About

<h2>Overview</h2><figure data-ref-id="1300-549700" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/1054/549700-sfz2_poster2_big.jpg" data-size="small" data-align="right" data-ratio="1.0999083409716" data-width="1091" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 1091px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:110.0%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/0/1054/549700-sfz2_poster2_big.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-549700"><img alt="No Caption Provided" src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_small/0/1054/549700-sfz2_poster2_big.jpg" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/0/1054/549700-sfz2_poster2_big.jpg 1091w, https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/0/1054/549700-sfz2_poster2_big.jpg 872w, https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_small/0/1054/549700-sfz2_poster2_big.jpg 581w" sizes="(max-width: 581px) 100vw, 581px" data-width="581"></a></figure><p>Street Fighter Alpha 2 (known in some countries as Street Fighter Zero 2) is a 2D fighting game developed and released by <a href="/capcom/3010-367/" data-ref-id="3010-367">Capcom</a> for <a href="/arcade/3045-84/" data-ref-id="3045-84">arcades</a> using the <a href="/cps/3015-2020/" data-ref-id="3015-2020">CPS-2</a> hardware on March 6, 1996.</p><p>The second installment of the <a href="/spin-off/3015-1100/" data-ref-id="3015-1100">spin-off</a> <a href="/street-fighter-alpha/3025-960/" data-ref-id="3025-960">Street Fighter Alpha</a> series and the sequel to (and remake of) <a href="/street-fighter-alpha-warriors-dreams/3030-11802/" data-ref-id="3030-11802">Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams</a>, Street Fighter Alpha 2 features five new playable characters (<a href="/dhalsim/3005-427/" data-ref-id="3005-427">Dhalsim</a> and <a href="/zangief/3005-6/" data-ref-id="3005-6">Zangief</a> from <a href="/street-fighter-ii/3025-1795/" data-ref-id="3025-1795">Street Fighter II</a>, <a href="/gen/3005-2163/" data-ref-id="3005-2163">Gen</a> from <a href="/street-fighter/3030-1235/" data-ref-id="3030-1235">Street Fighter</a>, <a href="/rolento/3005-106/" data-ref-id="3005-106">Rolento</a> from <a href="/final-fight/3030-6722/" data-ref-id="3030-6722">Final Fight</a>, and newcomer schoolgirl <a href="/sakura-kasugano/3005-437/" data-ref-id="3005-437">Sakura</a>), new backgrounds for all returning characters, and updated gameplay mechanics (including the introduction of the "Custom Combo" system, which allows players to use their <a href="/super-meter/3015-1013/" data-ref-id="3015-1013">Super Meter</a> to make lengthy timed <a href="/chain-combo/3015-6650/" data-ref-id="3015-6650">chain combos</a>).</p><p>Sometime in August of 1996, Capcom released an update to the game in Japan only, titled Street Fighter Zero 2 Alpha, that includes hidden character variations of some characters resembling their <a href="/super-street-fighter-ii-turbo/3030-1251/" data-ref-id="3030-1251">Super Street Fighter II Turbo</a> appearances, an updated Custom Combo system requiring a different combination and less super meter to perform, new moves for some characters, and hidden game modes including <a href="/survival-mode/3015-3567/" data-ref-id="3015-3567">Survival Mode</a>. This version was further revised in the <a href="/street-fighter-collection/3030-7699/" data-ref-id="3030-7699">Street Fighter Collection</a> compilation (for the <a href="/saturn/3045-42/" data-ref-id="3045-42">Saturn</a> on November 30, 1997 and <a href="/playstation/3045-22/" data-ref-id="3045-22">PlayStation</a> on December 16, 1997) as Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold (Street Fighter Zero 2' in Japan and Street Fighter Alpha 2' in Europe), adding <a href="/cammy/3005-331/" data-ref-id="3005-331">Cammy</a> in her <a href="/x-men-vs-street-fighter/3030-11156/" data-ref-id="3030-11156">X-Men vs. Street Fighter</a> appearance as a hidden playable character.</p><p>The original game was ported to the <a href="/saturn/3045-42/" data-ref-id="3045-42">Saturn</a> and <a href="/playstation/3045-22/" data-ref-id="3045-22">PlayStation</a> on September 30, 1996, featuring an arranged soundtrack and the game's hidden boss (<a href="/akuma/3005-433/" data-ref-id="3005-433">Shin Akuma</a>) as a hidden playable character. It was also ported to the <a href="/super-nintendo-entertainment-system/3045-9/" data-ref-id="3045-9">Super Nintendo Entertainment System</a> on November 1996 (as one of the two games to use the S-DD1 microchip enhancement for sprite data, causing some loading times) and the <a href="/pc/3045-94/" data-ref-id="3045-94">PC</a> on November 1998. The game was later re-released (alongside a revised Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold) for the <a href="/playstation-2/3045-19/" data-ref-id="3045-19">PlayStation 2</a> in the <a href="/street-fighter-alpha-anthology/3030-4762/" data-ref-id="3030-4762">Street Fighter Alpha Anthology</a> compilation on June 13, 2006. The PlayStation version was later digitally re-released for the <a href="/playstation-3/3045-35/" data-ref-id="3045-35">PlayStation 3</a> and <a href="/playstation-portable/3045-18/" data-ref-id="3045-18">PlayStation Portable</a> (both via <a href="/playstation-network/3015-2623/" data-ref-id="3015-2623">PlayStation Network</a>) on June 4, 2009, while the SNES version was digitally re-released for the <a href="/wii/3045-36/" data-ref-id="3045-36">Wii</a> <a href="/virtual-console/3015-2925/" data-ref-id="3015-2925">Virtual Console</a> (on December 7, 2009) and <a href="/wii-u/3045-139/" data-ref-id="3045-139">Wii U</a> Virtual Console (on May 22, 2014).</p><h2>Gameplay</h2><p>Street Fighter Alpha 2 retains most of the features in <a href="/street-fighter-alpha-warriors-dreams/3030-11802/" data-ref-id="3030-11802"> Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors' Dreams</a> like the three level super combo gauge, alpha counters and air-blocking. The main new feature in Street Fighter Alpha 2 is the custom combo system which replaces chain combos from the previous game. When the custom combo guage is at level 1 or above the player can activate a custom combo by by pressing two punch buttons following a kick. Custom combos grant the player a limited amount of time to chain almost any attacks together into a combo. The time limit is dependent on how much power was in the super meter when the combo was initiated.</p><p> </p><h2>Characters</h2><figure data-align="right" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/1/15428/425269-wstreet_fighter_alpha_2.png" data-ref-id="1300-425269" data-size="medium" data-ratio="0.58333333333333" data-width="384" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 384px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:58.3%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/1/15428/425269-wstreet_fighter_alpha_2.png" data-ref-id="1300-425269"><img alt="No Caption Provided" src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/1/15428/425269-wstreet_fighter_alpha_2.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/1/15428/425269-wstreet_fighter_alpha_2.png 384w" sizes="(max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px" data-width="384"></a></figure><p>The game's roster includes 18 playable fighters, five of which are new additions. Only one of these new additions (<a href="/sakura-kasugano/3005-437/" data-ref-id="3005-437">Sakura</a>) is a brand new character. Three of the returning fighters were originally hidden in the original <a href="/street-fighter-alpha-warriors-dreams/3030-11802/" data-ref-id="3030-11802">Street Fighter Alpha</a>, no longer requiring a cheat code to use.</p><p>In most versions of the game (the only exception being the original "Zero 2" Japanese version), fighters returning from the <a href="/street-fighter-ii/3025-1795/" data-ref-id="3025-1795">Street Fighter II</a> series (except for <a href="/akuma/3005-433/" data-ref-id="3005-433">Akuma</a>) have hidden variations resembling their movesets from <a href="/super-street-fighter-ii-turbo/3030-1251/" data-ref-id="3030-1251">Super Street Fighter II Turbo</a>. These versions of <a href="/dhalsim/3005-427/" data-ref-id="3005-427">Dhalsim</a> and <a href="/zangief/3005-6/" data-ref-id="3005-6">Zangief</a> were included in all versions starting with "Alpha 2", while these versions of <a href="/ryu/3005-103/" data-ref-id="3005-103">Ryu</a>, <a href="/ken-masters/3005-212/" data-ref-id="3005-212">Ken</a>, <a href="/chun-li/3005-267/" data-ref-id="3005-267">Chun-Li</a>, <a href="/sagat/3005-102/" data-ref-id="3005-102">Sagat</a>, and <a href="/m-bison/3005-185/" data-ref-id="3005-185">M. Bison</a> were only included in "Zero 2 Alpha" and "Alpha 2 Gold". Ryu, Chun-Li, and Akuma also have hidden variations of some sort.</p><h4>New Characters</h4><ul><li><a href="/sakura-kasugano/3005-437/" data-ref-id="3005-437">Sakura</a></li><li><a href="/gen/3005-2163/" data-ref-id="3005-2163">Gen</a> (from <a href="/street-fighter/3030-1235/" data-ref-id="3030-1235">Street Fighter</a>)</li><li><a href="/rolento/3005-106/" data-ref-id="3005-106">Rolento</a> (from <a href="/final-fight/3030-6722/" data-ref-id="3030-6722">Final Fight</a>)</li><li><a href="/dhalsim/3005-427/" data-ref-id="3005-427">Dhalsim</a> (from <a href="/street-fighter-ii/3025-1795/" data-ref-id="3025-1795">Street Fighter II</a>, has a hidden SSF2T variation)</li><li><a href="/zangief/3005-6/" data-ref-id="3005-6">Zangief</a> (from Street Fighter II, has a hidden SSF2T variation)</li><li><a href="/cammy/3005-331/" data-ref-id="3005-331">Cammy</a> (from <a href="/super-street-fighter-ii/3030-6665/" data-ref-id="3030-6665">Super Street Fighter II</a>, based on her <a href="/x-men-vs-street-fighter/3030-11156/" data-ref-id="3030-11156">X-Men vs. Street Fighter</a> appearance, added in "Alpha 2 Gold" and only playable with cheat code)</li></ul><h4>Returning Characters</h4><ul><li><a href="/ryu/3005-103/" data-ref-id="3005-103"> Ryu</a> (along with a hidden SSF2T variation, he has a hidden "Evil" variation in "Alpha 2", "Zero 2 Alpha", and "Alpha 2 Gold", in which he has some of Akuma's moveset)</li><li><a href="/ken-masters/3005-212/" data-ref-id="3005-212"> Ken</a> (has a hidden SSF2T variation)</li><li><a href="/charlie/3005-3409/" data-ref-id="3005-3409">Charlie</a></li><li><a href="/rose/3005-3143/" data-ref-id="3005-3143">Rose</a></li><li><a href="/dan-hibiki/3005-269/" data-ref-id="3005-269">Dan</a></li><li><a href="/birdie/3005-3229/" data-ref-id="3005-3229"> Birdie</a></li><li><a href="/adon/3005-2218/" data-ref-id="3005-2218"> Adon</a></li><li><a href="/sagat/3005-102/" data-ref-id="3005-102"> Sagat</a> (has a hidden SSF2T variation)</li><li><a href="/guy/3005-257/" data-ref-id="3005-257">Guy</a></li><li><a href="/sodom/3005-77/" data-ref-id="3005-77">Sodom</a></li><li><a href="/chun-li/3005-267/" data-ref-id="3005-267">Chun-Li</a> (along with a hidden SSF2T variation, she has a hidden "classic outfit" variation in all versions, in which she wears her Street Fighter II outfit)</li><li><a href="/m-bison/3005-185/" data-ref-id="3005-185"> M. Bison</a> (known as Vega in the Japanese versions, has a hidden SSF2T variation)</li><li><a href="/akuma/3005-433/" data-ref-id="3005-433"> Akuma</a> (has a hidden powerful "Shin" variation, fought by reaching the last fight without losing a round, getting three perfects, and getting five super/custom finishes, only playable in some console versions)</li></ul><h4>Cameos</h4><p>Dan's Stage:</p><ul><li><a href="/fei-long/3005-270/" data-ref-id="3005-270"> Fei Long </a></li></ul><p>Guy's Stage (from left to right):</p><ul><li><a href="/hugo-andore/3005-55/" data-ref-id="3005-55"> Andore</a></li><li><a href="/cody-travers/3005-319/" data-ref-id="3005-319"> Cody</a></li><li><a href="/jessica-haggar/3005-23656/" data-ref-id="3005-23656">Jessica Haggar</a></li><li><a href="/bill-bull/3005-131/" data-ref-id="3005-131"> Bill Bull</a></li><li><a href="/abigail/3005-29/" data-ref-id="3005-29"> Abigail</a></li><li><a href="/edi-e/3005-259/" data-ref-id="3005-259"> Edi E</a></li><li><a href="/mike-haggar/3005-171/" data-ref-id="3005-171"> Haggar</a></li><li><a href="/j/3005-242/" data-ref-id="3005-242"> J</a></li><li><a href="/damnd/3005-261/" data-ref-id="3005-261"> Damnd</a></li><li><a href="/poison/3005-136/" data-ref-id="3005-136"> Poison</a></li><li><a href="/axl/3005-59/" data-ref-id="3005-59"> Axl</a></li></ul><p>Ken's Stage (from left to right):</p><figure data-align="right" data-img-src="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/12/121177/1679105-streetfighteralpha2_usa_ken_.png" data-ref-id="1300-1679105" data-size="medium" data-ratio="0.33333333333333" data-width="720" data-embed-type="image" style="width: 720px"><a class="fluid-height" style="padding-bottom:33.3%" href="https://static.giantbomb.com/uploads/original/12/121177/1679105-streetfighteralpha2_usa_ken_.png" data-ref-id="1300-1679105"><img alt="Kens Stage Featuring a Large Cast of Capcom Cameos " src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" data-width="480" class="js-lazy-load-image" data-src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/12/121177/1679105-streetfighteralpha2_usa_ken_.png" data-srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/12/121177/1679105-streetfighteralpha2_usa_ken_.png 720w, https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/12/121177/1679105-streetfighteralpha2_usa_ken_.png 480w"><noscript><img alt="Kens Stage Featuring a Large Cast of Capcom Cameos " src="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/12/121177/1679105-streetfighteralpha2_usa_ken_.png" srcset="https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/original/12/121177/1679105-streetfighteralpha2_usa_ken_.png 720w, https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/12/121177/1679105-streetfighteralpha2_usa_ken_.png 480w" sizes="(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px" data-width="480"></noscript></a><figcaption>Kens Stage Featuring a Large Cast of Capcom Cameos </figcaption></figure><ul><li><a href="/lord-raptor/3005-2045/" data-ref-id="3005-2045"> Lord Raptor</a></li><li><a href="/hsien-ko/3005-4295/" data-ref-id="3005-4295"> Hsien-Ko</a></li><li><a href="/lin-lin/3005-13610/" data-ref-id="3005-13610"> Mei-Lin</a></li><li><a href="/unknown-soldier-from-forgotten-worlds/3005-5786/" data-ref-id="3005-5786"> Unknown Soldier Player 1</a></li><li><a href="/twop/3005-35/" data-ref-id="3005-35"> Unknown Soldier Player 2</a></li><li><a href="/morrigan-aensland/3005-2714/" data-ref-id="3005-2714"> Morrigan</a></li><li><a href="/jumbo/3005-4441/" data-ref-id="3005-4441"> Jumbo</a></li><li><a href="/biff-slamkovich/3005-9627/" data-ref-id="3005-9627"> Biff Slamkovich </a></li><li><a href="/ginzu-the-ninja/3005-8053/" data-ref-id="3005-8053"> Ginzu</a></li><li><a href="/captain-commando/3005-3213/" data-ref-id="3005-3213"> Captain Commando</a></li><li><a href="/michelle-heart/3005-5790/" data-ref-id="3005-5790"> Michelle Heart</a></li><li><a href="/strider-hiryu/3005-53/" data-ref-id="3005-53"> Strider Hiryu</a></li><li><a href="/linn-kurosawa/3005-15931/" data-ref-id="3005-15931"> Linn Kurosawa</a></li><li><a href="/felicia/3005-3115/" data-ref-id="3005-3115"> Felicia</a></li><li><a href="/pure/3005-5789/" data-ref-id="3005-5789"> Pure</a></li></ul>