Ryo Sakazaki
A martial artist and returning Art of Fighting protagonist who enters the tournament while pursuing the mystery surrounding Freia.
Documented for this version
Joystick | Move, crouch, and jump |
|---|---|
A | Punch |
B | Kick |
C | Strong punch |
D | Strong kick |
A+B | Taunt |
Neo Geo arcade button labels are A, B, C, and D.
Direction inputs are performed with the joystick.
How it plays
Matches are played from a side view in one-on-one rounds. Players use punches, kicks, throws, special moves, and desperation attacks to empty the opponent's life bar before time expires.
The game includes an arcade-style story route and versus play. A spirit gauge limits repeated special-move use, while taunts can reduce the opponent's spirit. Guarding, recovery, pursuit attacks, and careful use of the Power Charge system are important for progression through the fight.
Plan your run
Learn the range and recovery of each character's normal attacks before relying on special moves. Keep the spirit gauge high enough to use important techniques, and use taunts only when the opponent cannot punish them.
Throws, pursuit attacks, and guard pressure are especially useful against defensive players. Save desperation techniques for a confirmed opening or a round-ending sequence, since wasting resources can leave the character vulnerable.
Meet the cast
A martial artist and returning Art of Fighting protagonist who enters the tournament while pursuing the mystery surrounding Freia.
Ryo's wealthy Italian friend and the central viewpoint character of the main story, searching for Freia Lawrence.
A young martial artist seeking Ryo after the events of the earlier games and continuing her family's rivalry with the Sakazaki school.
A fast, aggressive fighter and former disciple of Geese Howard.
A Chinese martial artist who joins the conflict in GlassHill.
A professional bodyguard assigned to protect Robert Garcia.
A whip-wielding bounty hunter involved in the search for Freia.
A sword-wielding fighter working with Wyler and serving as one of the game's major opponents.
The game's boss, whose experiments and pursuit of Freia drive the central conflict.
Before you begin
Use the spirit gauge deliberately; repeated special moves can leave the character at a disadvantage.
Practice recovery and pursuit attacks, which add important damage after knockdowns.
Study each fighter's limited but highly distinct move set before committing to a main character.
Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior is a 1996 arcade fighting game developed and published by SNK for the Neo Geo MVS. It follows Robert Garcia as he travels to GlassHill, New Mexico, while the cast becomes involved in a search for Freia Lawrence and the dangerous experiments of Wyler. The game uses one-on-one combat with large character sprites, dramatic zooming, desperation techniques, and a more technical feel than many contemporary fighters. Unlike the first two games, Art of Fighting 3 places greater emphasis on a new ensemble of fighters rather than focusing mainly on Ryo Sakazaki and Robert Garcia. Its animation and presentation were well regarded, although the game received a more mixed historical response because of its small roster and unusual balance. It remains a distinctive late-period Neo Geo fighting title.
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