Line #63 VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/street_fighter_alpha_arcade_flyer.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:[[{{Tagline}} The legend lives on...]]]]
3
4	->''"You can't give it up! GO FOR IT, MAN!"''\
5	''"Let's PARTY! Go for broke!"''\
6	''"Beat 'em up, guys! TRIUMPH OR DIE!"''
7	-->-- '''Announcer''', ''Alpha 3''
8
9	In 1995, Creator/{{Capcom}} released a long-awaited sequel -- or rather, an {{interquel}} -- to ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'', ''Street Fighter Alpha'' ([[MarketBasedTitle also known as]] ''Street Fighter [[EpisodeZeroTheBeginning Zero]]'' in Japan, Asia, and South America). With a distinctive [[{{Animesque}} anime look]] based on ''Anime/StreetFighterIITheAnimatedMovie'', the ''Alpha'' trilogy, serving as the collective third installment of the series, took place between the [[VideoGame/StreetFighterI first]] [[VideoGame/StreetFighterII two]] ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' games and expanded the {{backstory}} of some of the major characters, notably: Charlie Nash being deployed on a [[ForegoneConclusion doomed mission]] to fight M. Bison, Ryu's flirtation with TheDarkSide and his run-ins with a BloodKnight named Akuma, Cammy's past as a {{Bodyguard Babe\|s}} for Bison, and Bison's true nature as an evil entity who keeps [[BodyBackupDrive jumping between bodies]] to survive.
10
11	* The first game, subtitled ''Warriors' Dreams'', brought back the Super Combos from ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo'' that activate a string of powerful attacks after filling up your Super Meter. The strength, or "Level" of your Super is dependent on how full your meter is: L, M, and H deplete 1, 2, or 3 bars, respectively. Next is the Alpha Counter: a quick motion done while blocking (quarter-circle motion in ''1'' and ''2'', hold down two buttons of equal strength in ''3'') which, when timed correctly, [[CounterAttack will deflect an opponent's special moves with one of your own]]. You also get a Guard Meter which whittles down whenever you block someone's attacks, and will stun you (Guard Crush) if it runs out.\
12	It stars returning characters from the original ''VideoGame/{{Street Fighter\|I}}'' who were merely A.I. opponents (Sagat's BastardUnderstudy Adon and British hoodlum Birdie), as well as characters from Capcom's BeatEmUp ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' (Metro City savior Guy and the [[ForeignCultureFetish samurai wannabe]] Sodom). It also introduced a few new characters: Dan Hibiki (the quintessential JokeCharacter and TakeThat to ''Street Fighter'' copycat ''VideoGame/ArtOfFighting''), Guile's [[DoomedByCanon soon-to-be-dead]] comrade Charlie ([[DubNameChange who was called Nash in Japan]] and [[LastNameBasis goes by that name]] in all regions starting with ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV''), and Bison's [[EvilCounterpart Good Counterpart]] Rose. They are joined by the returning ''SFII'' characters Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Sagat, M. Bison, and Akuma.
13	----
14	* ''Street Fighter Alpha 2'' was released less than a year later in '96 and expanded upon the previous game, with the addition of a "Custom {{Combo\|s}}" system: activating it will cause a chain of shadows to mimic your attacks. You have a window of a few seconds to launch any series of attacks in quicker succession, and the length depends on how high the Super Combo Gauge is filled. In addition, any special attacks will be performed much faster and without any recoil or charge time (if needed). Lastly, it eliminates MercyInvincibility, so if your opponent gets knocked into the air, you can juggle them with impunity. It's best used to block strings, relieve pressure or avoid getting Guard Crushed; skilled players can create lengthy combos out of thin air that cannot be escaped from. However, the Custom Combo does have drawbacks: If your character is struck, it ends immediately and the Super Combo Gauge will be drained (completely emptied in ''2'', cut in half in ''3'').\
15	Among the five new characters are Sakura (a Japanese schoolgirl who idolizes Ryu), Rolento from ''Final Fight'', and Gen from the original ''Street Fighter'', as well as returning World Warriors Zangief and Dhalsim. The American arcade version added Evil Ryu to the roster, along with extra versions of Zangief and Dhalsim in addition to the {{Superboss}} Shin Akuma (i.e. a [[WillfullyWeak full-power]] Akuma without his [[GlassCannon usual drawbacks]], signified by a {{purple\|IsPowerful}} gi) and "Classic" Chun-Li (whose default sprite doesn't wear her [[IconicOutfit trademark qipao]]). ''Alpha 2'' was revisited in Japanese arcades under the title of ''Street Fighter Zero 2 Alpha'', which included all the extra characters from the American release, new versions of the ''Street Fighter II'' characters including Classic Chun-Li, and new moves for some returning characters, along with minor changes to the fighting system; particularly in the Custom Combos, which are [[BalanceBuff easier to perform but consume a larger amount of the Super Combo gauge]]. ''Zero 2 Alpha'' was ported to home consoles as ''Alpha 2 Gold'', which added Cammy to the roster -- though she was only playable in the Versus and Training modes at first; ''Alpha Anthology''[='s=] version of ''Alpha 2 Gold'' added her to Arcade Mode, and offered an exclusive new (albeit non-canon) ending for her as well.
16	----
17	* ''Street Fighter Alpha 3'' capped off the sub-series in '98. It introduced selectable fighting styles called "isms" that confusingly change your movelist, so you won't be able to access moves that the other modes have. A-ism and X-ism are the easiest to get used to: In X-ism[[note]]named after, and patterned upon, ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterII Super Street Fighter II X]]'', known in the West as ''SSFII Turbo'', albeit with an AscendedGlitch from earlier versions of ''II'' included[[/note]], you get one Super level, can only use the characters' first Super Combo, and you can't air block or Alpha Counter. On the plus side, you get a longer Guard Meter, can perform [=CPS1=] Chains, and you deal more damage in general, especially with your Super. A-ism[[note]]"A" for ''Alpha'', as this mode is closer to the previous two games; appropriately, it is called "Z-ism" in Japan[[/note]] is pretty versatile with average damage and defense. You still have 3 Super levels, can use all your Super Combos, and can Alpha Counter at the cost of 1 bar. V-ism[[note]]for Variation[[/note]] is [[DifficultButAwesome very tricky to use, but allows you to break the game]] with [[CycleOfHurting Custom Combos]]. Activate it with at least 50% of the meter to make the Combo short, medium or long. Because this mode is geared towards Custom Combos, Super Combos cannot be used. The isms can seem overwhelming at first, which is why many gamers tend to stick with both ''Alpha'' ''1'' and ''2'' respectively.\
18	In addition to Cammy, the ''Alpha 2'' roster were joined by the now wildly-popular Karin Kanzuki (DistaffCounterpart to Ken and a CanonImmigrant from the manga ''Sakura Ganbaru!''), Rainbow Mika (a colorful female wrestler) and Juni & Juli (two more of Bison's minions), along with Cody from ''Final Fight'' and most of the ''Street Fighter II'' warriors who were absent in previous ''Alpha'' titles: namely Blanka, E. Honda, and Bison's underlings (Balrog and Vega). The console versions (and a later ''Upper'' revision released only in Japanese arcades, now on the Sega Naomi hardware) brought back Guile and the rest of the "New Challengers" from ''Super Street Fighter II'' (Fei Long, T. Hawk and Dee Jay), assembling the entire ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo'' roster -- in addition to Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma, who missed out on the original arcade version. A Platform/GameBoyAdvance port, developed by Crawfish Interactive and released in 2002, added Eagle (yet another returning fighter from the original ''Street Fighter''), Maki (a fellow ninja and rival of Guy's from ''Final Fight 2''), Yun [[AssistCharacter and his brother Yang]] (from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'', with their depictions here [[ArtisticAge meant to be]] younger versions of the pair [[AnachronicOrder due to the chronology]]), all fresh from their appearances in ''[[VideoGame/CapcomVsSNK2MarkOfTheMillennium Capcom vs. SNK 2]]''. Lastly, in 2006, Ingrid from ''VideoGame/CapcomFightingEvolution'' was added to the Platform/{{PlayStation Portable}} version, along with the GBA bonus characters.
19
20	The series also had [[Manga/StreetFighterAlpha a manga adaptation]].
21
22	----
23	!!Tropes distinct to, or introduced in, this subseries:
24	* AcheyScars: The scar on Sagat's chest glows whenever he is confronted by Ryu. In ''Alpha 2 Gold'' and ''Alpha 3'', he gains a Super Combo (Angry Charge) which allows him to draw upon the feelings of anger and hatred invoked by his scar and buff the damage output of his next Tiger Blow.
25	* AdaptationExpansion:
26	** Cammy was added to the roster in ''Alpha 2 Gold'' (the console version of the Asia-only ''Zero 2 Alpha'') after her appearance in ''VideoGame/XMenVsStreetFighter'', although she did not have a proper in-game storyline until the game was re-released for the Platform/{{PlayStation 2}} as part of the ''[[CompilationRerelease Street Fighter Alpha Anthology]]''.
27	** When ''Alpha 3'' was ported to home consoles, not only did the home versions feature six extra characters (Fei Long, T. Hawk, Dee Jay, Guile, Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma), but the sub-bosses (Balrog, Juni and Juli) were given proper storylines and endings that they didn't get in the original arcade release.
28	** The GBA version of ''Alpha 3'' featured three characters not in the prior arcade and console versions: [[VideoGame/FinalFight Maki]], [[VideoGame/StreetFighterI Eagle]] and [[VideoGame/StreetFighterIII Yun]], all based on their ''Capcom vs. SNK 2'' incarnations. Unfortunately, the GBA version is simplified and watered-down in other areas, including the lack of storyline. When the game was ported to the PSP later, the same extra characters were added, along with Ingrid from ''VideoGame/CapcomFightingEvolution'', and all four were given storylines and endings.
29	* {{Animesque}}: Unlike previous ''SF'' games which had a relatively realistic aesthetic, the ''Alpha'' series took a page from out of ''VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}}''[='=] book for a more vibrant art style.
30	* AnnouncerChatter: The aforementioned ''Alpha 3'' announcer. Most fighting games fans know his lines by heart:
31	--> "Nobody blink, triumph or die!"
32	* ArrangeMode: The Platform/PlayStation, [[Platform/SegaSaturn Saturn]], [[Platform/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]], and [[Platform/PlayStationPortable PSP]] ports of ''Alpha 3'' adds the "World Tour" mode, where you pick a character and their "Ism", and go around the world to fight around the world in locations consisting of 1-3 matches each. After each match, you are given a score, which is translated to experience points for both your character and their "Isms", which can be used to level up both. As you gain levels, you get "Power Balance Levels", which allow you to increase either your attack or defense at the cost of the other stat, and "Ism Pluses", which give you abilities ranging from immunity to dizziness, automatic blocking to high attacks, and the ability to cancel normal moves into special moves or special moves into Super Combos. This mode is the only way to unlock [[spoiler:Guile, Evil Ryu, and Shin Akuma in the [=PlayStation=] version]] by way of secret locations, which can only be achieved by reaching certain levels for your selected character.
33	* ArtShift: This marked the ''Street Fighter'' series' transition from the more generic attempts at realism seen in the [[VideoGame/StreetFighterI first]] [[VideoGame/StreetFighterII two]] games to a sleek, anime-influenced style. This essentially became the standard art style for Capcom's 2D fighting games until they switched to 3D models in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV''.
34	* AscendedGlitch:
35	** Cody's Final Destruction Super, specifically the full animation in the Level 3 variant, is a reference to his DifficultButAwesome infinite combo in ''Final Fight'' -- Cody jabs twice, then turns his back to his opponent and throws a third punch, "whiffing" it before facing his foe and starting over from Step #1.
36	** X-ISM in ''Alpha 3'' has the ability to perform [[https://streetfighter.fandom.com/wiki/CPS1_Chain CPS1 Chains]], a glitch from earlier versions of ''Street Fighter II''.
37	* AwesomeButImpractical:
38	** The Alpha Counter is this in ''Alpha 3''. [[CherryTapping It deals as much damage as a light punch]], costs one portion of the guard bar, [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking and has no personalized finisher icon]].
39	** In ''Alpha 3'', Shin Shoryuken and Shin Ryuu Yassai are the stronger versions of Ryu and Fei Long's respective Level 3 Super Combos, Metsu Shoryuken and Ryuu Yassai. To perform these, however, you need to hit the opponent with the very last active frame of the attack that triggers the rest of the move, something that's nearly impossible to use in practice since that requires doing this from as far away as possible, although Fei Long can combo into his with very precise timing.
40	* BlandNameProduct:
41	** The "[=SonSon=]" convenience store in the first game (in the stage that Ryu and Guy share) is not only a ShoutOut to [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SonSon the old Capcom arcade game of the same name]],[[note]]not to be confused with the character of the same name in ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcom2'', who is the granddaughter of the original [=SonSon=][[/note]] but also a knockoff of real life store chain Lawson, albeit with a green sign.
42	** In Charlie's ''Alpha 2'' stage, there are billboards for Hoke (Coca-Cola) and Nacys (Macy's).
43	* BodyguardBabes: While pretty much any member of the Bison Elite Guard, a.k.a. [[AmazonBrigade the]] [[{{Brainwashed}} Dolls]], may qualify, Juni and Juli [[DualBoss both]] [[MiniBoss serve]] this function in-game in the arcade mode of ''Alpha 3''.
44	* BeginWithAFinisher:
45	** [[TagTeam Dramatic Battle]] Mode in ''Alpha 2'' (and ''Alpha 2 Gold'') not only grants the player a full bar of meter right off the bat; it gives them (and their partner) ''infinite meter''. Considering the final opponent in this mode is none other than [[SNKBoss Shin Akuma]] and fighters [[{{Synchronization}} share a lifebar]], [[SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity this]] was probably the developers [[AntiFrustrationFeatures being merciful]].
46	** ''Alpha 3'' is the first game in the series where the fighters begin 1-on-1 a match with the Super Combo Gauge full (translating to 3 bars of super meter), which allows players to whip out a ''Level 3 Super'' as their first move. This includes [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill Akuma's Shun Goku Satsu]].
47	* BonusFeatureFailure: The instruction manual entry for "Akuma Mode",[[note]]a mode where you get thrown against a super-hard A.I. version of Shin Akuma, even harder than his secret boss appearance in Arcade Mode[[/note]] added to ''Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold'' port as part of the ''Street Fighter Collection'' for the Platform/PlayStation and Platform/SegaSaturn, states that it takes you on "...a whirlwind tour of all the battlegrounds in ''Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold''. If you defeat Akuma, you face him again in the next setting." However, in-game if you beat Akuma, the mode just ends after the first fight (which always takes place in the Australia background).
48	* BroadStrokes: Contrary to popular belief, ''Alpha 2'' isn't really so much of a retelling of the original ''Alpha'' as it is both a continuation and a retelling. Some of the character endings in ''Alpha 2'' (like Sodom, Ken, Rose, and Sagat's) are rough continuations of their original endings from the first ''Alpha'', while others (like Dan and Adon's) are hard to reconcile with their originals. Charlie's endings in the first two ''Alpha'' games don't completely sync in with the fact that he is still alive in ''Alpha 3'' (although ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'' treats Charlie's ''Alpha 2'' ending as canon).
49	* TheCameo: [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/capcomdatabase/images/2/28/StreetFighterAlpha2-USA%28Ken%29.png Ken's stage]] in ''Alpha 2'' [[http://streetfightermiscellany.com/sfm/sfm4.html features appearances from]] Pure the Mage (''Capcom World 2''), [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Morrigan, Felicia, Hsien-Ko, Mei-Ling, and Lord Raptor]], [[VideoGame/SaturdayNightSlamMasters Biff Slamkovich and Jumbo Flapjack]], [[VideoGame/ForgottenWorlds Unknown Soldiers 1P & 2P]], [[VideoGame/AlienVsPredatorCapcom Linn Kurosawa]], [[VideoGame/CaptainCommando Captain Commando and Ginzu]], [[VideoGame/{{Strider}} Strider Hiryu]], [[VideoGame/LegendaryWings Michelle Heart]] and Capcom CEO Kenzo Tsujimoto as a butler. They are most likely just some very convincing {{cosplay}}ers.
50	* CanonDiscontinuity: The events of ''Final Fight 2'' are hard to fit into the backstory of the ''Alpha'' series without invoking a bit of {{fanwank}}ery. Mainly the fact that Guy has two different masters (Genryusai in ''Final Fight 2'', Zeku in the ''Alpha'' series) and Rolento's allegiance (he was still employed by Mad Gear in ''Final Fight 2''; in ''Alpha 2'', he has left the gang to form his own organization). That still didn't prevent Maki from becoming a CanonImmigrant and being placed into the character roster of the portable versions of ''Alpha 3''. And then there is Yun who, within the chronology of ''Street Fighter'' as a whole, should still be a child during the events of the ''Alpha'' series.
51	* CanonImmigrant:
52	** While Gouken was technically mentioned in Akuma's original backstory published during the release of ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo'', his appearance in Akuma's ending in the original ''Alpha'' was his (and Goutetsu's) first and only appearance in the series until ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' a decade later.
53	** Evil Ryu, the SuperpoweredEvilSide of Ryu, was originally a creation of Masahiko Nakahira's ''Street Fighter Alpha'' manga published by Gamest.
54	** Zig-zagged with Cammy. In the original release of ''Alpha 2 Gold'' (for the Sega Saturn and [=PlayStation=] in ''Street Fighter Collection''), she was a bonus character who was only playable in Vs. and Training. When ''Alpha 2 Gold'' was released as part of the ''Alpha Anthology'', she was included as a secret character who could be played in Arcade Mode, and she was given an ending to boot. Unfortunately, [[BonusFeatureFailure it's just text overlayed over her character portrait]], as opposed to the standard "text-plus-still-images" endings the other characters get. Furthermore, the canon had long been established before Cammy's scenario was created for the ''Alpha Anthology'' release.
55	** Karin Kanzuki was originally Sakura's rival from a Sakura-centric spin-off manga titled ''Sakura Ganbaru!''
56	* CharacterRosterGlobalWarming: Birdie and Zangief are the only MightyGlacier characters, though Sodom also counts to an extent.
57	* CompilationRerelease:
58	** ''Street Fighter Alpha Anthology'' for the Platform/PlayStation2, featuring all three ''Alpha'' games plus ''Alpha 2 Gold'' and ''Alpha 3 Upper'', as well as ''VideoGame/SuperGemFighter: Mini Mix''.
59	** The ''Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection'', which contains the arcade versions of the whole trilogy (although it does not include [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]] ''Alpha 2 Gold'' or ''Alpha 3 Upper''). ''Alpha 3'' is also playable online in this collection.
60	* ContinuityCameo:
61	** The Mad Gear gang from ''Final Fight'' can be seen in Sodom's ending in the first game, as well as spectators in Guy's stage in ''Alpha 2'' and ''3''.
62	** Ken's stage in ''Alpha 2'' is a set on a cruise ship filled with other Capcom characters (or at least very convincing cosplayers) attending Eliza's birthday party.
63	** A billboard advertising a wrestling match between [[VideoGame/StreetFighterIII Hugo]] and an unknown opponent can be seen in Cody's stage in ''Alpha 3''.
64	* CosmeticallyAdvancedPrequel:
65	** Apparently, all the fancy combos and Super Moves were abandoned in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' for a more simplistic fighting style.
66	** Bison utilizes Shadaloo cloning facilities and superweapons, having access to technology far more advanced than anything in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII''. The prevailing theory is that Bison's defeat and the destruction of one of Shadaloo's [=HQs=] in ''Alpha 3'' dealt the organization a rather heavy blow, though post-''A3'' [[AllThereInTheManual materials]] and ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' establish Bison at least had access to his cloning technology. That ''IV'' shows Shadaloo and its offshoot S.I.N. operating with tech around the same level of sophistication as what's seen in ''Alpha'', followed by ''[[VideoGame/StreetFighterV V]]'' demonstrating Shadaloo is back on top of its game with stuff like [[KillSat multiple doomsday weapons]], seems to support ths view.
67	* CounterAttack: The Alpha Counters. In the first game, whether or not the quarter-circle forward input required a punch or kick depended on the character in question. Starting in ''Alpha 2'', all fighters could use both buttons, with punch and kick. respectively, corresponding to high and low. A few other characters, like Karin and Dan, have attack reversals in ''Alpha 3'' as well.
68	* CoversAlwaysLie: Sort of. The panel used to represent ''Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold'' in the main menu of ''Street Fighter Alpha Anthology'' is actually artwork taken from the cover of the first ''Street Fighter Collection''. However, since that artwork was highlighting the included ''Street Fighter II'' games in that pack, it includes Fei Long, Dee Jay, and T. Hawk among the pictured characters; characters who don't appear in ''Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold'' (along with Cammy in her Delta Red attire when it's the Shadaloo version of the character that's unlockable). Still, as ''Alpha 2 Gold'' made its US debut in said collection, the chosen image still has some connection to the game itself.
69	* ClearMyName: In ''Alpha 3'', Fei Long is mistakenly accused of being involved in Shadaloo's drug trades, and he goes to see what's going on. Yun's Story Mode has him actually believing the accusations and setting off with Yang to capture Fei Long himself. [[spoiler:After the Yun vs. Fei Long mid-boss fight, Fei Long explains what happened to Yun, so they decide to team up and protect Hong Kong from the real culprit: Bison. Then, Bison himself shows up: Fei Long stays behind to fight him and Yun goes against Juni and Juli, then after Bison when Fei Long loses.]]
70	* {{Crossover}}: The series can be seen as a crossover [[SharedUniverse in a technical sense]], since it was the first time in the franchise the ''Street Fighter II'' roster was pitted against characters from the original ''Street Fighter'' and ''Final Fight''. ''Alpha 3 MAX'' adds in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' with Yun and ''VideoGame/CapcomFightingEvolution'' with Ingrid.
71	* DoomedByCanon: Charlie always dies at the end of each ''Alpha'' game. Because otherwise, what else will inspire Guile to pursue his revenge on M. Bison?
72	* DreamMatchGame:
73	** Of the rare canonical variety. When ''Alpha 3'' was ported to consoles, they added five characters not seen in the arcade version (Guile, Evil Ryu, Dee Jay, Fei Long, and T. Hawk) as well as making Balrog, Juli, and Juni (hidden characters in the arcade release) readily available. With the addition of Fei Long, T. Hawk, Dee Jay, and Guile, the entire cast of ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo'' was brought into the ''Alpha'' series for the first time, allowing a big brawl between the two eras of ''Street Fighter'' characters. All of these characters were then back-ported to arcades via a Naomi-based version of ''Alpha 3'' called ''Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper'' to give parity with the console release.
74	** As the ''Upper'' port predated ''Capcom Fighting Evolution'' by two years, Yun's appearance marked the first time a member of the ''Street Fighter III'' cast was able to fight veterans from the ''II'' and ''Alpha'' eras outside of Ryu, Ken, Akuma and Chun-Li, all of whom showed up in ''III''.
75	* DubNameChange:
76	** Charlie is named "Nash" in Japan. A popular theory for several years was that "Nash" is Charlie's surname, to the point [[ComicBook/StreetFighter UDON Comics' adaptation]] took this stance. Come ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'', this became fully canon thanks to a dog tag in Guile's possession that reads "Charlie Nash". As of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV'', [[LastNameBasis Charlie is now referred to as "Nash" across all regions]] (although obviously "Charlie Nash" is still his full name and certain characters, like Guile, address him by his first name).
77	** While Sodom kept his original name in almost all of the ''Alpha'' games, he was renamed back to Katana for the English SNES port of ''Alpha 2''.
78	* EarlyBirdCameo: A few of the characters made background and ending cameos before becoming proper playable characters in the series:
79	** Balrog and Vega can be seen in both of Sagat's endings in the first two ''Alpha'' games.
80	** Fei Long appears as a spectator in Dan's stage, which is set in Fei Long's home country of Hong Kong, in ''Alpha 2''.
81	** Rolento can be seen among the former Mad Gear Gang members gathered by Sodom in his ending in the first ''Alpha'' game.
82	** E. Honda appears in Sodom's ending in ''Alpha 2''.
83	** Cody (and his girlfriend Jessica) appears in Guy's stage in ''Alpha 2''. When a female fighter (Chun-Li, Sakura, Rose or Cammy) is fighting and stands in front of him, Cody will shift his attention away from Jessica and onto them, [[ClingyJealousGirl causing Jessica to get jealous]]. [[https://twitter.com/DNOpls/status/837737150061891584 She will then slap him in order to regain his attention.]]
84	** "Killer Bee" Cammy was added to ''Alpha 2 Gold'' in ''Street Fighter Collection'' for the [=PlayStation=] and Saturn as a nod to her appearance in ''VideoGame/XMenVsStreetFighter''. She did not have a story at the time, being a hidden character. [[note]]You had to beat the game as Bison first and enter your name as "CAM", which would add Cammy as a playable character to Training and Versus, accessible by pressing Start twice on Bison.[[/note]] This was a prelude to her official debut appearance in ''Alpha 3''. The later [=PS2=] version of ''Alpha 2 Gold'', released as part of the ''Alpha Anthology'', updated Cammy's presence to full-fledged character that could be used in Arcade Mode, complete with Rival Battles and an ending.
85	** [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/streetfighter/images/6/62/CharlieSFA-2.jpg One of the character sketches]] for ''Alpha 2'' shows Charlie, with a backwards-facing Guile behind him. Apparently, Guile wore a flak jacket similar to Charlie's during his days as a trainee in the U.S. Air Force.
86	* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: The first ''Alpha'' title was fairly barebones, mostly adding in the new Alpha Counter and guard balancing, and bringing in a brand new presentation with a rather small roster of characters both old and new. While having its own quirks and style, it plays more like a cranked-up ''Street Fighter II'' as a transitionary title, and was lacking an "oomph" of its own yet. ''Alpha 2'' would expand the roster and mechanics enough to feel on-par with or beyond even ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo'', feeling like a complete package that the first ''Alpha'' had intended to be, and the sheer amount of changes, overhauls and additions in ''Alpha 3'' actually end up making it feel like LaterInstallmentWeirdness by comparison.
87	* EpisodeZeroTheBeginning: Due to its Japanese title, although the original ''Street Fighter'' still comes first in canon (as does ''Final Fight''). These games are more clearly a beginning of the plot threads set up in ''SFII''.
88	* {{Expy}}: A couple of examples:
89	** Rose is one of [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure Lisa]] [[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency Lisa]].
90	** Dan is a parody of [[VideoGame/ArtOfFighting Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia]].
91	* HitStop: Scoring counter hits with heavy attacks in ''Alpha 3'' will cause fighters to freeze up from the extra hitstun, allowing their opponent to combo them in ways that would be otherwise impossible normally.
92	* HumongousMecha: The Buddha statue in ''Alpha 3''.
93	* InterclassFriendship: A FriendlyRivalry variation with Sakura, who is a common schoolgirl who wants to emulate her idol Ryu, and Karin, a heiress of a rich family who practices an exclusive style of martial arts handed down to each successive generation of the Kanzuki lineage.
94	* InterplayOfSexAndViolence: [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/streetfighter/images/7/71/SFA-M.Bison_and_Rose.jpg This promotional art by Bengus]] depicting M. Bison Psycho-draining Rose [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything looks like...]] [[spoiler:And this is before you take [[EnemyWithout their relationship]] into account, making the implications [[ScrewYourself that much worse]].]]
95	* LampshadeHanging: In the console versions of ''Alpha 3'' you can play as Guile by using a cheat code. He has his ''Street Fighter II'' sprite, and during the story sections the characters note that he isn't supposed to be there.
96	* LargeHam: [[AnnouncerChatter "It all depends on your SKILL!", "Go for it, MAN!", "TRIUMPH or DIE!", "GO FOR BROKE!", etc.]]
97	* LaterInstallmentWeirdness: To say that ''Alpha 3'' is different from much of the ''Street Fighter'' series, both before and after, is a major understatement. The strength of V-ism made Super Combos a rarity, the game featured numerous touch of death infinite combos (both in and out of V-ism), and the tier list for the game is atypical, to say the least.[[note]]''Alpha 3'' is one of very few games in which Bison is considered a bad character, while Dhalsim is considered beyond excellent.[[/note]]
98	* {{Leitmotif}}: Kinda recursive for ''Alpha 3''. Since the returning characters already had their own themes (and got entirely different tunes in ''Alpha 3''), the signature tracks for this game turned out to be [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huA5sKl7K-U "Simple Rating"]] (Karin's theme) and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5JFGrysqm8 "Brave or Grave"]] (Shin Bison's theme).
99	* MirroredConfrontationShot: [[https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/streetfighter/images/3/3f/Street_Fighter_Alpha_2_flyer.png The cover/promotional flyer]] for ''Alpha 2'' features this, with a snarling Akuma looming over his challenger, Ryu. Additionally, Sakura's face can be seen in the background, an uncharacteristically stern look coming from the series' premier GenkiGirl.
100	* NintendoHard: This series is particularly unforgiving. Charlie in particular can be a bitch, [[PerfectPlayAI as he can grapple you with frame-perfect precision just as he's finishing blocking your moves]].
101	* NonStandardGameOver: You only get one shot at Bison in ''Alpha 3'''s Arcade Mode. Lose once, and the credits roll while his ending plays. Ditto if you play ''as'' Bison, except against Ryu. This only applied to the original arcade versions of the game, as players could easily retry upon losing with no reprecussions in the home ports.
102	* OutOfFocus: When this series came around, this happened to nearly every character from ''Street Fighter II''. Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Sagat, M. Bison, and Akuma had been around since ''Warriors' Dreams'', but Dhalsim and Zangief didn't appear until ''Alpha 2''. Meanwhile, Cammy made her "return" in ''Alpha 2 Gold'' as a Vs./Training mode-only character before making a proper appearance in ''Alpha 3'' along with E. Honda, Blanka, Vega and Balrog (who all had ending cameos in previous ''Alpha'' games), and eventually Fei Long, Dee Jay and T. Hawk returned in the console versions of ''Alpha 3''. Surprisingly, it took Guile, who was often seen by American fans as a lead character in ''II'', until the console version of ''Alpha 3'' to return. Even then, he was a secret character.
103	* PlotHole: In ''Alpha 3''. Julia is a missing girl from T. Hawk's Thunderfoot tribe in Mexico. Juli is one-half of an explicitly German pair of brainwashed minions named after the two months in the middle of the year. According to T. Hawk's ending, they're the same person. It took the ComicBookAdaptation to clear this one up.
104	* ProductPlacement: Rolento's ''Alpha 2'' stage has a giant mural and billboard for Fujitsu computers.
105	* PutOnABus: Guile's exclusion throughout the ''Alpha'' series is the result of the games serving as a prequel to ''II''. In ''II'', Guile's quest is a RoaringRampageOfRevenge, wanting to avenge the death of his friend and mentor, Charlie Nash, at the hands of Bison. As the ''Alpha'' series is telling the story of ''how'' Nash dies, this keeps Guile from being involved in the story. He was finally added in the console release of ''Alpha 3'', but later games would elaborate that his arcade story was ultimately non-canon.
106	* RecursiveCanon: A Japanese poster for ''Anime/StreetFighterIITheAnimatedMovie'' can be seen in Ryu and Guy's stage in the original ''Alpha''.
107	* RemixedLevel: Each stage in the first game was shared by two characters with slight variations (except for the Reclining Buddha stage in Thailand, in which Adon, Sagat and Dan fought).
108	* RetCanon: The ''Alpha'' series feature a great deal of visual nods to ''Anime/StreetFighterIITheAnimatedMovie''. This includes:
109	** The more muscular design of M. Bison compared to his original lean look in the early ''II'' games (although, he did have muscular design in the character art for ''Super Street Fighter II'').
110	** The design of Bison's VTOL aircraft, which is even used as the setting of his stage in ''Alpha 2''.
111	** The two-on-one hidden Dramatic Battle Mode in the first ''Alpha'' where two players as Ryu and Ken must fight a computer-controlled M. Bison. The Japanese version even plays [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkH9Ybg3SCc a Q-Sound rendition]] of "Itoshisa to Setsunasa to Kokoro Tsuyosa to," the battle theme from the original Japanese version of the movie.
112	** The stormy battle scene from Ryu and Sagat's opening battle from the film is used as the stage for Sagat's final boss battle with Ryu in ''Alpha 2''.
113	* {{Retcon}}:
114	** ''Far'' too many to count, but the most significant one might be changing Sagat from the loser to the ''victor'' of [[VideoGame/StreetFighterI the first World Warrior Tournament]] and subsequently shoehorning in [[SoreLoser Evil]] [[SuperpoweredEvilSide Ryu]].
115	** ''Alpha 3'', for all intents and purposes, set in stone the story that the games still follow (except for Charlie's death, which was retconned back to the events that transpired in ''Alpha 2'').
116	* RivalFinalBoss:
117	** The first two games of the series operate like this, as the last fighter your character faces is often a rival of theirs instead of the BigBad. M. Bison/Dictator (said BigBad) isn't quite up to his level of prominence in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' (since this saga is a prequel to the events of ''SFII''), but a few characters (Charlie, Chun-Li, Guy, and Rose) have him as their rival.
118	** ''Alpha 3'' mostly avoids this, as Bison is the FinalBoss for the majority of the cast (with other character-specific battles taking place at Stages 5 and 9). The lone exception other than Bison himself (whose FinalBoss is Ryu) is Evil Ryu, who faces [[SNKBoss Final Bison]] as the [[MiniBoss Sub Boss]] before moving on to fight Shin Akuma at the end of his Arcade route.
119	* {{Sampling}}: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EEv4c10JdU "Resolution,"]] Chun-Li's theme in ''Alpha 3'', samples [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMT4JRrxALU "Hardening Drops"]] from ''VideoGame/TetrisTheGrandMaster'' at the beginning.
120	* SeanConneryIsAboutToShootYou: Ryu and Ken throw their Hadōkens simultaneously towards the screen in the opening sequence of ''Alpha 2''.
121	* TheSmurfettePrinciple: The first ''Alpha'' only had two female fighters (Chun-Li and Rose) among the game's roster of thirteen. This gradually increased with the addition of Sakura among the five new fighters in ''Alpha 2'', followed by the return of Cammy in ''Alpha 2 Gold'' and then by the addition of Karin, R. Mika, Juni and Juli among the nine new fighters (thirteen in the console ports) in ''Alpha 3'', a total of 8 women among 32 fighters (literally 25% of the roster). That's not even including the addition of ''Final Fight 2''[='s=] Maki and ''Capcom Fighting Evolution''[='s=] Ingrid in the portable versions.
122	* SlippedTheRopes: Cody in ''Alpha 3'' is a prisoner who makes a habit of breaking out of jail. He's handcuffed. In his taunt, he slips out of the cuffs just to show he can and then puts them back on.
123	* SNKBoss:
124	** Shin Bison/Final Bison in ''Alpha 3'' uses "S-ism" (Shadaloo-ism a.k.a. Bison's Psycho Power when raised to its fullest potential), which allows him to fill his Super Combo Gauge at speeds the player could only dream of. Say goodbye to 70% of your health bar when you get hit by his screen-filling and completely invincible Super.
125	** Shin Akuma doesn't need a unique fighting style, since he builds his Super bar without you even landing hits. "SHINSHUNGOKUSATSU!" ''[[SingleStrokeBattle shiiiiiiiing]]'' "Wiiiiiinner!!"
126	* StanceSystem: Gen can switch between Mantis and Crane style on the fly.
127	* SuperpoweredEvilSide: This is the part of the series that firmly establishes the Satsui no Hado, or "Surge of Killing Intent", and that both Ryu and Akuma are affected by its corrupting power. This is also the series that establishes a literal Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma, both of them giving into the Satsui no Hado to become a souped-up stronger version of themselves that are also [[SanitySlippage explicitly more violent.]]
128	* {{Synchronization}}: In the first two games, characters would share a lifebar and the Super Combo Gauge during Dramatic Battle (though they had infinite meter in ''Alpha 2'' to compensate). ''Alpha 3'' would make the health and super meter of allied fighters separate.
129	* TagTeam: A 2-on-1 tag-team system known as "Variable Battle" was introduced in the PSP version.
130	* TitleScream: The original game had one by someone trying to sound like TheAhnold: "STREET FIGHTAH! OWFAH!" The sequels dropped this for a more generic English announcer, though the third game's announcer [[LargeHamAnnouncer is still quite hammy]].
131	* UpdatedRerelease:
132	** ''Alpha 2'' was revised as ''Alpha 2 Gold'' (''Zero 2 Alpha'' in Japan). Certain characters had their moves modified or new ones given and additional secret variations of characters were also included. The home version also gave players the ability to unlock Cammy as a bonus character and an exclusive "Akuma Mode". This version was never released in western territories until the arrival of ''Street Fighter Collection'' in 1997.
133	** ''Alpha 3 Upper'' is the home console version of ''Alpha 3'' back-ported to the arcade, using the Sega Dreamcast-based Naomi arcade platform. Several characters were added, including the remaining characters from ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo'' that were not present in the first version of ''Alpha 3''.
134	* UnreliableIllustrator: Ingrid's sprite in ''Alpha 3 MAX'' looks ''very'' different compared to the other sprites. Eagle, Maki and Yun also count to a lesser extent. This is justified in that their sprites were made [[VideoGame/CapcomVsSNK2MarkOfTheMillennium for games]] [[VideoGame/CapcomFightingEvolution released years after]] the ''Alpha'' series ended.
135	* WorldBuilding: The ''Alpha'' games mark a major turning point in the franchise when ''Street Fighter'' goes from what was largely an ExcusePlot to a much more developed lore and setting, including CanonWelding ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' into the universe.

Context VideoGame / StreetFighterAlpha