| Platform Reviewed | Sega Saturn |
| Genre | Anime-Style Fighting Game |
| Number of Players | 1-2 |
| Multiplayer Value | Minimum |
| Length | Short, but many characters and endings |
| Difficulty | Variable |
| Skills Required | Hand-Eye Coordination |
| Interface Devices | Sega Saturn Joypad |
| Interface Design | Good |
| Programming | Good |
| Game Design and Playability | Excellent |
| Type Of Fun | Beat-Em-Up |
| Replay Value | High |
| Overall Value | High |
| Quality | High |
| The Best | All the arcade characters, the best version of the game for home play, superior anime-style graphics, absolutely fantastic gameplay. One of the year's best fighters |
| The Worst | Could have more diverse end-of-battle speeches. The endings could have been animated. |
| How much I'd Pay for This | 50 Bucks |
Description:
This is Street Fighter Alpha (originally Street Fighter Zero in Japan) and it is identical in every respect to the arcade. This is clearly the best home version of the game, and offers everything one could wish for in a Capcom fighting game. Street Fighter Alpha is actually a prequel to Street Fighter II, and involves the primary characters, and background characters (such as Guile's pal Charlie) as they were years in the past.
Consequently, the characters have moves that are not quite as developed as in Street Fighter II, but have far more youthful energy and power than their older, embattled selves.
Story:
You need me to tell you? You have never heard of Street Fighter? Of the secret tournament to prove the best street fighting martial artist in the world, the very game that started the whole genre? What kind of game player ARE you? For SHAME! Just beat people up, fer chrissakes! Jesus! Get a Joypad and a clue, will yah? Man!
Review:
Street Fighter Alpha was Capcom's first testbed of a new evolution of fighting game design. Borrowing from all of their competitors, such as SNK (Samurai Spirits) and others, Capcom has improved upon their already marvelous basic design. The addition of hyper-power bars (also used in Night Warriors and X-Men Children Of The Atom) permits the unleashing of super powered moves even when all is seemingly lost. Complex, animating backgrounds, and more complex story elements (What DID happen to poor Charlie? Who taught M. Bison (Vega in Japan) all of that mystical power? Was Chun-Li as cute when she was only 18?) add to the fun. Street Fighter Alpha is a very worthy addition to the Street Fighter series, and provides for excellent value, and unique play elements. Very Recommended.
Jennifer Diane Reitz is a Game Designer and Computer Artist, and one of the founders of Happy Puppy. She is the creator of numerous games and software products, including Boppin' , Shark Chums, Elsewhere, and many others. She has worked for such companies as Activision, Sculptured Software, Epyx, SRI, and Electronic Arts, and founded Accursed Toys. She has been active in the computer gaming industry since it's earliest days. She considers games to be works of artistic merit and achievement, and views computer entertainment as the most important media of our era.