Street Fighter Alpha Anthology...what's the point?

[Kintaro56]

I own SF Alpha 3 (PS 1) and I love the features on it, especially World Tour Mode.

It's my understanding that the Alpha Anthology just has the 3 different Alpha games, without extra modes.

Is there a point to owning the Anthology that I'm not aware of?

Thanks!

[josekortez]

Probably because it's really convenient to have all the games on one disc. And maybe the Pocket Fighters extra.

[PapaStu]

Probably because it's really convenient to have all the games on one disc. And maybe the Pocket Fighters extra.

And because it was an easy port for Capcom that netted them bunches of monies from fans of the series.

[gepeto]

Didn't the ps1 have longer load time?

[ScourDX]

If you miss out on the original SFA series & Pocket Fighter, then PS2 is the way to go. I heard original SFA series suffer long loading time and missing frame rate.

[Dangerboy]

The biggest reason for the PS2 anthology is that they are the actual arcade versions, not the PSX versions. Through a code, you can also access the acrade board's different revision settings that messed with damage ratings and such. The guide book for the game went into detail about it.

[ubersaurus]

Because the games are closer to the arcade versions, for the competitive players. There's also the fact that they're all on one disc, with all the animations, and less load times. And the addition of Hyper SF Alpha is pretty keen.

[Icarus Moonsight]

If you don't have the games already for Saturn then this is the best option available to most people. Some of the PS1's arcade fighters were more less a joke by comparison (butchered more than ported). Plus if you already have the Hori sticks for the PS2 then grabbing Alpha Anthology is a basic no-brainer.

[vincewy]

It's one of the best thing Capcom did for the fans, I had a sealed Dreamcast copy that I don't want to open up, if I try to get another new on eBay it's at least $50 right now and I have gone through 2 used copies on DC which the music skips and the whole game will crash at certain stages.

This game allows me to play it w/o spending a fortune, if you go to the store that still has this game, it still goes for $30, I'm pretty sure it will be one of the more sought after PS2 titles even after PS2 life cycle.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

The PS1 version is in fact an excellent version of SFA3 - world tour mode and dramatic battles being standout features.

And while I feel that Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX on PSP might be my all time favorite version, the PS2 "anthology" as stated is a great experience/museum of all the ARCADE boards, as well as the very under-rated "Super Gem Fighter" (or Pocket Fighter if you're a US gamer).

I think there was definitely a "point" in Capcom producing the anthology at the time that they did, however, if you're a Street Fighter enthusiast - and you own both Alpha 3 and Pocket Fighter on PS1, then there's no shame in passing on the anthology.

If you DON'T own both, it's not an extremely over-priced pack, and you can still find it new in the wild.

[m117]

Probably because it's really convenient to have all the games on one disc. And maybe the Pocket Fighters extra.

The biggest reason for the PS2 anthology is that they are the actual arcade versions, not the PSX versions. Through a code, you can also access the acrade board's different revision settings that messed with damage ratings and such. The guide book for the game went into detail about it.

I think those are the two strongest reasons. I personally would be quick to pick up this compilation just because I can pop the disc into my PS3, and play the different versions without swapping out PS1 discs. To me it's more of a convenience thing, and purists will appreciate the arcade perfect versions.

[DJ Daishi]

come on, I think they can give us more SF games than that....I was recently able to put Marvel vs Capcom 1&2, Street Fighter 3rd Strike, SNK vs Capcom 2, Super Puzzle Fighter, and Ikaruga on one self-boothing disk on my Dreamcast...didn't even have to down-size it.

[Damaramu]

I noticed Alpha 2 on the Anthology is missing a tiny background animation on the Final Fight stage. Those who don't know about it won't miss it, but it always use to give my friends and I (Sakura vs Chun Li fights!) a chuckle.

Wikipedia's entry for it:

Prior to Street Fighter Alpha 3, Cody made a cameo appearance in Street Fighter Alpha 2 (in Guy's stage) and Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (in the Mall stage). In both games, he can be seen in the background with Jessica. In Street Fighter Alpha 2, if a female fighter is in front of Cody, he will shift his attention from Jessica to the other girl, making Jessica jealous enough to slap him in return.

[Nirvana]

It's a shame it's missing World Tour mode. But it is easily geared toward the people who just want to play a fighting game, quick.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

come on, I think they can give us more SF games than that....I was recently able to put Marvel vs Capcom 1&2, Street Fighter 3rd Strike, SNK vs Capcom 2, Super Puzzle Fighter, and Ikaruga on one self-boothing disk on my Dreamcast...didn't even have to down-size it.

I don't think Capcom ever claimed that "disc size" was an issue in making compilations or "anthologies".

For YEARS the Japanese market has been getting tiny 3-4 title Capcom Anthologies of titles like Ghosts and Goblins, Commando, etc. at prices that make the 20-something-game US Capcom Classics collections seem like the greatest bargains ever.

They knew all along that the US market had never really warmed up to the "small" classics collections ... but in the case of Street Fighter titles, they had pretty much been selling re-makes and re-issues including just one or two Street Fighter games on every platform since the 16 bit era ... and honestly Street Fighter Alpha Anthology is the LARGEST Street Fighter collection on US shores.

I'm sure in this generation we'll see a slightly larger Street Fighter / Capcom fighting game collection, as the series still has staying power. Hopefully they'll be allowed to include the Marvel fighting games and Vs. series. Are there any licencing issues that would prevent that from happening?

[ClassicGameTrader]

Unless you were lucky enough to be one of the very few people who imported the game w/4mb cart for the Saturn, we had never gotten an accurate arcade port.

On a totally unrelated note, I have a BRAND NEW, SEALED SFZ3 w/4mb cart available for trade right now. What are the odds? Check the sale thread!

Shameless Plug!!!

[vincewy]

I noticed Alpha 2 on the Anthology is missing a tiny background animation on the Final Fight stage. Those who don't know about it won't miss it, but it always use to give my friends and I (Sakura vs Chun Li fights!) a chuckle.

Wikipedia's entry for it:

Another interesting observation, it looks like Cody is in jail on Alpha 3, any insight for this?

I'm sure in this generation we'll see a slightly larger Street Fighter / Capcom fighting game collection, as the series still has staying power. Hopefully they'll be allowed to include the Marvel fighting games and Vs. series. Are there any licencing issues that would prevent that from happening?

If there're potentials for compilations, Capcom should release those games, those cost a fortune to get on any versions, no, I'm not talking about handheld:

Marvel vs series
Power Stone series
Shooter series (put Giga Wing 1/2 plus Gunbird and Mars Matrix from Dreamcast)
Puzzle series (like the one on PSP with maybe a few more games)


You get the idea.

[DJ Daishi]

I'm sure in this generation we'll see a slightly larger Street Fighter / Capcom fighting game collection, as the series still has staying power. Hopefully they'll be allowed to include the Marvel fighting games and Vs. series. Are there any licencing issues that would prevent that from happening?

capcom lost the rights to produce any games that had anything to do with marvel...so I doubt we'll see anything kind of re-releases.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

capcom lost the rights to produce any games that had anything to do with marvel...so I doubt we'll see anything kind of re-releases.

Well, Marvel and EA have recently parted ways in terms of Marvel's "fighting game licence" ... so, perhaps it's not too late for Capcom to have one last go with Marvel.

[Three-P]

At this point, it's probably reasonably priced, so it'd make a good addition to my library.