{{Short description|1998 video game}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox video game | title = Street Fighter Alpha 3 | image = Street Fighter Alpha 3 flyer.png | caption = Arcade flyer | developer = Capcom{{efn|Game Boy Advance version developed by Crawfish Interactive.}} | publisher = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|Capcom}}|'''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|JP|Sega <small>(NAOMI)</small><ref name="gm01"/>}} '''PlayStation, Dreamcast'''{{vgrelease|JP/NA|Capcom|PAL|Virgin Interactive Entertainment}}}} | director = Naoto Ota<br>Mamoru Ohashi<Br>Koji Okohara | producer = Noritaka Funamizu | artist = Akira Yasuda | composer = Takayuki Iwai<br /> Yuki Iwai<br /> Isao Abe<br /> Hideki Okugawa<br /> Tetsuya Shibata | series = ''Street Fighter'' | platforms = Arcade, PlayStation, Dreamcast, Sega Saturn, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable | released = {{collapsible list|title={{nobold|July 15, 1998}}|'''Arcade'''{{vgrelease|JP|July 15, 1998<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.streetfighter.com/en/35th/history.html | title=HISTORY | Street Fighter 35th Anniversary Site | CAPCOM}}</ref>|NA|July 1998<ref>{{cite book |last=Akagi |first=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=13 October 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |page=113 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n113}}</ref>|JP|February 2001 <small>(''Upper'')</small><ref name="gw1"/>}} '''PlayStation'''{{vgrelease|JP|December 23, 1998|NA|May 5, 1999<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-08-15 |title=Sony PlayStation Available Software sorted by Release Date @ www.vidgames.com |url=http://www.vidgames.com/ps/software/release.html |access-date=2023-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815065413/http://www.vidgames.com/ps/software/release.html |archive-date=August 15, 2000 }}</ref>|AU|June 18, 1999|EU|June 25, 1999<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 24, 1999 |title=All out |pages=66 |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259674809/?terms=%22v-rally%202%22&match=1 |access-date=December 2, 2023 |quote=Tomorrow may be the best day of the year for new games, with about 30 titles expected, ''if'' they all make it to the shops. The pick of the crop should include ''Driver'', ''V-Rally 2'', ''Street Fighter Alpha 3'' and ''Player Manager 99'' for the Sony PlayStation, and ''Outcast'', ''Total Annihilation: Kingdoms'', ''Unreal: Return to Napoli'', and ''Aliens Vs Predator'' for the PC.}}</ref>}} '''Dreamcast'''{{vgrelease|JP|July 8, 1999<ref>{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=1999-07-08 |title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/08/street-fighter-alpha-3-5 |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>|NA|May 24, 2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Capcom: Street Fighter Alpha 3 for Dreamcast|url=http://www.capcom.com/xpml/game.xpml?gameid=300015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000620001248/http://www.capcom.com/xpml/game.xpml?gameid=300015 | archive-date=June 20, 2000 }}</ref>|AU|September 14, 2000|EU|September 29, 2000}} '''Saturn'''{{vgrelease|JP|August 6, 1999<ref name="3rd party titles - Sega JP">{{cite web |title=Software List (Released by Soft Licensees)|url=https://sega.jp/history/hard/segasaturn/software_l.html |website=セガ 製品情報サイト |publisher=Sega |access-date=May 15, 2023 |language=ja}}</ref>}} '''Game Boy Advance'''{{vgrelease|JP|September 27, 2002|EU|November 29, 2002|NA|December 3, 2002<ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-12-07 |title=Press Releases |url=http://www.capcom.com/news/news.xpml?prid=450027 |access-date=2023-04-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021207235825/http://www.capcom.com/news/news.xpml?prid=450027 |archive-date=December 7, 2002 }}</ref>|AU|January 9, 2003}} '''PlayStation Portable'''<br /><small>(as ''Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX'')</small>{{vgrelease|JP|January 19, 2006|NA|February 7, 2006|AU|February 24, 2006|EU|March 10, 2006}} }} | genre = Fighting | modes = Single-player, multiplayer | arcade system = CP System II<br />Sega NAOMI (''Zero 3 Upper'') }} '''''Street Fighter Alpha 3''''', released as {{nihongo foot|'''''Street Fighter Zero 3'''''|ストリートファイターZERO/3|Sutorīto Faitā Zero Surī|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} in Japan, Asia, South America, and Oceania, is a 1998 fighting game developed and published by Capcom for arcades. It is the third and final installment in the ''Street Fighter Alpha'' series, and runs on the same CP System II hardware as previous ''Alpha'' games. ''Alpha 3'' further expanded the playable fighter roster from ''Street Fighter Alpha 2'' and added new features such as selectable fighting styles called "isms".
''Alpha 3'' has also been released on a variety of home platforms starting with the PlayStation version in 1998, which added an exclusive World Tour mode and brought back even more characters, with further versions on the Dreamcast, Sega Saturn, Game Boy Advance, and PlayStation Portable.
==Gameplay== [[File:Street Fighter Alpha 3 - Gameplay.png|thumb|left|Akuma delivers a hurricane kick to Rainbow Mika, on her stage Sardine Beach. Both fighters are using the A-Ism style.]] ''Street Fighter Alpha 3'' discards the "Manual" and "Auto" modes from the previous ''Alpha'' games, and instead offers three different playing styles known as "isms" for the player to choose from. The standard playing style, A-ism (or Z-ism in Japan), is based on the previous ''Alpha'' games, in which the player has a three-level Super Combo gauge with access to several Super Combo moves. X-ism is a simple style based on ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo'' (the term "X-ism" being a reference to that game's Japanese title, ''Super Street Fighter II X''), in which the player has a single-level Super Combo gauge and access to a single but powerful Super Combo move. The third style, V-ism (or "variable" style), is a unique style that allows the player to perform custom combos similar to the ones in ''Street Fighter Alpha 2'', but cannot use Super Combos. In X-ism, the player cannot air-block nor perform Alpha Counters, and can only use one Super Combo move in its powerful Level 3 version. To activate V-ism's Custom Combo, the player must press both kick and punch buttons of the same strength. X-ism has the highest attack power but the least defense. A-ism has more attack power than V-ism and a similar level of defense. All three modes have variations of movesets for each character, adding considerable depth to the gameplay. In addition, there are hidden modes that add handicaps to the player as well as benefits (for example, Classic mode prevents the use of Super Combos, but also makes the character unable to be knocked in the air and juggled).
''Alpha 3'' also introduces a "Guard Power Gauge" which depletes each time the player blocks; if the gauge is completely depleted, then the player will remain vulnerable to an attack. The bar shrinks when broken and is refilled to its new maximum; it can be shrunk a number of times. While the character has the least defense of all modes in X-Ism, it also has the largest guard bar, and vice versa for V-ism with A-Zism being in the middle. Also, the guard bar varies between characters, with Zangief for example having a very large guard bar. The guard bar does not exist in Dramatic Battle matches, so no guard crushing is possible there.
I-ism is a customizable style exclusive to the Dreamcast version's World Tour and Saikyo Dojo modes and the PSP version's World Tour mode.
The controls for several actions have been modified from the previous ''Alpha'' games. For example, the level of a Super Combo move in A-ism is now determined by the strength of the attack button pressed (i.e. Medium Punch or Kick for a Level 2 Super Combo), rather than the number of buttons pushed; throwing is now done by pressing two punch or kick buttons simultaneously. {{clear left}}
==Characters== The game brings back all eighteen of the characters that appeared in ''Street Fighter Alpha 2''. As with the previous ''Alpha'' titles, several characters were added to the game: Cammy, who was previously featured in the console-exclusive ''Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold'', E. Honda, Blanka, Balrog (who is an unlockable character), and Vega. New characters introduced in ''Alpha 3'' include R. Mika, a Japanese female wrestler who idolizes Zangief; Karin Kanzuki, Sakura's rival who was first introduced in the ''Street Fighter'' manga ''Sakura Ganbaru!'' by Masahiko Nakahira; Cody from ''Final Fight'', who has since become an escaped convict; and Juli (full name: Julia) and Juni, two of Shadaloo's "Dolls" who serve as Bison's brainwashed assassins and guards and who are unlockable characters, with Juli is revealed to be T. Hawk's long-lost lover.
The PlayStation version makes Balrog, Juli and Juni immediately playable and adds the remaining characters introduced in ''Super Street Fighter II'': Dee Jay, Fei Long and T. Hawk, along with Guile from ''Street Fighter II'', and Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma from ''Street Fighter Alpha 2'', the latter three being unlockable. The Dreamcast and Saturn versions move Guile, Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma to the default roster (although the latter shares a slot with his regular counterpart and is playable via a special button combination). The more powerful version of M. Bison who is the true final boss of Alpha 3 with the special Shadaloo-ism meter, Final M. Bison, is also made playable in these Sega versions via a code.
The Game Boy Advance version contains all of the characters from previous versions, as well as three additional characters: Yun from ''Street Fighter III'', Maki from ''Final Fight 2'', and Eagle from the original ''Street Fighter'', all three based on their incarnations from ''Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium 2001''. The PlayStation Portable version, ''Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX'', also adds Ingrid from ''Capcom Fighting Evolution'', to bring the total playable character count to 39. All characters are also playable in the ''Capcom Fighting Collection 2'' version of the game.
{{collist| *Adon *Akuma *Balrog *Birdie *Blanka *Cammy *Charlie *Chun-Li *Cody *Dan *Dee Jay{{efn-lr|name=Upper|''Upper'', console, and handheld versions only}} *Dhalsim *E. Honda *Eagle{{efn-lr|name=GBA|Handheld versions only}} *Evil Ryu{{efn-lr|name=Upper}} *Fei Long{{efn-lr|name=Upper}} *Final M. Bison *Gen *Guile{{efn-lr|name=Upper}} *Guy *Ingrid{{efn-lr|''MAX'' version only}} *Juli *Juni *Karin *Ken *M. Bison *Maki{{efn-lr|name=GBA}} *R. Mika *Rolento *Rose *Ryu *Sagat *Sakura *Shin Akuma{{efn-lr|name=Upper}} *Sodom *T. Hawk{{efn-lr|name=Upper}} *Vega *Yun{{efn-lr|name=GBA}} *Zangief }}
{{notelist-lr}}
==Home versions== *''Street Fighter Alpha 3'' was initially ported in 1998 to the PlayStation, selling a million copies.<ref>{{cite web|last=Roper|first=Chris|title=Capcom Releases Lifetime Sales Numbers|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2008/05/23/capcom-releases-lifetime-sales-numbers|website=IGN|date=May 23, 2008 }}</ref> This version replaced the "hit" sprites with "hit" polygons in order to focus more memory on character animations. Juli, Juni and Balrog were added to the immediate regular roster, and they were given new character portraits and their own storylines. Dee Jay, Fei Long and T. Hawk (the remaining "New Challengers" from ''Super Street Fighter II'') were also included in the roster. Guile, Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma (the latter sharing a slot with his regular counterpart) were also added as secret characters that can be unlocked through the World Tour mode, a mode that allows the player to strengthen and customize their chosen character{{'}}s fighting style while traveling around the world. An additional feature in the Japanese version also made use of the PocketStation peripheral, which allows the player to build up their character's strength. In this version, Shin Akuma serves as the final boss for Evil Ryu, as well as a secret boss in Final Battle. Due to RAM limitations, the only unique pairings available for a complete campaign in the Dramatic Battle mode are Ryu & Ken and Juli & Juni; other character combinations can only be used for one-match battles. The AI for the Dramatic Battle and Survival modes is exceptionally poor with the CPU neglecting to defend against sweep attacks, perhaps due to RAM again. As is frequently the case with home versions of arcade games, the lesser amount of frames allows for certain combos, often infinite, that are not possible in the arcade version (particularly when using V-Ism mode and in Dramatic Battle and Survival stages). This version was re-released for download on the North American PlayStation Network on October 18, 2011. *The 1999 Dreamcast version, titled '''''Street Fighter Alpha 3: Saikyo Dojo''''' (or '''''Street Fighter Zero 3: Saikyō-ryū Dōjō''''' in Japan), uses all the added features from the PlayStation version of the game, but features a different World Tour mode. Guile, Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma are immediately selectable, although the latter still shares a slot with his regular counterpart and is playable via a special button combination. An online mode was added, allowing the player to display their high score. In addition, a Saikyo Dojo mode was added, which pits a character that the player has built up in World Tour mode against a very strong opponent who had to be downloaded from the Internet and changed every week. The Dreamcast version was re-released in Japan in 2000 as '''''Street Fighter Zero 3: Saikyō-ryū Dōjō for Matching Service''''' as a mail order title via Dreamcast Direct. The ''Matching Service'' version differs from the original with the addition of an Online Versus mode. *The Sega Saturn version of ''Street Fighter Zero 3'' was released in 1999 in Japan only, shortly after the initial Dreamcast version. This version makes use of Sega's 4-MB RAM cartridge and uses all the features from the PlayStation version except for the polygon usage and PocketStation mode. The Saturn version uses the extra RAM to include more frames and sprites, making it near arcade-perfect. Similarly to the Dreamcast version, Guile, Evil Ryu and Shin Akuma are immediately selectable, with the latter sharing a slot with his regular counterpart and playable via a special button combination. While the World Tour and Survival modes are virtually unchanged from the PlayStation version, the Dramatic Battle mode received some improvements with the inclusion of a 2-player mode and the addition of the Reverse Dramatic Battle mode, in which the player faces two computer-controlled characters simultaneously. This and the PlayStation Portable versions are also the only ones to feature the Dramatic Battle mode against the entire roster of characters, as all other versions limit this mode to boss characters only. The CPU for the Dramatic Battle mode is far superior to the PlayStation version. Another minor change is the revised scoring system for some moves in the game: for example, many characters that earn 3000 points per hit from a grab move (a very important fact to exploit for the World Tour mode, where the score is the player's experience points) do not receive as much in the Saturn version. The features, characters etc. of the first home version on the PlayStation are available straight away in the Saturn version. *''Street Fighter Zero 3'' was re-released for the arcade in Japan in 2001 under the title '''''Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper''''' (officially promoted as '''''Street Fighter Zero 3↑'''''). The game was released by Sega<ref name="gw1">{{cite web|url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20010131/zero3.htm|title=セガ、「オレISM」キャラがアーケードで使える! AC「ストリートファイター ZERO3↑（UPPER）」|publisher=Game Watch|date=2001-01-31|accessdate=2024-03-13}}</ref> for their Dreamcast-based NAOMI hardware and features all six characters from the home console versions as well as some balance changes, most notably the removal of the "crouch canceling" glitch which allowed for V-ISM infinite combos. ''Upper'' also allows the player to upload any customized characters from the Dreamcast version of the game by inserting a VMU into a memory card slot on the cabinet. *A Game Boy Advance version developed by Crawfish Interactive was released in 2002 under the title '''''Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper''''' ('''''Street Fighter Zero 3 Upper''''' in Japan, officially promoted as '''''Street Fighter Alpha 3↑''''' and '''''Street Fighter Zero 3↑''''' respectively). The version is compressed and lacks several stages and music tracks from the previous arcade and console versions, although all of the characters are present. In addition, Eagle, Maki, and Yun, all of whom were characters from ''Capcom vs. SNK 2'' (released in 2001), were added to the game. Only a small number of character voices were included in this version due to storage limitations, which the developers worked around by having characters share voice samples, modified with real-time pitch shifting, such as using a higher pitched version of Ken{{'}}s voice for Sakura's attack calls. *The PlayStation Portable version, titled '''''{{vanchor|Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX}}''''' ('''''Street Fighter Zero 3 Double Upper''''' in Japan, officially promoted as '''''Street Fighter Zero 3↑↑'''''), was released in 2006 and features the additional characters from the GBA version as well as Ingrid from ''Capcom Fighting Evolution''. This version is a near-faithful conversion of the arcade version with reduced loading times and all frames and sprites intact. All of the added characters now feature their own in-game storylines and endings. The Dramatic Battle mode in this version (as well as the Saturn version) is the only one where both the player and partner characters can be selected individually (allowing for any character pairing). It also includes the Reverse Dramatic Battle mode from the Saturn version, an exclusive tag mode called "Variable Battle", which is similar to the Dramatic Battle mode but in which the player can tag in and out their partner, and a mode called "100 Kumite" (a 100-fight series). Due to hardware limitations, there is no support for vibration, local two player mode, or additional buttons (the handheld has only six buttons in total instead of eight). *''Street Fighter Alpha Anthology'' (''Street Fighter Zero: Fighters' Generation'' in Japan) was released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2. It contains the arcade version of ''Alpha 3'' as one of the immediately available games, along with a revised version of ''Zero 3 Upper'' called ''Alpha 3 Upper'' as a secret game. Both games feature Dramatic Battle and Survival modes in addition to the Arcade, Versus, and Training modes, but not the World Tour mode that was featured in the previous home versions nor the extra characters introduced in the portable versions of the game. In ''Upper'', all six characters that were added in the home console versions are readily available. *''Street Fighter Alpha 3'' has an arcade-perfect inclusion via ''Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection'' for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Windows via Steam, released in 2018. The original 28 characters appear in the title, but those extra characters who were playable in the console ports as well as both ''Upper'' and ''Double Upper'' are not included due to the game being an emulation of the original arcade. Save states are available to allow the player to resume from where they left. The game, along with ''Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting'', ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo'' and ''Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike - Fight for the Future'', has online functionality. *The arcade version of ''Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper'' was re-released in 2025 as part of ''Capcom Fighting Collection 2''.<ref>{{cite web | last=Romano | first=Sal | title=Capcom Fighting Collection 2 announced for PS4, Switch, and PC | website=Gematsu | date=August 27, 2024 | url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/08/capcom-fighting-collection-2-announced-for-ps4-switch-and-pc | access-date=August 27, 2024}}</ref> An update added the four characters from ''Alpha 3 MAX''.<ref>{{cite web | last=Romano | first=Sal | title=Capcom Fighting Collection 2 'Title Update' launches August 7 | website=Gematsu | date=August 2, 2025 | url=https://www.gematsu.com/2025/08/capcom-fighting-collection-2-title-update-launches-august-7 | access-date=August 2, 2025}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Video game reviews | PS = true | SSAT = true | SDC = true | Allgame_PS = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite web |last=House |first=Matthew |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=17059 |title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 – Overview – allgame |date=2014-12-10 |access-date=2016-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210231931/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=17059 |archive-date=December 10, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> | Allgame_SDC = 4.5/5<ref>{{cite web |last=House |first=Matthew |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18937 |title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 – Overview – allgame |date=2014-12-10 |access-date=2016-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210231931/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=18937 |archive-date=December 10, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> | MC_PS = 93%<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/street-fighter-alpha-3/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation |title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 for PlayStation Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=2016-03-11}}</ref> | CVG_PS = 5/5<ref>''Computer and Video Games'', issue 209, [https://archive.org/stream/Computer_and_Video_Games_Issue_209_1999-04_EMAP_Images_GB#page/n43/mode/2up pages 44-45]</ref> | CVG_SDC = 5/5<ref>''Computer and Video Games'', issue 216, page 113</ref> | EuroG_SDC = 9 / 10<ref>{{cite web|last=Bramwell |first=Tom |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_alpha3_dc |title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 |website=Eurogamer.net |date=2000-11-02 |access-date=2019-11-17}}</ref> | Fam_PS = 32 / 40<ref name=fam-ps/> | Fam_SDC = 33 / 40<ref name=fam-dc/> | Fam_SSAT = 32 / 40<ref name=fam-sat/> | GameFan_PS = 288 / 300<ref>''GameFan'', volume 7, issue 4 (April 1999), pages 15 & 38-43</ref> | GamePro_PS = 5 / 5<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Major Mike|title=PlayStation ProReviews: Street Fighter Alpha 3|magazine=GamePro|issue=128|publisher=IDG|date=May 1999|page=74}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/49.shtml |title=Street Fighter Alpha Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com |date=2004-03-15 |access-date=2016-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040315085940/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/psx/games/reviews/49.shtml |archive-date=March 15, 2004 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> | GamePro_SDC = 18.5 / 20<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Dan Elektro|title=Dreamcast ProReviews: Street Fighter Alpha 3|magazine=GamePro|issue=134|publisher=IDG|date=November 1999|page=130|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/1/10/GamePro_US_134.pdf#page=134}}</ref> <br /> 4 / 5<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/5781.shtml |title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 Review for Dreamcast on GamePro.com |date=2004-03-16 |access-date=2016-03-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040316071156/http://www.gamepro.com/sega/dreamcast/games/reviews/5781.shtml |archive-date=March 16, 2004 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> | GSpot_PS = 8 / 10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/street-fighter-alpha-3-review/1900-2549246/ |title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 Review |website=GameSpot |date=1999-01-13 |access-date=2016-03-11}}</ref> | GSpot_SDC = 9 / 10<ref>{{cite web|last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/street-fighter-alpha-3-review/1900-2540061/ |title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 Review |website=GameSpot |date=2013-10-10 |access-date=2016-03-11}}</ref> | Hyper_PS = 90%<ref>{{cite magazine |title=R.I.P. PlayStation: The best of 1995-2001 |magazine=Hyper |date=28 February 2001 |issue=90 (April 2001) |pages=44–51 |url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-090/page/44/mode/2up}}</ref> | IGN_PS = 9.3 / 10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ign.com/articles/1999/05/08/street-fighter-alpha-3-6 |title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 |website=IGN |date=1999-05-07 |access-date=2016-03-11}}</ref> | IGN_SDC = 9.5 / 10<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ign.com/articles/2000/05/20/street-fighter-alpha-3-4 |title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 |website=IGN |date=2000-05-19 |access-date=2016-03-11}}</ref> | NGen_PS = 4/5<ref name="NG"/> | OPM_PS = 5/5<ref name="OPM_PS">''Official U.S. Playstation Magazine'', November 2001, page 52</ref> | PSM_PS = 9 / 10<ref>''Official PlayStation Magazine'', Future Publishing issue 44, page 88, (April 1999)</ref> | rev1 = ''Dreamcast Magazine'' | rev1_SDC = 27 / 30<ref>''Dreamcast Magazine'', issue 1999-22, [http://segaretro.org/index.php?title=File:DCM_JP_19990709_1999-22.pdf&page=16 page 16]</ref> | award1Pub = ''PSM'' | award1 = Starplayer | GR_SDC = 86%<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198820-street-fighter-alpha-3/index.html |title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 Dreamcast on Gamerankings |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209013116/https://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198820-street-fighter-alpha-3/index.html |archive-date=9 December 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> }}In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''Street Fighter Alpha 3'' on their September 1, 1998 issue as being the second most-successful arcade game of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=571|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 September 1998|page=21|lang=ja}}</ref> Its April 15, 2001 issue reported that ''Zero 3 Upper'' was the best-selling arcade game of the month.<ref name="gm01">{{cite news |title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 |url=https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/20010415p.pdf |accessdate=March 13, 2024 |agency=Game Machine |issue=632 |publisher=Amusement Press |date=April 15, 2001 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815174116/https://onitama.tv/gamemachine/pdf/20010415p.pdf |archivedate=August 15, 2020 |page=17 |language=ja}}</ref>
On release, ''Famitsu'' magazine scored the Sega Saturn version of the game a 32 out of 40;<ref name=fam-sat>''Weekly Famitsu'', [http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=883 No. 405]</ref> they later scored it 30 out of 40.<ref>''セガサターン – ストリートファイターZERO3''. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.26. June 30, 2006.</ref> The PlayStation version also scored 32 out of 40 on release.<ref name=fam-ps>''Weekly Famitsu'', [http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=6997 No. 400]</ref> The Dreamcast version scored slightly better, receiving a 33 out of 40.<ref name=fam-dc>''ドリームキャスト – ストリートファイターZERO 3 サイキョー流道場''. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.36. June 30, 2006.</ref>
The ''Official UK PlayStation Magazine'' said that the game would outlast ''Tekken 3'', and stated "the only thing to tarnish this is the graphics. So if you think gameplay is more important than texture-mapped polygons, consider the score to be a ten."<ref name="OPM_PS"/>
''Next Generation'' reviewed the PlayStation version of the game, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "Capcom may have outdone itself with the most playable and innovative fighting game since the original ''Street Fighter II''."<ref name="NG">{{cite magazine|title=Finals|magazine=Next Generation|issue=52|publisher=Imagine Media|date=April 1999|page=92}}</ref>
''Game Informer'' gave the PlayStation portable version of the game an overall score of 7.75 out of 10 praising how the game being a great version of the classic fighting game and the gameplay and loading times as being seamless and stating “a perfect arcade conversion that will please Street Fighter fans.”<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Mcnamara|first=Andy|title=Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max Review|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/3A9F5B57-4257-4A33-800E-1E3E607294C7.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731191239/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/3A9F5B57-4257-4A33-800E-1E3E607294C7.htm|archive-date=July 31, 2008|access-date=December 7, 2020|magazine=Game Informer}}</ref>
By 2003, the Game Boy Advance version had sold over 30,000 copies.<ref name="ownt">{{cite web |url=http://www.ownt.com/qtakes/2003/gamestats/gamestats.shtm |title=All Time Top 20 Best Selling Games |access-date=1 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060221044930/http://www.ownt.com/qtakes/2003/gamestats/gamestats.shtm |archive-date=February 21, 2006 |date=21 May 2003}}</ref> Meanwhile, the original PlayStation version sold a million units as of June 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/finance/million.html |title=Platinum Titles |publisher=Capcom|access-date=August 1, 2016}}</ref>
In 2019, ''Game Informer'' ranked it as the 18th best fighting game of all time.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eventhubs.com/news/2019/apr/19/what-are-top-30-fighting-games-all-time-game-informer-offers-their-full-list/ | title=What are the top 30 fighting games of all time? Game Informer offers their full list | date=April 19, 2019 }}</ref>{{Clear}}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==Sources== *{{Cite book|title=All About Capcom Head-to-Head Fighting Games 1987–2000|language=ja|date=September 2000|isbn=4-88554-676-1|series=A.A. Game History Series (Vol. 1)|author=Studio Bent Stuff|publisher=Dempa Publications, Inc.}}
==External links== *{{KLOV game|id=9805|name=Street Fighter Alpha 3}}
{{Street Fighter series}} {{Authority control}}
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