This comparison video review is just a means to see how 4 different console ports of this game stack up to the original source. With Alpha 2’s success on gaining back the respect of the community and fans alike, it was only natural that major home consoles would get a translation of the arcade game. Alpha 2 ranks in my top 3 favorite Street Fighter games of all time… 3rd Strike, Alpha 2, and Turbo Hyper Fighting.

I can still remember being completely awed by the cabinet’s marquee you know the one with Ryu staring directly at Akuma with a look of fear (perhaps one of the most iconic images in the franchise, at least to me). I was exposed to this game much like every other fighter back then… at the local arcade. The Alpha Counter system was expanded with one additional counter for every character providing more diverse counter measures during combat, and most importantly, the dreaded magic series combo engine was thrown out and replaced with a new innovative mechanic known as the Custom Combo (IMO one of the greatest mechanic ever devised for the genre). The roster bolstered 4 additional fighters and the inclusion of 1 all new character, Sakura Kasugano. The visuals received a major facelift with beautifully detailed backgrounds, an improved color scheme and amazing artwork throughout. Everything Alpha 2 offered felt fresh and cohesive. It goes without saying that Alpha 2 sought to correct every major mistake set by its predecessor and thankfully, achieved in doing so with such efficient execution, that the series was once again able to bask in the glory it had attained for itself. The games graphics looked lifeless and dull especially in the backgrounds, and the gameplay felt out of place as the established “Magic Series” combo engine did not blend at all with these World Warriors as well as it had with Capcom’s other popular IP in the 2D fighting arena. The original Alpha reeked of a rushed job, with graphics and (more importantly) gameplay that did not meet the standards that the series was renowned for at the time. Unleashed onto the arcade scene in 1996, Alpha 2 had a lot to answer for after Capcom’s attempt at re-establishing the SF brand resulted in, quite frankly a major disappointment.

Street fighter alpha 2 gameplay