Note: this is for the version playable through the Dreamcast version Double Impact.

Street Fighter III New Gen may be the humble first of the mighty SF3 trilogy but lays a remarkably solid foundation of approachable mechanics with high skill ceilings as well as a gorgeous new coat of paint for future 2D fighters to live up to.

While not as tied together as the tournaments of Street Fighter II were, SF3 manages to cobble together some type of plot where the leader of a secret nefarious organization wishes to control the world and turn it into a utopia. Our new main character Alex wishes to get revenge on Gill to avenge his friend Tom but plenty of other characters from around the world get thrown into the fray.

Before getting into the mechanics proper, Street Fighter 3's most noticeable change is its roster. New Generation only had Ryu and Ken returning, with a variety of completely new fighters overflowing with personality. Not restricted to simple stereotypes, the game sports gentlemanly British boxers, fun-loving Kenyan princesses, Russian human experiments, Japanese-Brazilian apprentices, and more! Each of them have very distinct fighting styles (save for Ryu/Ken and Yun/Yang) and balance the game away from projectile domination into more interesting directions.

As for the mechanics, SF3 takes from Turbo II's base with some other features thrown in. Dashing/retreating is now an option, as well as roll saves and quick small jumping attacks. Parries can also be engaged to perfectly block an attack for a counter with precise timing in the attack's direction. No longer limited to awkward execution like Alpha Counters, a single direction press is just the right spot with very precise timing. The Super Combo ability has now been updated to a super art, with more streamlined execution and the option to choose a different art based on round for strategy. While choosing the best one is usually the only option this provides a very creative way to apply handicaps for stronger players to give novices a leg up.

Apart from the smoother fighting system, New Generation stands out with its incredibly smooth and gorgeous sprite art. Stages pop with detail (and sometimes react to the battle itself!) in NYC alleyways or hot springs (with a live bear!) along with transitions based on round. The animations on each character might be the best I've seen in a 2D fighting game, which does favors for the frame-precise mechanics.

The only downsides I'd give this is that some execution is still too tricky to rely upon (see: charge) and this port has awkward mapping of multiple buttons. Some mechanics from previous games just aren't in here either, such as the lack of EX moves and air blocking. These are relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, as Street Fighter III starts out with a lot of fun and a lot of potential in later entries.