#SwoopersTop50SaturnGames
Number 3: Street Fighter Alpha 2/Zero 2/Collection
One of the greatest fighting games of all time gets a phenomenal port to the Saturn, with a 2D entry that I feel has never been bettered.
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Full disclosure, there are actually 4 games in this entry, and while I'm going to focus on Alpha/Zero 2 as a common point between the two releases, you can't go wrong with either.
Either the standalone or Collection versions will deliver you to fighting game Nirvana.

Following up on the gargantuan Street Fighter 2 was an impossible task, so Capcom went down the prequel route with Street Fighter Alpha, then perfected it with Alpha 2
The game stars younger versions of franchise favourites in classic Street Fighter action, evolved perfectly.

Like the Alpha 1, there is a 3 level Super meter that can be used in a number of ways, from Super Special moves of varying strength, to Alpha counters to the ingenius Custom Combo system. It's still a single bar but it's also extremely versatile.

And this is why the game excels. Like VF2, the game is extremely accessible, players won't be overwhelmed by immediately complex gameplay, any Street Fighter 2 player should feel at home.
But still, there are oceans of depth owing to the versatile mechanics.

The roster, mixing old with new, and featuring fights from the Final Fight series, is also fantastic.
Mixed with the pitch perfect gameplay this really does feel like Street Fighter at its zenith.
There are deeper games in the series, yet none strike the balance that this does.

Its full of hidden bosses and bonuses too.
Fill certain requirements and you can fight secret mid-level or end bosses.
The mid ones also have some fantastic dialogue too.
And thats another thing, Alpha/Zero 2 still feels the best the series has been for expanding the lore.

Case in point, the final boss differs depending on who you play as, with dialogue exchanged pre-fight to set the stage for an epic bout!
Depending on the fighters, different stages can feature, such as the grassy field from the opening of the Street Fighter 2 animated movie.

That anime style is central to Alpha 2's whole look. The game is gorgeous, with stunning animation and sprites that look lifted straight out of the said film.
The Saturn misses so very few frames from its arcade counterpart that you'd be hard pressed to see them! Stunning stuff!

In terms of music and sound, the game is no less iconic, with remixed gems from across the series never sounding better thanks to the arranged soundtrack, and an announcer that is as iconic as any other!
You read the games title in his voice, right?!

The Saturn game comes with some nice extras too, such as the arranged music and a few extra modes such as a very good Survival mode that sees you take on the games entire roster.

There's a very decent training mode too which was extremely helpful for learning those tricky techniques! It also allows you to record an action and then practice against it which is very cool!

The standard Saturn game also comes with a gallery which features 100 pieces of artwork to browse. A nice little extra that I've spent time in over and over.

The game received an update that is available as part of the collection or standalone.
Alpha 2 Gold (or Zero 2 Alpha) loses the gallery but gains Gouki mode, where you can jump straight into the fight with the brutal Shin-Akuma for the ultimate challenge.

Making the secrets easier to access is Gold's MO, with the classic versions of certain characters easier to too unlock.
There's a huge list of gameplay changes too, so the update really does compliment the core game as generally I feel not all are for the better.

But the biggest addition is Cammy.
When you fulfill certain requirements, Cammy can be accessed in training and VS modes in her Shadaloo Doll gear. She's an awesome addition to the roster!

I first played Alpha 2 in 1997.
Back then it seemed 3D fighters were the future, but Alpha 2 convinced me that 2D fighters were still at the pinnacle of the genre, it was that good.
In #swooperstop30fighters I said this is the 2nd greatest fighter of all time, and I stand by that

Whichever version of Alpha 2 you play, you'll be experiencing fighting game royalty. It is almost perfect in every respect, and is still regarded as best played on Saturn.

But what if you have the Collection?
In this case you have two more fantastic Street Fighter games at your fingertips, which you can select from a single disc.
Lets start with Super Street Fighter 2: The New Challengers.

The next update after Hyper Fighting, SSF2 added four new characters and introduced a lot more animation and graphical flourishes.
Here it is nigh on arcade perfect on the Saturn and it looks absolutely beautiful.

There are no real extras here, just a very good version of Street Fighter 2.
Its a solid entry and naturally is a joy to play, with some unique properties compared to other entries.
At surface level though, it feels slower than Hyper Fighter or the other game on this disc.

Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo/X: Grand Master Challenge is special though.
As far as I'm concerned this is the best version of Street Fighter 2 and one of the greatest fighting games ever made.
It is quite simply awe-inspriring.

Not content with simply restoring speed to the New Challengers, Capcom added the Super meter and Super Combos, moves, rebalanced the roster and lots more, making this a substantial update.

And of course this is all rounded off by the debut of Akuma as a hidden character. He truly is the Grand Master Challenge and lots of fun to fight as and against.

Good ports of SSF2X are hard to come by so I often wrote the game off as the same as SSF2. Even the 30th Anniversary port is broken.
But this Saturn port is absolutely incredible and among the best fighting games I have ever played.

So there you have it. If you can get the Collection you'll have some of the greatest fighting games of all time in immaculate ports.
SSF2X truly is one of the greats, but even vanilla Alpha 2 is the best fighting game of its generation.
Either way, you need them on Saturn.

A little extra reading here (if more was required) for Street Fighter Alpha 2 in my top 30 fighters 2 years ago. https://twitter.com/swooper_d/status/1014392399446073344?s=19

And even more for Super Street Fighter 2.
At this point I hadn't played a good port of 2 X/Turbo, if I had, it would make the top 10. https://twitter.com/swooper_d/status/1007129533282181121?s=19