head to head

Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact cover artvsThe King of Fighters '98 cover art

Street Fighter III: 2nd ImpactvsThe King of Fighters '98

Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact leans Reads (Competitive PvP); The King of Fighters '98 leans Execution (Competitive PvP).

EXECUTION8 /10READS9 /10VARIANCE1 /10OPTIMIZATION5 /10
Street Fighter III: 2nd ImpactThe King of Fighters '98

Axis by axis

Execution8 vs 8

Even - both lean on execution about the same.

Reads9 vs 8

Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact leans harder on reads: Parry baits versus adapting humans define the game

Variance1 vs 1

Even - both lean on variance about the same.

Optimization5 vs 5

Even - both lean on optimization about the same.

Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.

full breakdown

Street Fighter III: 2nd Impact

full breakdown

The King of Fighters '98