Genre: 2d Fighter
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom

Alpha is a complete departure from the SFII graphics style, and it is a welcome change; despite the great artwork of SFII, SFA's new visuals feel more modern, as if they're not even attempting to be "realistic", and instead embrace their anime heritage and inspiration, Darkstalkers-style. The backgrounds are a bit of a disappointment though, as they look a little grainy, and don't feature the fantastic locales of SFII.

Like the visuals, SFA's soundtrack just sounds more in tune with the times. The songs manage to be melodic and catchy, but their structures are a little less simply than SFII's, and a little more jazzy, particularily when you opt for the Saturn's available "remixed" soundtrack. Most importantly, the songs fit their characters, and the ways in which the classic SFII motifs are wrapped in a snazzier melodic package is pretty neat.

SFA manages to feel just different enough from SFII to feel like a new experience, but also loses nothing in the precision department, especially as it pertains to this Saturn port, which is really terrific. The standard Saturn's controller dpad is marvelous for this type of game, and for a veteran SFII player, it's a real joy to learn the intricacies of this new engine without being thrown into something altogether different.

SFA is a very good title, from the updated visuals and soundtrack, to the sharp precise gameplay, it's a pleasure to play. In other ways, it's a step backwards from SSF2T; there are fewer characters, much fewer costume colors, and some of the characters even share stages with each other. But comparing this to SSF2T is a little unfair, seeing as how this is the first title in a new Street Fighter series. And given that fact, it's a great first effort!