Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike
Tap the stick at the perfect instant and the whole fight flips. Welcome to the parry.
Coming soon to UsuArcade
Votes to bring it to the arcade: 0
In the meantime, head into the arcade and play the cabinets that are already there
- Year
- 1999
- Manufacturer
- Capcom
- Players
- 2 players at once
- Genres
- Fighting games
- Decade
- '90s arcade games
For a lot of fighting game fans, 3rd Strike is the one. Hand-drawn animation so smooth it still turns heads, a soundtrack loaded with hip-hop and jazz, and a fighting system so deep people are still playing it at tournaments more than two decades later.
In the arcades still hanging on in the late '90s, it was the cabinet where the serious players gathered. And those of us watching learned that a great player could stop, one by one, every hit of an attack that looked impossible to block.
History
Capcom released Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, subtitled Fight for the Future, in 1999 on its CPS3 arcade hardware. It's the third and final version of Street Fighter III, following New Generation and 2nd Impact.
This edition brought back Chun-Li and introduced new fighters like Makoto, Q, Twelve, and Remy, joining Ryu, Ken, Alex, and the rest. In 2004, a match between Daigo Umehara and Justin Wong, where Daigo parried every hit of Chun-Li's super, became one of the most famous moments in competitive gaming history.
How to play
The controls are classic Capcom six-button: three punches and three kicks. Before each match you pick one of your character's Super Arts, which shapes your whole game plan.
The big key is the parry: tap the stick toward your opponent (or down, against low attacks) right as their hit is about to land, and you cancel it without taking damage and get the edge to counter. It takes hours to master, but it completely changes how you play.
Fun facts
- Its subtitle is Fight for the Future.
- It ran on Capcom's CPS3 arcade hardware.
- The famous Evo Moment 37 in 2004, Daigo Umehara versus Justin Wong, happened in this game.
In the arcade
Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike isn't in the arcade yet. It's on the wish list, and you can hit “I Want to Play It” on this page to push it up. Coming soon to UsuArcade if the votes call for it.
Meanwhile, you can throw down in Street Fighter II, the classic that started it all, or clean up the streets of Metro City in Final Fight, another Capcom favorite, both in the arcade.
Once Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike lands in the arcade, you'll be able to play it online two-player, each on your own phone or PC, in the same game.
FAQ
When did Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike come out?
1999, from Capcom, on its CPS3 arcade hardware.
How many players is 3rd Strike?
Two players at the same time, head to head.
What is parrying in Street Fighter III?
A defensive move where you tap the stick toward your opponent (or down) just as they're about to hit you: you cancel the attack, take no damage, and can counter.
What is Evo Moment 37?
A 2004 match where Daigo Umehara parried every hit of Justin Wong's Chun-Li super and came back to win. It's one of the most famous moments in fighting game tournament history.
Can I play 3rd Strike on UsuArcade?
Not yet. Vote for it with “I Want to Play It”; meanwhile you can play Street Fighter II in the arcade.
