The time to write has come once again. And I was really unsure of what to tackle. With so many different interests and no real direction, I was kind of stumped. But then as I was looking at some music to listen to, I remembered Street Fighter III: Third Strike. Not in the sense of like an old friend, but because I had recently gotten to see some Third Strike, in-person, being played for money. It makes me happy each time.
Even with my limited knowledge, I can enjoy the game for the technical skill and decision making that goes into each match. Like, the way people play each character, and how they approach each situation with them differs based on the player. You never see two Kens play the same way in a mirror match. No amount of sitting back and gaining meter through whiffed normals is gonna speed the game along, because at some point you have to make a decision. And that's where a lot of the excitement comes from. That quick reflexive nature makes each punish matter.
So, what may seem like your standard Yun Genei Jin activation or Chun-Li Super Art 2 (Known as Houyoku-Sen), could actually be turned around in the opponent's favor. It really just depends on how tight someone is playing that day. Truly one of the most unpredictable games that I can think of. I guess that's also something one can expect after 25+ years of play. But Third Strike is not just about the game, it's about the everything. The design artistically and musically are on another level, and the way that it has become in-grained into the greater gaming culture is also important to that legacy.
Today, I just wanted to talk about what that legacy means to me. This isn't some retrospective or history lesson. Just a casual fan's perception of one of the greats. I would still like fighting games without knowing Third Strike, yet my interest in Street Fighter would never have been much without this game.
It all starts at the point that I think most people who did not grow up with SF would arrive at, Evo Moment #37. I've watched this on my own, with people in High School, College, and I've even recommended this video to people in general. The way that the defining round played out was electric. It encapsulated all of the emotions that any other sport could pull out when at their most intense. And the whole sequence happened within a minute.
Game tied up at one round a piece. Justin Wong's Chun-Li and Daigo Umehara's Ken are deadlocked in neutral on low health, with the next hit from either side deciding the match. And in this moment we see Justin start to shimmy with Chun, signifying that the next move coming out would be the insurmountable Super Art 2. A Super that was thought of as unparriable at the time, as referenced by many others (including Justin Wong himself). And for those unaware, Parry was a mechanic in Third Strike that allowed the player to negate regular damage and chip damage (Damage taken from blocking) if timed properly. The only caveat being that you need to tap forward. Since blocking means holding back, mistiming a parry would lead to incoming damage or death. But even then, Daigo couldn't afford to block anyway since he had the tiniest amount of health left.
So, any part of the 17-hit Super would end the round. But in sports, anything is possible. The impossible becomes real, and legends are made. And that towering wall fell as Daigo parried every possible hit of the infamous Super Art 2, while still accounting for the delay in the final part of the Super with a jump into an Air Parry. That is then followed up by a punish combo with enough damage to kill.
The sequence was mesmerizing then, and it's mesmerizing now. An insane technical feat that has since been practiced by many who still play the game. What's even crazier about the sequence, was Daigo's preparatory measures. Everyone in the building knew the Super was coming. And you can see Daigo making small movements forward in anticipation. This was the time to pull out all the stops, and he delivered.
It's really crazy to think how much this moment has broken containment. Like, I've watched it with plenty of non-fighting game people. It's one of the most iconic pieces of gaming history. I've also seen it referenced in video games through the dialogue, achievement titles, and even in some game trailers at the very least. The influence extends outside of gaming sometimes as well. But the core thing I am trying to get at here, is the influence.
People like me saw Evo Moment #37 and went, "What's that? How do I get more of this game?" And eventually I did get access to one of the home console versions of the game. After watching Third Strike later down the line on a stream or video once, I decided I wanted to try it. What's great about the game, is that it feels good at any level. The focus on defense, and looking for punishes feels rewarding. Like, some games I can combo well, but others I tend to struggle with the structure. But that's just how it is when learning a game.
Every now and again I try to play some Third Strike whenever I get the itch. I've always liked Ibuki, but more recently I've dabbled with Elena. Two different approaches, yet I enjoy the styles and pacing they each bring to the game. I'm not great by any means, but like I said. Third Strike is one of those games that just feels great to play at any level.
Outside of the game, I even have a Remy figure from the toy-line they did in the 1990s. Why? Because I think Remy has a cool design. He's just Iori Yagami from KOF, but he has long blue hair and happens to be a charge character instead of utilizing rekkas. So, I know Remy will never come back in a numbered SF game, yet I can still hope.
Before I go, I just want to hit on the bracket from Evo 2024, where the game was on the mainstage. A legendary Top 8 that was highlighted by Hayao's Hugo. While I agree with this sentiment, I was actually inspired by MOV's Elena when he played against Hayao. It's what made me pick up the character. I just thought that the heavily defensive poke-style was engaging. Like how Justin Wong and Daigo had inspired me to play the game, I was once again moved to do something because of other high level players.
That's just the kind of game that Third Strike is. Inspiring and adrenaline inducing to the point that I want to know more, play more. From the soundtrack composed by Hideki Okugawa that featured the musician Infinite for the vocal tracks (Third Strike, Let's Get It On, and Moving On) to the art direction from Daigo Ikeno. Third Strike is one of those special games that was once, rightfully, considered a failure. But through the power of the players, the game finally got the flowers it deserved. I will always be grateful to this piece of media. Because without Third Strike, where would fighting games be? Would they have reached the heights of today, or would they have slowly disappeared? We will never know the answer to this question. So, we must ponder a different timeline filled with unknowns and uncertainties.
And that's it. As I don't want to leave off on some cryptic message. I will instead suggest that you, the reader, play Street Fighter III. All of them, not just Third Strike. Seeing the evolution is important. Seeing how the bread gets made can be enlightening. Go out and absorb these games. Maybe you could become the next Daigo Umehara, or Justin Wong in some cases. Let's get it on, and Fight for the Future.
And remember to Free Palestine, Free Congo, Free Sudan, Free Venezuela and to Free Lebanon from the onslaught of their oppressors. Never stop talking about them. They think that we don't care, but we see everything. Never forget that. They are trying to suppress our voices because they matter, remember that. There may have been a ceasefire in Gaza, but Palestine still needs to be completely free.
Comments
Post a Comment