom. This is one game that really feels complete in every way.
3rd Strike is rocking a 10 out 10.