10 Hated Video Games That Became Cult Classics
6. Street Fighter III
Because Street Fighter II singlehandedly moulded the fighting genre into what it is today, it seemed impossible for any follow-up to have the same impact.
Sadly, the overwhelming "meh" that Street Fighter III received verified this notion. Critics found this instalment to be solid, but nothing special. At the time, other fighting titles, like Tekken and Soul Edge had embraced the third dimension. Because Capcom's sequel firmly maintained its 2D roots, it looked ancient by comparison.
But nowadays, SFIII isn't considered dated. Ironically, it's now regarded as ahead of its time. Unlike fighters like Marvel VS Capcom or Mortal Kombat, this threequel doesn't rely on showy moves, over-the-top combos, or screen-filling attacks.
Instead, it focuses on fighting in its purist form. During each match, competitors have to constantly think about positioning, timing, and parrying, rather than wailing on their opponent with cheap attacks.
SFIII's mechanics are so precise, it gave birth to the Daigo Parry incident, which is considered not just the best counter in video games, but the defining moment in competitive gaming history.
Although SFIII was once labelled as a blunder, it's now hailed as the most underrated entry in the series.