History VideoGame / StreetFighterEX

[[SequelGap In 2017]], Arika [[https://twitter.com/miharasan/status/847840152223268864 announced]] a follow-up to ''Street Fighter EX'' and its [[SpiritualSuccessor loose spin-off]] ''VideoGame/FightingLayer'' under the WorkingTitle (later made the official title) of ''VideoGame/FightingEXLayer''[[labelnote:*]]as it incorporates a mix of gameplay mechanics from both titles, such as the Guard Breaks of ''Street Fighter EX'' and sidestepping and walled arenas from ''Fighting Layer'' (though the 3D elements would be removed in later stages of development); despite this, it is colloquially known by many fans as "''Street Fighter [=EX4=]''"[[/labelnote]] with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2x8c-RFGnA gameplay footage]] to show off. The announcement, [[MilestoneCelebration meant to celebrate Arika's extended 20th anniversary]][[labelnote:*]]the company was founded in 1995[[/labelnote]], came on AprilFoolsDay, [[DidntThinkThisThrough leading many to initially believe it was a joke]]. Others thought the game looked [[OverlyPrePreparedGag way too real and polished]] to possibly be a joke (explained in part [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuXXbQJHqgc#t=2m27s here]]), and as it turned out, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1UShcCfcl4 the game was indeed playable]] and was even [[http://shoryuken.com/2017/03/31/its-real-check-out-arikas-livestream-of-their-new-street-fighter-exfighting-layer-based-fighter/ live]][[http://www.fightersgeneration.com/screens2/arika-sfex-april2017.htm streamed]] [[https://pvplive.net/c/arika-confirms-new-fighting-game-for-20th-annivers later that day]] at [[https://www.facebook.com/co.arika/posts/1334036619965033 a promotional exhibition event-slash-location test]] featuring Arika staff members and notable ''Street Fighter'' player [[UsefulNotes/FGCAces Ryota "Kazunoko" Inoue]]. (According to Akira's vice president Ichiro Mihara, the development of ''Fighting EX Layer'' being hidden for so long was, in fact, the joke.) At EVO 2017, the game was confirmed to be under development for the Platform/PlayStation4 with a simultaneous launch in 2018.

* GaidenGame: Where this series is generally assumed to fit within the larger "SF'' canon, with theories abounding that it's specifically a sidestory to ''Alpha'' and/or ''II''. In fact, the working title of the first game was actually ''Street Fighter Gaiden''.

In 1996, ''Street Fighter EX'' was developed by {{Creator/Arika}} and published by Creator/{{Capcom}} as an attempt to bring the normally 2D ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' series into true [=3D=]. The game saw the return of Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Guile (in his first game since ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo''), Zangief, Akuma and M. Bison. [[CanonForeigner New characters]], who are fully owned by Arika, were also added. These characters include:

Two [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]] were created as ''Street Fighter EX Plus'', adding dark versions of Ryu (Evil Ryu) and Hokuto (Bloody Hokuto), and Cycloid-β (Beta) and Cycloid-γ (Gamma), two cyborg {{Ditto Fighter}}s with no faces (Gamma's a wireframe). UsefulNotes/PlayStation-exclusive ''Street Fighter EX Plus α'' added familiar faces Dhalsim and Sakura.

The game played similar to ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha'', but with the addition of side-stepping (albeit only as an aesthetic element of certain specials; unlike, say, ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'', it was not a universal mechanic), guard-breaking attacks that makes the opponent temporarily dizzy, and special moves and Super Combos [[LagCancel that can be cancelled into other Super Combos]].

In 1998, ''Street Fighter [=EX2=]'' was released and added Excel Combos ("Excel" being an abbreviation for "'''Ex'''tra Can'''cel'''"), Custom Combos similar to the ones seen in the ''Alpha'' series. This game also marks the first time that a ''Street Fighter'' game within its own sub-series removes characters from the roster as Akuma, Sakura, M. Bison, Cycloid β, Cycloid γ, Pullum, Darun, Allen, and Blair were cut. In their place came ''Street Fighter II'' veterans Blanka and Vega and four newcomers:

''Street Fighter [=EX2=] Plus'' brought back Pullum, Darun, and Bison and then added Ryu's rival Sagat, Area (a young inventor with a giant mechanical arm), and Vulcano Rosso ([[LiteralMetaphor fiery]] Italian fighter). Hayate was dropped from the arcade version of ''[=EX2=] Plus'', but returned for the [=PlayStation=] version. ''[=EX2=] Plus'' also added Meteor Combos, a precursor to the Ultra Combo system later introduced in ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV''. Aside from Super Cancels, ''[=EX2=]'' allowed for Super Combos to be cancelled into a Guard Break (Cancel Break, which could then be followed up by another Super Cancel if the player had enough/infinite meter) or a Meteor Combo (if the game allowed the player at the time to have infinite super meter or more than three bars).

In 2000, ''Street Fighter [=EX3=]'' came out exclusively for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2. A TagTeam and Dramatic Battle system was added, complete with various new gameplay mechanics such as [[CombinationAttack Meteor Tag Combos]]. Everyone from ''Street Fighter [=EX2=] Plus'' (except Hayate) returned, as did Sakura, from ''Street Fighter EX Plus α''. Ace, the sole new character for the game, was a character that could have [[PowerCopying moves from other fighters]] [[AllYourPowersCombined added to his move list]] at the player's discretion. Guard Breaks were replaced by the somewhat similar Surprise Blow, losing their unblockable properties but able to stun crouching opponents, floor airborne ones, and [[ScratchDamage inflict chip damage]] as well as costing no meter to use, while Momentary Combos, two special inputs for each character allowing them to cancel from one special move to another unique special with the press of a precisely-timed single punch or kick, were added. The Excel from ''Street Fighter [=EX2=] Plus'' was essentially replaced with the [[CombinationAttack Critical Parade]], a new mechanic added to ''Street Fighter [=EX3=]'' wherein the standby character in a partner match would join their teammate and both characters could use unlimited Super Combos for a brief period of time, not unlike the Duo Team Attack from ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfSuperHeroes''.

In 2011, [[http://www.fightersgeneration.com/np8/arika-fightingsample.png screenshots]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nxb-mcn6wg gameplay footage]] of a test project for the UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS known as ''Fighting Sample'' (alternatively, ''Project EX'') featured [[CanonForeigner (some of) the cast]] of the ''EX'' series. However, this only proved to be a tech demo of sorts, and Arika currently has no plans to make it into an actual game. On September 19, 2016, Capcom [[http://game.capcom.com/cfn/sfv/column-130853.html released a profile and artwork on Darun Mister]] which also mentioned Pullum Purna and connected him to the plot of ''VideoGame/StreetFighterV''.

[[SequelGap In 2017]], Arika [[https://twitter.com/miharasan/status/847840152223268864 announced]] a follow-up to ''Street Fighter EX'' and its [[SpiritualSuccessor loose spin-off]] ''VideoGame/FightingLayer'' under the WorkingTitle (later made the official title) of ''VideoGame/FightingEXLayer'' [[note]]as it incorporates a mix of gameplay mechanics from both titles, such as the Guard Breaks of ''Street Fighter EX'' and sidestepping and walled arenas from ''Fighting Layer''; despite this, it is colloquially known by fans as ''Street Fighter [=EX4=]''[[/note]] with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2x8c-RFGnA gameplay footage]] to show off. The announcement, [[MilestoneCelebration meant to celebrate Arika's extended 20th anniversary]] [[note]]the company was founded in 1995[[/note]], came on AprilFoolsDay, [[DidntThinkThisThrough leading many to initially believe it was a joke]]. Others thought the game looked [[OverlyPrePreparedGag way too real and polished]] to possibly be a joke (explained in part [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuXXbQJHqgc#t=2m27s here]]), and as it turns out, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1UShcCfcl4 the game is indeed playable]] and was even [[http://shoryuken.com/2017/03/31/its-real-check-out-arikas-livestream-of-their-new-street-fighter-exfighting-layer-based-fighter/ live]][[http://www.fightersgeneration.com/screens2/arika-sfex-april2017.htm streamed]] [[https://pvplive.net/c/arika-confirms-new-fighting-game-for-20th-annivers later that day]] at [[https://www.facebook.com/co.arika/posts/1334036619965033 a promotional exhibition event-slash-location test]] featuring Arika staff members and notable ''Street Fighter'' player [[UsefulNotes/FGCAces Ryota "Kazunoko" Inoue]]. (According to Akira's vice president Ichiro Mihara, the development of ''Fighting EX Layer'' being hidden for so long was, in fact, the joke.) At EVO 2017, the game was confirmed to be under development for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 with a simultaneous launch in 2018.

* BlindIdiotTranslation: The original game had Blair's nameplate under the life gauge spelled as "Brair." Also the original game misspelled the gauge as "GAGE". This was corrected in the ''Plus'' update.
* {{Bowdlerize}}: The blood from Garuda's attacks was removed from the US version.

* CanonForeigner: The characters introduced in this series belong to Arika. In ''Street Fighter [=EX2=]'', they retconned the backstories of most of the new characters to distance them from the canon characters, while Blair and Allen were actually included in a non-Capcom Arika-developed fighting game titled ''VideoGame/FightingLayer'' that never left the arcade. An interview with Seth Killian states that both Capcom and Arika own the ''EX'' characters, and that the only reason why a new ''EX'' game hasn't been made was Capcom's wish to have Arika make it happen.

** ''EX Plus α'' [[http://strategywiki.org/wiki/Street_Fighter_EX/Secrets#Character_quirks was swarming with them,]] ranging from an alternative version of Hokuto dressed as a {{Miko}} to Ryu's headband continually growing larger after winning five consecutive matches to C. Jack's aluminum baseball bat to Akuma's prayer beads breaking apart and flying off of him if struck by a Super Combo.

* GaidenGame: The working title of the first game was actually ''Street Fighter Gaiden''.

* UnblockableAttack: The Guard Break. In ''[=EX3=]'', this was replaced by the Surprise Blow, which no longer cost super meter, but could be blocked (albeit for minor [[ScratchDamage chip damage]]). It still stuns the opponent, but only if they are crouching; if it successfully strikes a midair opponent, they'll immediately be knocked to the ground instead of how Guard Breaks [[LauncherMove would pop them up into the air for a juggle]].

** One of the ''EX'' series' claims to fame is the ability to, by default, chain multiple Super Combos into one another for big damage so long as the player has enough meter to burn. On the rare occasions players are provided with infinite meter (such as after the second Bonus Game in ''[=EX2=] Plus'') or more than three bars (such as when [[TeamSpirit Emotional Flow]] activates in ''[=EX3=]''), this can lead to some [[DeathOfAThousandCuts truly]] [[ForMassiveDamage ludicrous]] combos, sometimes capped off with a Super Cancel into a [[LimitBreak Meteor Combo]]!

* BlindIdiotTranslation: The original game had Blair's nameplate under the life gauge spelled as "Brair." Also the original game mispelled the gauge as "GAGE". This was corrected in the ''Plus'' update.

In 1996, ''Street Fighter EX'' was developed by {{Creator/Arika}} (a company founded by ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' and ''VideoGame/StreetFighterII'' co-designer Akira Nishitani) and published by Creator/{{Capcom}} as an attempt to bring the normally 2D ''Franchise/StreetFighter'' series into true [=3D=]. The game saw the return of Ryu, Ken, Chun-Li, Guile (in his first game since ''Super Street Fighter II Turbo''), Zangief, Akuma and M. Bison. [[CanonForeigner New characters]], who are fully owned by Arika, were also added. These characters include:

* Nanase, Hokuto's [[SimpleStaff staff-wielding]] sister

* BlindIdiotTranslation: The original game had Blair's nameplate under the life gauge spelled as "Brair."

* TheCameo: For reasons known only to Arika, the background texture of Bison's stage in the first game has a low-resolution picture of Creator/MrT.

In 2000, ''Street Fighter [=EX3=]'' came out exclusively for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2. A TagTeam and Dramatic Battle system was added, complete with various new gameplay mechanics such as [[CombinationAttack Meteor Tag Combos]]. Everyone from ''Street Fighter [=EX2=] Plus'' (except Hayate) returned, as did Sakura, from ''Street Fighter EX Plus α''. Ace, the sole new character for the game, was a character that could have [[PowerCopying moves from other fighters]] [[AllYourPowersCombined added to his move list]] at the player's discretion. Guard Breaks were replaced by the somewhat similar Surprise Blow, losing their unblockable properties but able to stun crouching opponents, floor airborne ones, and [[ScratchDamage inflict chip damage]] as well as costing no meter to use, while Momentary Combos, two special inputs for each character allowing them to cancel from one special move to another unique special with the press of a precisely-timed single punch or kick, were added. The Excel from ''Street Fighter [=EX2=] Plus'' was essentially replaced with the Critical Parade, a new mechanic added to ''Street Fighter [=EX3=]'' wherein the standby character would join their partner and both characters could use unlimited Super Combos for a brief period of time, not unlike the Duo Team Attack from ''VideoGame/MarvelVsCapcomClashOfSuperHeroes''.

** One of the ''EX'' series' claims to fame is the ability to, by default, chain multiple Super Combos into one another for big damage so long as the player has another meter to burn. On the rare occasions players are provided with infinite meter (such as after the second Bonus Game in ''[=EX2=] Plus''), this can lead to some [[DeathOfAThousandCuts truly]] [[ForMassiveDamage ludicrous]] combos, sometimes capped off with a Super Cancel into a [[LimitBreak Meteor Combo]]!

The game played similar to ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha'', but with the addition of side-stepping (albeit only as an aesthetic element of certain specials; unlike, say, ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'', it was not a universal mechanic), guard-breaking attacks that makes the opponent temporarily dizzy, and special moves and Super Combos that can be cancelled into other Super Combos.

In 2000, ''Street Fighter [=EX3=]'' came out exclusively for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2. A Tag Team and Dramatic Battle system was added, complete with various new gameplay mechanics such as [[CombinationAttack Meteor Tag Combos]]. Everyone from ''Street Fighter [=EX2=] Plus'' (except Hayate) returned, as did Sakura, from ''Street Fighter EX Plus α''. Ace, the sole new character for the game, was a character that could have [[PowerCopying moves from other fighters]] [[AllYourPowersCombined added to his move list]] at the player's discretion. Guard Breaks were replaced by the somewhat similar Surprise Blow, losing their unblockable properties but able to stun crouching opponents and floor airborne ones as well as costing no meter to use, while Momentary Combos, two special inputs for each character allowing them to cancel from one special move to another unique special with the press of a precisely-timed single punch or kick, were added. The Excel from ''Street Fighter [=EX2=] Plus'' was essentially replaced with the Critical Parade, a new mechanic added to ''Street Fighter [=EX3=]''.

** Akuma, Allen, and Blair in all the entries after ''EX Plus α''; the latter two were dropped due to Arika including them as {{Guest Fighter}}s in the Namco-published ''VideoGame/FightingLayer'', though neither returned for ''[=EX2=] Plus'' or ''[=EX3=]'', which released after ''Fighting Layer''. Akuma's exclusion is not entirely clear, although it's possible that Arika preferred to keep Garuda and Kairi in in his place, making Akuma irrelevant. [[note]]Akuma and Garuda are basically [[TheDreaded the same type of character]] while Kairi is the {{Shotoclone}} closest in function to Akuma (including a Raging Demon-style move in the form of the Kyoja Renbu), to the point that he gained a few more of Akuma's moves (notably an Ashura Senku equivalent in the Makuu Shihai) in ''[=EX2=]'' to coincide with Akuma's departure.[[/note]]

* TeamSpirit: With ''[=EX3=]''[='s=] partner matches, if one character is defeated, their accumulated super meter gauge will be transferred to the remaining teammate in what is known as Emotional Flow. At this point, the second character will now be able to hold up to six bars of super meter as opposed to the normal three.
* UnblockableAttack: The Guard Break. In ''[=EX3=]'', this was replaced by the Surprise Blow, which no longer cost super meter, but could be blocked. It still stuns the opponent, but only if they are crouching; if it successfully strikes a midair opponent, they'll immediately be knocked to the ground instead of how Guard Breaks [[LauncherMove would pop them up into the air for a juggle]].

Two [[UpdatedRerelease Updated Re-releases]] were created as ''Street Fighter EX Plus'', adding dark versions of Ryu (Evil Ryu) and Hokuto (Bloody Hokuto), and Cycloid-β (Beta) and Cycloid-γ (Gamma), two cyborg {{ditto fighter}}s with no faces (Gamma's a wireframe). UsefulNotes/PlayStation-exclusive ''Street Fighter EX Plus α'' added familiar faces Dhalsim and Sakura.

The game played similar to ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha'', but with the addition of side-stepping (albeit only as an aesthetic element of certain specials; unlike, say, ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'', it was not a universal mechanic), guard-breaking attacks that makes the opponent temporarily dizzy, and special moves and Super Combos that can be cancelled into other Super Combos.

In 1998, ''Street Fighter [=EX2=]'' was released and added Excel Combos, custom combos similar to the ones seen in the ''Alpha'' series. This game also marks the first time that a ''Street Fighter'' game within its own sub-series removes characters from the roster as Akuma, Sakura, M. Bison, Cycloid β, Cycloid γ, Pullum, Darun, Allen, and Blair were cut. In their place came ''Street Fighter II'' veterans Blanka and Vega and four newcomers:

* TheBusCameBack: Bison, Pullum, and Darun were retired in ''[=EX2=]'' before they returned in ''[=EX2=] Plus''. Sakura was exclusive to ''EX Plus α'' until she was brought back in ''[=EX3=]''.

* CanonImmigrant: As of ''Street Fighter V'', it's revealed on Capcom's CFN website that [[spoiler:Zangief gave his Chess Piece to Darun Mister to keep safe]]. The CFN website has since added other characters from the ''EX'' series, implying that while their game of origin has no place in the ''Street Fighter'' canon, the characters themselves are still a part of the ''Street Fighter'' universe, even if they never show up as playable characters again.

* GaidenGame: The WorkingTitle of the first game was actually ''Street Fighter Gaiden''.

* LimitBreak: The Meteor Combos, introduced in ''[=EX2=]''.

** Three sets: the ex-TropeNamers Ryu and Ken, Allen and Kairi (who are similar to Ryu and Ken), Zangief and Darun.
** A case could also be made for Skullomania and Shadowgeist, the later of whom made his debut in the second game.
* PutOnABus: Akuma, Blair, and Allen in all the entries after ''EX Plus α''; the latter two were dropped due to Arika including them as {{Guest Fighter}}s in the Namco-published ''VideoGame/FightingLayer''. Akuma's exclusion is not entirely clear, although it's possible that Arika preferred to keep Garuda in, making Akuma irrelevant as they are basically [[TheDreaded the same type of character]]. Hayate was retired from the arcade version of ''[=EX2=] Plus'' in order to get around a ban in South Korea that prevented the depiction of samurai-like characters in media, but the [=PS1=] port brought him back as an unlockable fighter.

* {{Shotoclone}}: Ryu, Ken, Sakura, Akuma, Allen, and Kairi.
** DivergentCharacterEvolution: Mostly started in the second game, although Allen was unique from the start with the inclusion of kickboxing moves, his Justice Fist (which could [[AttackReflector deflect projectiles]]), and two command throws. On the other hand, Kairi mostly played like a more balanced Akuma at first, although with Akuma's [[PutOnABus absence]] starting in ''[=EX2=]'', Kairi essentially ''became'' Akuma. However, he did have his own odd quirks (such as his projectile not being thrown like a typical Hadoken [[note]]it instead appeared onscreen and stayed there for about half a second, its distance being gauged by the strength of the punch button used[[/note]] and the [[KamehameHadoken Shouki Hatsudou]], a [[LimitBreak Meteor Combo]] [[HPToOne that brought his health down to a tiny sliver]] and [[DeathOrGloryAttack was best used as a finisher]]).

* UnblockableAttack: The Guard Break. In ''[=EX3=]'', this was replaced by the Surprise Blow, which no longer cost super meter, but could be blocked. It still stuns the opponent, but only if they are crouching; if it successfully strikes a midair opponent, they'll immediately be knocked to the ground instead of how Guard Breaks would pop them up into the air for a juggle.

* SkeletonMotif: Skullomania wears a full body suit that has a skeleton painted over his whole body. Subverted in that not only he's a hero, he's a clear-cut and rather silly one as well, with ''[=EX2=]]'' onward turning him into a full-on {{Toku}} hero pastiche.

* SkeletonMotif: Skullomania wears a full body suit that has skeletons painted over his whole body. Subverted in that not only he's a hero, he's a clear-cut and rather silly one as well.