Introduction to Street Fighter

[ThunderPrince]

if you take away all the revisions and updates there are only 4 core SF games you should worry about. Super Turbo, Alpha 3 (I prefer A2 but 3 has more characters soooo...), 3rd Strike and SF4.
I have been pretty serious about 3rd Strike for years now so I can't really understand what is up with these "I can't figure out how to parry" shenanigans. Just tap forward or down when you think/know you are about to be hit. It is no different than the Just Defense system from I think Garou/SamSho or the focus system in SF4.

just download the games and play them on an emulator or something.

[MrPopo]

In my day we had block. And you could only do it on the ground. None of this parry or focus or any crap like that. And there was one meter! It told you how much your ass was getting kicked!

[otaku]

In my day we had block. And you could only do it on the ground. None of this parry or focus or any crap like that. And there was one meter! It told you how much your ass was getting kicked!

haha exactly!

[anosou]

for a PS2:
Street Fighter Alpha Anthology (all three alpha games)
Street Fighter Anniversary Collection (all versions of SF2 and for US version, SF3:third strike)

pretty much :3

[UBERTRON777]

I say go with the Alpha series first. I found it to be easier than 2 as I could actually beat it when I played well.

[wip3outguy7]

In my day we had block. And you could only do it on the ground. None of this parry or focus or any crap like that. And there was one meter! It told you how much your ass was getting kicked!

Yeah! *denchers fall out... stumbles over cane*

[LoneCynic]

Someone correct me if I am wrong here, but this should be the complete list of the core Street Fighter games, and what disc they are available on, if available, on Playstation 2:

Street Fighter 1 (Capcom Classics Collection Volume 2)
Street Fighter II: The World Warrior (Capcom Classics Collection Volume 1)
Street Fighter II: Championship Edition (Capcom Classics Collection Volume 1)
Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting (Capcom Classics Collection Volume 1)
Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers (Not available)
*Super Street Fighter II Turbo (Capcom Classics Collection Volume 2)
Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition (Street Fighter Anniversary Collection)
Street Fighter III (Not available)
Street Fighter III: Second Impact (Not available)
*Street Fighter III: Third Strike (Street Fighter Anniversary Collection)
Street Fighter Alpha (Street Fighter Alpha Anthology)
Street Fighter Alpha 2 (Street Fighter Alpha Anthology)
*Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold (Street Fighter Alpha Anthology)
*Street Fighter Alpha 3 (Street Fighter Alpha Anthology)

And of course, Street Fighter IV is available on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, if you ever happen to get one of those consoles. The Xbox 360 has Live Arcade with downloadable versions of Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting and Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD, which is the same game as Super Street Fighter II Turbo, but with a full blown HD graphics overhaul. Playstation 3 has Street Fighter Alpha 1 for download, but it is the Playstation 1 version rom essentially.

So, as someone else mentioned, you can basically skip all the revisions and such from over the years and just play the final and best build of each game, which is the following:

-Super Street Fighter II Turbo
(Available on Capcom Classics Collection Volume 2, which also includes Street Fighter 1, should you wish to at least try that game. However, I warn you that it is quite archaic. Hyper Street fighter II: The Anniversary Edition on the Street Fighter Anniversary Collection is essentially the same game, but it allows you to use any character from any of the previous builds of the game. If you just stick with the "Super Turbo" versions of each character, then it plays identical to Super Turbo. Should you wish to try an earlier build, Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting is probably the second best version of Street Fighter II after Super Turbo.)

-Street Fighter III: Third Strike
(Available on the Street Fighter Anniversary Collection disc only. This is the best build of Street Fighter III.)

-Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold & Street Fighter Alpha 3
(Available on the Street Fighter Alpha Anthology disc, and it is arguable among the fans which of those two games is the best in the series, so try both and see for yourself.)

So, you are looking at essentially a two disc purchase, possibly 3, depending on what exactly you want to go after.

I'd say at the least grab Street Fighter Anniversary Collection and Street Fighter Alpha Anthology to get your feet wet. I'd also say get Capcom Classics Collection Volume 2 if you can find it. Good luck in your search, and let us know what you think.

[MrPopo]

Just a comment to toss in, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is on both the 360 and the PS3, not just the 360. Also, if you want to play Street Fighter on the 360 then you are pretty much required to get either the Fight pad or a joystick, as the D-pad is atrocious.

[Niode]

Just a comment to toss in, Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix is on both the 360 and the PS3, not just the 360. Also, if you want to play Street Fighter on the 360 then you are pretty much required to get either the Fight pad or a joystick, as the D-pad is atrocious.

Seconded.

Street Fighter Alpha series is the best to learn on I think. It's more of a stop gap between SF2 and SFIV. 3rd Strike and Alpha 2 are my favourites of the entire series. I haven't played much SFIV though yet.

[LoneCynic]

Wow, I can't believe I forgot to put that in there, especially considering I have Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD on both my Xbox 360 and my PS3. It was on my mind, but there were so many other details I was wanting to include in that last post, I guess I somehow overlooked that.

I should also mention that Street Fighter Anniversary Collection is also available on the original Xbox format, and is backwards compatible with the Xbox 360. It has Xbox Live support and is the only way to play Street Fighter III: Third Strike online against anyone. I just completed a few rounds of it just now on Live with a friend of mine. Something to keep in mind if online play is feature anyone is looking for.

The differences are this in terms of online play:

Playstation 3>
-Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (PSN Download)
-Street Fighter IV (Playstation 3 Disc)

Xbox 360>
-Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting (Xbox Live Arcade Download)
-Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (Xbox Live Arcade Download)
-Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition (Original Xbox SF Anniversary Collection Disc)
-Street Fighter III: Third Strike (Original Xbox SF Anniversary Collection Disc)
-Street Fighter IV (Xbox 360 Disc)

If online play is important to you, the Xbox 360 offers more online Street Fighter than the Playstation 3. However, only die hard Street Fighter fans like myself probably care. It is true that to get the most out of it on Xbox 360 you'd best purchase the Madcatz Fighting pad or an Arcade stick of some kind.