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Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha

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Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha takes the long-standing series into the third dimension, with eight original Street Fighter combatants and 12 new fighters making their debut (a total of 23 including hidden characters). Among the veteran staples are Chun-Li, the limb-endowed Dhalsim, Ryu and the all-...

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Developer
Arika

Released on
1997

Size
1–2 Players

Version
PlayStation

Requirements
Sony Playstation

Downloads
Fighting

Publisher
Capcom

ESRB Rating
T - Teen

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Description

Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha takes the long-standing series into the third dimension, with eight original Street Fighter combatants and 12 new fighters making their debut (a total of 23 including hidden characters). Among the veteran staples are Chun-Li, the limb-endowed Dhalsim, Ryu and the all-American Guile; newcomers include an experienced Shadowloo guard named Crackerjack, the enigmatic Skull-o-mania and an amnesia-stricken Kairi. As always, each character features his and her own unique special attacks and combinations.

There are seven gameplay options including the Arcade, Team Battle, Survival, Watch, Versus, Time Attack and Practice modes. Although veteran Street Fighter fanatics may feel right at home with the controls, those unfamiliar with the series may want to practice before jumping into the fire. Practice comes with two different modes — Training and Expert; Training familiarizes you with basic and special attacks and Super Combos, whereas the Expert mode features a chart listing all the basic characters. The objective is to execute each fighter’s special moves, combos and Super Combos.

Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha

Overview & History

Released initially in arcades in 1996 before transitioning to the PlayStation in 1997, Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha represents a fascinating historical pivot point for Capcom. Developed in collaboration with Arika, this title marked the legendary fighting game franchise's hesitant yet bold first step into fully rendered 3D polygons. Eschewing the traditional sprites of Street Fighter II and the dark gothic aesthetics of the Street Fighter III era, *EX Plus Alpha* carved out its own distinct identity. The storyline revolves around a sinister syndicate, led by the enigmatic master Bison and the shadowy new antagonist Garuda, drawing martial artists from around the globe into a mysterious tournament. Beyond returning icons like Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, and Zangief, the game introduced a memorable roster of original Arika-owned characters—such as Skullomania, the insurance salesman moonlighting as a superhero; Cracker Jack, the mob enforcer with a baseball bat; and Darun Mister, the colossal Indian wrestler. Though it ran on Sony ZN-1 hardware in the arcades, the "Alpha" iteration refined balance, added new supers, and expanded the roster from the original EX arcade release, cementing its cult status among 90s fighting game enthusiasts.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Mechanically, *Street Fighter EX Plus Alpha* bridges the gap between classic 2D spacing and 3D plane freedom, though movement remains strictly on a 2D axis. The defining gameplay feature is the introduction of the Super Cancel system alongside traditional Super Combos. Players can chain standard special moves directly into powerful Supers by timing inputs precisely. Furthermore, the game features a unique "Guard Break" mechanic—performed by pressing medium punch and medium kick simultaneously—which shatters an opponent's blocking stance at the cost of some of your own Super meter. The combo system is notably lenient, featuring target combos (chain combos) unique to each character that allow for flashy, juggled aerial strings. Moves like Ryu's flaming Shoryuken or Ken's upgraded Shippu Jinraikyaku retain their visceral impact, while newcomers like Doctrine Dark utilize hidden mines and wire-like cables to zone opponents, adding deep psychological warfare to the standard fireball-and-dragon-punch rhythm.