At first, there was Street Fighter 3. Fans complained because the only returning characters were Ryu and Ken. Then, came 2nd impact. And at the end of the 7th day, 3rd Strike was born. Third Strike added familiar faces such as Chun Li and Akuma to the world of Street Fighter 3 rosters, creating a sense of connection to the fans of Street Fighter 2.

3rd Strike was released in 1999, the year when 2D fighting games were considered outdated. The graphics a\were the best I've ever seen. Big sprites, smooth animations, even rivaling Guilty Gear X. With 20 characters, there were sure to be variety. The gameplay was the most complex I've ever came across. With the inclusion of EX Moves, Super Arts, Super Cancel, Parry and Red Parry, beginners could not really get into the game as experts would thrash them. The fighting mechanics were complicated as hell yet deeply satisfying. The round specific soundtracks were memorable and adds a feeling of epicness to the final round.

That is why, my dear reader, Third Strike is the best fighting game...ever. Truly a masterpiece. I doubt that any fighting game can topple this behemoth, even Street Fighter 4 itself. However, only time will tell.