Expanded Game

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike

1999 · Arcade · Fighting · Arcade

86IGDB player score
111 ratings

Previously Take

Quietly sitting at an 86 average. The algorithm never did this one any favors. Straightforward fighting game, from Capcom — it knows what it is. Come for the campaign, stay because your friends won't let you leave the lobby. A 1999 original that still holds up — they don't make them like this anymore, literally.

About this game

Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike is the second follow-up to Street Fighter III. The game increased the character roster by adding five new characters and also added further refinements to the previous game's play mechanics and rules. All the returning characters from the previous Street Fighter III games were given new stages, endings, and voice actors for certain characters, continuing the overall storyline from where the first two games left off.

3rd Strike tells the story of what happened after the events of Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact and the conclusion of the Third World Warrior Tournament (fourth, retroactively). Among the battles that occured during this time: Alex vs. Ryu - Ryu encounters and defeats Alex comprehensively, leading Alex to become obsessed with fighting Ryu again and becoming a better fighter. Ryu vs. Ken - The two friends face off once more and Ryu again narrowly defeats Ken, lauding him as his worthiest opponent. Chun-Li vs. Urien - Chun-Li demands the return of a kidnapped child and Urien agrees to comply if Chun-Li can provide an entertaining match. The victor is unknown, although it is implied Chun-Li won, as the child is returned. Necro vs. Twelve - Upon learning the Necro and his female companion, Effie, survived the events of 2nd Impact, Necro's successor, Twelve, is ordered by either Gill or Urien to hunt down and exterminate them. While the official outcome of this battle is unknown, Necro's ending reveals that he and Effie likely survived the encounter. Twelve, in the meantime, is returned to Dr. Woo's lab to recuperate, and it is hinted that he has gained sentience, as his hollow eyes gain red irises. Akuma vs. Oro - Both have fought each other after an encounter, but declared to cease combat as there was no clear winner and both believed that a mutual death would occur had they continued.