Though the animation appears simplistic compared to Street Fighter 3, Alpha 3 more than makes up for it with personality. Seeing Cody win a fight and then be chased by Haggar off the screen is priceless, something sorely missing from other games in the series. The backgrounds set new standards for the series and make a nice transition into the original series. The music however really falters as it takes an entirely new direction that doesn't seem to blend with any of the other games.

Controlling this one practically requires an arcade stick. Unless your thumbs are made of some type of alien metal that can withstand the punishment the DC's D-pad puts out, then this is the only way to go. Also, the L and R triggers are lousy for fighters in every way possible. Never fear however, everything is perfectly responsive and activating every special in the game comes off without a hitch.

The number of new modes really sets this game way above it's predecessors. The addition of the World Tour mode really gives this game some life. Imagine Soul Caliburs beloved Edge Master mode, and you get the idea. You'll take on numerous opponents, each with specific requirements that must be met in order to complete the mission. Leveling up by performing these tasks will eventually unlock characters and new modes of play. As an added bonus, you can take your created character into any other mode in the game. Yes, even multi-player. There's a boat-load of survival mini-games to test your strength in, a 2-on-1 extravaganza, typical arcade mode, and team battles.

Novels could be written on this games deep, strategic gameplay, but this is not a novel. From the variety of characters, the different "isms," and literally hundreds of different ways to customize each fighter, this game will never get old. Though things do get a bit hectic at times (shades of the popular Vs. series), the game still maintains order the majority of the time to keep even the most jaded fighting fan happy.

Though will say differently, this is the best 2-D fighter for the console. That's saying something on a console packed with Mark of the Wolves, King of Fighters, and other Street Fighter titles. The sheer volume of things to do and accomplish could easily keep someone busy for months, more than worth the price on the sticker. It may even take you months to figure out how you like to customize your favorite character with the "isms" and such. This is a totally fulfilling experience on every level.

Side note: The Playstation version of the game is part of the "Greatest Hits" line for a reason. The loading times are a bit much and there is some minor slowdown here and there, but the overall package is only a point or so lower than this one. If you don't own a DC, don't hesitate.