Which game company seems to cater to fans the most? Well, one might easily say Tecmo because of Team Ninja's dedication to bringing us hardcore gaming efforts, not to mention such lucrative extras as the Kasumi Love Pillow (which Bryan stole from our office- go figure) and Dead Or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball. But I'd like to think that Capcom is just as dedicated to their fans, knowing what works for them and continuously giving us effort after effort to keep us playing. Thus is the case for the Street Fighter series, which rolls on strong in '06 with the release of Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max for the Sony PSP.

The company's been hyping the game for a little while now, and has even made a generous bonus offer right there on their site. Anyone who purchases the game directly from Capcom will receive with it a free D-pad attachment that sticks itself onto the top of the current Sony PSP digital action pad, supposedly making the game easier to control in terms of pulling off special moves and combos.

Some might see this as a godsend, but not all is perfect in happy comboville. On one hand, yes, the D-pad supposedly makes the game easier to play, but it comes with a sticky adhesive on the bottom of it. So that means you'll either have to endure playing with the pad full-time on other games and getting used to the new control scheme, or taking off the pad when you're not playing Alpha 3 Max and dealing with the residue left on the pad as a result. Furthermore, it's not officially licensed by Sony, and using it could very well void the warranty on your PSP system. Dilemmas, dilemmas...

Of course, the gameplay is faithful to the game anyhow. It feels just like the Alpha series should, and even comes with the three "Ism" systems, where you can change different things about your gameplay and mix up the fights with a bit of inventiveness. A-ism comes with the separated super combo meter, X-ism is a bit simpler in terms of damage to enemies and building the combo meter, and V-ism seems dedicated to fighting fans who build combos in their slumber. My only real qualm is the move execution with the control scheme. I gave up playing with my thumbs after a few plays and just setting the system in my lap and playing old-school style with my fingers (a control scheme my friends think is "weird"- but then they're quieted by my pulling off a super combo on their asses). The controls do work, you just have to give them time...and lots and lots of practice.

You'll have lots of time, fortunately, as the game is LOADED. I mean "cramming the baked potato until their IS no more baked potato" loaded. There's fifteen...yes, fifteen...various modes to choose from here, including a final boss battle where you and a friend can engage in a one-on-one fight to the finish with M. Bison, a World Tour mode where you can strengthen your character's fighting skills, and a variety of modes to play both by yourself and wirelessly against a friend, which is very cool since the WiFi play is smooth as butter. (Well, butter with fist marks in it.) Throw in the number of characters included in the game (including old favorites and four new faces that play rather well), and you have a game that will keep you busy. Super busy. Clear your damn schedule.

That brings us to the game's presentation, and, let's face it, this is the arcade game condensed. You can go to an arcade, find a Street Fighter Alpha 3 arcade unit, turn this puppy on, and you will barely notice the difference...probably in the controls. But Capcom continues to deliver 2-D bliss with terrific backdrops and animation, and fast-moving frames that never slow, not even on the highest Turbo setting or during the most frenetic of Super Combo executions. Furthermore, the soundtrack is just as great as it ever was, with a wide mixture of tunes that is perfectly Street Fighter. The voice samples are right up there as well.

I've admitted in the past preview for this game that it isn't my favorite...and, well, it still isn't. I'm still a sucker for the original Street Fighter Alpha, and I'll never back away from a strong session of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike. But that's not to say that Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max is something I won't indulge in. The gameplay is rather deep with its "isms" and incredible bounty of modes, the graphics are outstanding, and the wireless play simply shouldn't be denied if you can track down a friend with a copy of the game. Sure, Capcom could've done more to provide comfort to those wanting to play just like in the arcades, and not in the form of a controversial attachment that will draw the line between fighting fanatic and worrywart. But I'm not about to look at Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max and complain. After all, it's mostly built for the fans, and I'm sure they will come in droves to get their fix.

Our Final ScoreGood

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