The Cut Content of Street Fighter III

Video game developers always have to cut things from the final product, whether its due to time/budget constraints, strict deadlines, etc., having to cut content is obviously not a new thing, and this also applies to fighting games.
I wanted to explore the cut content of all three 'Street Fighter III' games (not just Third Strike) to see what the developers removed and to potentially find out why! Buckle up, cause we're going way back in time!
Thumbnail created by ‪@ewber_‬
MUSIC:
Shinki Center - Busou Shinki Battle Rondo
Nonsense Spring - good-cool fabulous housekeeper
Crystal Workers - Border Break
Extraterrestrial Wahwahs - Pizza Tower
Happy Hand Club - Lollipop Chainsaw

[@Ledluver]

Dang 😳 they managed to hide a whole ass Hugo in the code... thas a beeg boi

[@Jetanium]

Definitely 10% of a Hugo, not a whole one.

[@D0xmer]

Beeg bois in the chat

[@gkgeze]

Hug(e)o

[@aplsed]

Fun fact: the reason why 2nd Impact's wide-screen was never used in tournaments was because the way it was programmed effectively made the stages longer, making corner carries and corner combos either harder or impossible in wide-screen.

[@dddaaa6965]

How can it be harder or impossible? Does it just not take longer to reach the corner if that is the case? What would make it impossible

[@eddiek6390]

@@dddaaa6965 Hugo's Meat Squasher and Ultra throw don't even make it to the edge of the screen. It makes Meat Squasher punishable on hit if you are not close enough to the edge. Ultra throw just yeets your opponent far away, which is completely opposite of what Hugo wants.

[@aplsed]

@dddaaa6965 Since the corner is further away from the players than it normally is in 4:3, it makes some corner-carry combos essentially ineffective in the one thing they're meant to do.

[@bigbangbot-SuperSqank]

An unfinished but somewhat playable Hugo just being in New Generation’s files is so awesome. Stuff like this isn’t as common in fighting games as you may expect.

[@bigshorty4855]

Actually, no, it's not😂.

[@EdwardFeinho]

@@bigshorty4855 What do you mean? The boy CAN FLY, that alone make it amazing.

[@PatchtheReaper99]

If I had to take a wild guess, I would imagine the jingle bells tune in NG would have played on Sean's stage since it takes place in a christmas ready new york street. Maybe if the clock detected it was the holiday season you'd get it for a round?

[@jerry3115]

Could also have just been used to test the game's instruments

[@yoshinpixels9924]

It's theorised it was made for a now lost screen for the location test, since that would've been around Christmas 1996

[@tehshingen]

My favourite part of cut content in the first SF3 was when they cut the words “street fighter” from the marquee logo and just wrote THREE up there

[@otooandoh9556]

Great video! I didn't know about all this cut content from the SF3 series. On a side note the quality of your videos has gotten better and better. Keep up the good work! If I could nitpick, I might recommend not using sprite smoothing on the footage of old pixel art games. 3rd strike and the rest of the SF3 games are beautiful to look at and the sprite smoothing makes the art look like smeared crap

[@kwizzeh]

Only from interviews from The Oral history of Street Fighter that Chun Li was suppose to make her SFIII debut in 2i also, but AKIMAN was too busy with other projects to finish her sprite sheet.

[@adamwlove]

Great video! I wish it was longer, I was having a great time learning

[@fluffydestroyer8336]

the "XXX" debug letters you saw in the NG pre-release footage is almost certainly a debug option to display inputs, showing which buttons and stick directions are being inputted

[@The_Oblivion_Light]

I really don't even remember SF3 ever happening. They was so stuck with rebranding SF@ over and over again where one day I saw the previews for SF4 come out of the blue. SF3 kind of flew over my head, I guess.

[@johnlund3088]

I belive you will hear Gill say I am your God in parry mode atleast in the OE version

[@jacobsfitnessladder285]

This is partly correct. He is cut off before he says God. I think it was intentionally cut out to remove religious references. Just like when Alex faints from chip damage, he is supposed to say "Jesus".

[@deepblue2]

I remember some of the devs mentioning that Chun Li was originally planned for 2nd Impact, but never made it in. I was wondering if you found anything related to that?

[@kwizzeh]

I forgot which producer said it or it might have been AKIMAN himself who said it. It was because AKIMAN couldn't complete her sprite sheet for the graphics team because he was busy with other projects.

[@f5673-t1h]

If you jump enough with Hugo in NG, he will reappear from the bottom (probably because of overflow), and then he'll descend back down, then through the ceiling.

[@JackTR21]

I haven't heard about flying omelette in over a decade had no idea that site was still running

[@punchabunchabuttons]

you might wanna use an instrumental only tune next time. its hard to comprehend what youre saying with a girl singing in the background...

[@gothamcitygoon2491]

You might just be easily distracted lol I didn’t even notice there was someone singing until I saw this comment

[@TheRandomGuyTheFarNoGameCat]

​@@gothamcitygoon2491I straight up couldn't hear her until I read this. 😂

[@Metallumtenebrarum-jt7rd]

The widescreen mode can be enabled on fbneo using the dip switches.

[@Ldysith84]

It would’ve been rad for them to enable the widescreen options in 30th anniversary edition!

[@jotakux7489]

Can’t understand why they kept on taking out levels and songs🤷‍♂️. Why wouldn’t third strike just have all the levels and songs from all the versions? Size of discs or memory? Also, why hasn’t anyone made a version like that with Mugen yet?

[@jacobsfitnessladder285]

To me it looks like 3rd strike was redone completely from the ground up. The sprites look slightly different. The voice acting is definitely different.

[@kwizzeh]

Memory constraints. Even the audio suffers from it but you wouldn't be able to tell in a loud as hell arcade environment and most cabs used a mono speaker. It wasn't until SFIII: Third Strike Online Edition that players could have all the stages and music in one game since the NG & 2i stages and soundtracks were DLC.

[@jotakux7489]

Wish we could get that dlc now😢

[@Kaioshin9000]

3rd strike should have given us all the stages from the other sf3 games

[@SMAXZO]

.....You know, if they replace Gill going RESURRECTION with WITNESS MY ETERNAL LIFE...that be cool.

[@LightningFlare95]

bruh you were at BAM all weekend, how'd you manage to post such high quality content while you were away? /s

[@Zontar82]

Recorded before going to ...bam.of whatever the fuck that Is?

[@niceboifeast8838]

Gill and I think Shin Akuma are playable on dreamcast. Most of the voice lines are there too

[@gemballa-op8gy]

9:29 he can combo into it, the timing is different, trust me

[@Stormwind19]

I know this will not resonate well with SFIII fans and I’m ok with it. The truth is that regardless of 3rd Strike having a bigger roster compared to New Generation and 2nd Impact, it’s a lack luster version and a downgrade since NG and 2I have better looking backgrounds, way better soundtrack and the game as a whole was more enjoyable. Don’t get me wrong, I still like 3rd Strike but I love the previous versions even more! Like I said before, my unpopular opinion will make some people to cast stones at me but no one will ever convince me about it. All in all, all versions of this game still are the best in the series.

[@Kariu]

I agree wholeheartedly and I don’t think this is a hot take at all. The aesthetic of Double impact over shadows third strikes by a considerable margin. The OST is better even though 3S is a cut below but the overall vibe and look of the stages is more polished and lively compared to 3S. In NG they even rotated between dusk and dawn between rounds which made it slap harder. I find it hard to objectively say 3S is better than DI presentation wise. Gameplay wise I think Third Strike is superior. Something about third strike ensures to this day gameplay wise but Double impact did a way better representation of ‘98’ style fighting games.

[@Zontar82]

I hated the entirety of 3, so yeah throw me a Stone at me as well.

[@user-dd6on5cr3u]

Glad I'm not the only one who felt like this, if NG/2I had the characters & gameplay from 3S, it'd be pretty much the perfect SF game for me.

[@Kariu]

@@user-dd6on5cr3u literally perfect! A man can dream tho. I still own my Dreamcast copy but I also have a copy of double impact on Steamdeck too. It’s one of my favorite old school fighters!

[@ShadowMokujin]

What they did to Sean was a game crime

[@Kasai_AU]

Man's was running 4 brackets at BAM14 and still had enough time to upload a 12 minute vid.

[@AlphaProto]

Good stuff.

[@vdiddy3484]

Good video but it’s weird when you’re calling things that are slightly different as “COMPLETELY DIFFERENT” lol.

[@nicholashall3117]

As someone who is an Elena Stan, i feel like those "Makoto sounds" were originally planned for Elena (sounds EXACTLY like the Elena VA NG/SI) they didnt fit, and tried for Makoto but sounded too similar. Thus why we have the deeper/raspy octave in 3rd Strike

[@LeeONardo]

Could also be that since Makoto was in the early stages they just had Elena's actress record the lines as placeholders to test with a rough version of Makoto before being finalised. Unless she was gonna pull double duty.

[@HEHEHE_I_AM_A_MASKED_WARRIA]

They're also stored with Elena's voice clips in the sound test IIRC.

[@SuperArt7]

There were more stages planned in 3rd strike also. Basically, all the characters who share stages weren't initially supposed too. I believe there something like 48-64MB of unused RAM in the game which I believe might have been for stages and trolly other things like sound fx

[@cellohm]

New gen and 2nd impact had better stages.

[@dragonlash]

FOR REAL

[@DenkyManner]

Much better. No idea why Capcom felt they had to keep making new ones for each update.

[@bigshorty4855]

Think it had something to do with memory.

[@thestripedmenace]

Oh definitely. NG and 2I are the prettiest games Capcom ever produced, NGL, 3S' visuals are a bit of a downgrade compared to them...

[@loganford3921]

You can see Sean stage in Alex stage in the right side down the ally in New Generation which is pretty cool.

[@typhlocube9359]

If Twelve used XCOPY on Hugo, they were supposed to turn into Abigail instead

[@Aflay1]

I clicked for the Makoto thumbnail I stayed to hear Ken say JIN RAI KACK

[@loganford3921]

I've heard thought out the years that Ken and Ryu wasn't in New Generation at first but gamers complained about it at test locations in Japan and eventually Capcom added Ryu and Ken but it could be a made up rumour.

[@DonShotta24]

It’s real

[@penismightier9278]

It was a location test that only had THREE as it's title. And yes, there was no Ryu or Ken and people complained enough to get them put in. It's real.

[@jacobsfitnessladder285]

Yeah it's definitely true. Alex was the main Character. Ryu supposedly hasn't been the main character since Street fighter Alpha 3

[@interdimensionalcommunicat9750]

@@jacobsfitnessladder285 There's apparently a Japanese online slang term which is "Protagonist (lol)" ( or 主人公（笑) in Japanese), which basically refers to characters who were intended as protagonists but clearly overshadowed by other characters (either due to failing to replace someone far more iconic or a side character drastically overshadowing them). It supposedly originated as a nickname for Alex.

[@HEHEHE_I_AM_A_MASKED_WARRIA]

3S Shin Akuma also keeps the roll he had in 2nd Impact, and his second and third Super Arts often freeze him in place until he gets hit if they whiff. I believe the "I am your god" line plays if you get a perfect in the parry minigame.

[@timlangeloh4679]

@Khanage, thankyou for citing your sources. I wish more youtubers did.

[@gemballa-op8gy]

he didn't cite my comment on the shin akuma moveset i did a while ago but i guess it's ok 😭

[@EdwardFeinho]

Straight to the point and well presented, even said where you did find the info for the video, really nice.

[@PanagiotisPolitis-bl9xj]

8:32 damn didn't know adon was gonna be in 2i

[@dontapinkney3994]

I remember hearing that, originally Ryu & Ken were not supposed to be in “New Generation” making it a whole new roster of fighters! But, after complaints from testers.. about it not having any familiar characters? They were added at the last moment. And, Sean was supposed be the new Ryu like character. Who was later watered down once they returned. Also, Third Strike is not all of that to me. The first two are the best! Especially Double Impact!

[@JiBbo]

Ive heard that in wide screen 3S, hugo's ultra throw doesn't reach the wall so you can't combo off it. I haven't seen it myself tho

[@wtfsamusidk7574]

Who are the judgement girls

[@catsorafgc]

According to Capcom, they’re just ladies hired for the tournament to decide a match when the opposing characters can’t (I.e time out with both having the same health).

[@Eggroll3s]

Finally, peak fiction

[@brandonwilliams6119]

We were robbed of Makoto with a tough cutesy voice, but I can understand time constraints. It also would’ve been cool and interesting to see her get a unique win and lose pose since 3rd Strike ditched those by just having the winner say their victory quote.

[@milkman5586]

me when i need to say literally fucking anything about anything

[@randez626]

You know u finna get crucified for leaving out and having even the most minute discrepancy when discussing this topic. Why? Bc the net is overinflated, over infatuated, with mis, dis and mal information. Best have your hard copies

[@JokeboxMachine]

5:50 Alright, that's cute! (read it with 3S commentator voice)

[@WarriorTier]

Excellent video! Well done! 👍

[@takeOnlyGreatness]

I LOVE NICHE CONTENT YES I LOVE THIS

[@AttitudeIndicator]

Great video

[@MarcadetFPS]

PIzza Tower music

[@SaggyWaggy-is8it]

Great video, deserves more views!

[@SaruWaza]

There is pre-release footage from Second Impact, also shown in Capcom Friendly Club VHS. One of them is in Vol. 5 and I believe there's at least another one. There's a cut from its segment here kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmrKenmbZrNrrtk

[@ZzigZaG00NIN]

Good ol shin Akuma I love unplayable playable characters

[@neonthunder3261]

3:57 It looks like you'd start with max super meter too, maybe. LV 3 max and LV 2 max on round 1 seems almost Alpha 3-esque in giving you full meter at game start.

[@forcrit2562]

Makoto users would have loved that in 3s

[@redddrago5198]

The Chun-Li portrait as Shin Akuma's win portrait in 3rd strike is true I've played in MAME and activated the cheat to unlock Shin Akuma If i'm not wrong, the text on winning screen shows "Twelve" instead of the fighters previously mentioned

[@etrotm1226]

I just wanna say its supposedly stated that Chun-Li was meant to be in SFIII 2nd Impact as well, but was cut due to time restraints. Also I must say makoto sounded cute in the sound files on 2nd Impact.

[@bigshorty4855]

Finally, I'm hearing witness my light eternal. When checking through the sound files on a friend's arcade cab, we always wondered what it was used for. Guess it wasn't used😂.

[@sheldoncooper8199]

This Video is Super Interessting Thank You

[@useruser-tc7xx]

Good vid but the background music vocals are distracting

[@plaguedfrost1753]

Thank you so much for putting the music in the description!

[@woodearthdvd]

Would love an ultra sf3 with restored wide screen mode, the stages from 2nd impact and boss gouki and gill (ban for tourneys of course). Rebalancing plus adding kolin and poison as playable characters would be cherry on top.

[@jacobsfitnessladder285]

Gill is playable in 3rd strike. If I remember correctly u have to beat arcade mode with all characters to unlock him. I don't remember because I unlocked him on my dreamcast and haven't has to do it again in 20 years.

[@thumbreee9124]

ain’t no way dudes putting up videos during bam

[@nignigolas8580]

Good videos bro! What did you use to edit these

[@HenryEarthbound]

hugo

[@Farm-Key]

Oh ?

[@taylorbee4010]

Dudley has a hidden special move in 3s.

[@niceveraert1000]

real shit?

[@yoshinpixels9924]

​@@niceveraert1000Yes and no It'd be more correct to say unused, it's Thunderbolt from the earlier games For what it's worth it's entirely functional tho, animation, hit data, everything. Kinda crazy they just cut it entirely

[@gemballa-op8gy]

yeah it's called punch and cross, performed by half back circle and fp, allows you to chain normals into themselves althought it's super hard

[@Zontar82]

Game wasn't made by same people of sf2 and It shows

[@Sylvergunner]

yeah cuz its better😏

[@Timic83tc]

I couldn't believe Dudley has his super jumping charge move from SSF4 in earlier version of SF3.

[@Zontar82]

They probably thought about It, scrapped and reused later on ssf4, what's so incredible about It, snk does that all the ti me

[@ArpPlays]

make better

[@figbagit3137]

There's also a bit of cut content in 3rd strike that you didnt mention: there is a variant of akumas stage with a red colored eclipse or moon (cant remember which but it was red) and a palette for akuma that makes his hair blue, eyes red and the rest of his body black, implying that oni was planned to be a secret boss fight in 3S but went unfinished

[@fabriciodesi]

This doesn't automatically implies the shin akuma. Maybe it was just a palette at the time

[@figbagit3137]

@@fabriciodesi onis opening in sf4 has that exact red moon scenery in it at the start, it more that definitely was planned to be an oni fight in 3S

[@jacobsfitnessladder285]

​@@fabriciodesiI have to agree with you on this. 3rd Strike has an unlockable where u can select some pretty radical colors for the characters. It may have been one of his planned colors.