Street Fighter Alpha 3 (Europe 980904)

Street Fighter Alpha 3 pits two players against each other in fast-paced, head-to-head combat across a globe-spanning roster of fighters. Building on the mechanics established in previous Street Fighter games, this version allows for more intricate combos and strategic movement as players select from characters like Ryu, Chun-Li, and Ken – though be aware that character names may differ depending on your region (Gouki is known as Akuma in export versions). Stages are set in various international locales, each offering a unique backdrop to the intense battles. This 1998 release runs on Capcom's CPS-II hardware and introduced revisions impacting both North American and European releases. A key feature of the gameplay is the "A-ISM" system (formerly Z-ISM), which allows characters to briefly amplify their power for devastating attacks. The game’s vibrant graphics and familiar fighting mechanics made it a popular addition to arcades, even finding its way into the home of MTV's Bam Margera for a time. Street Fighter Alpha 3 has been ported to numerous consoles and handheld devices over the years including PlayStation, Dreamcast, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, and PSP. While originally developed in Japan, it quickly became a staple in arcades across Europe and beyond.