Fighting

The "King of Iron Fist Tournament 3" is over, but the fighting is far from finished. The combatants from Tekkens past are itching to rumble, so much so that they're pairing off and traveling the world to take each other on, all in an insatiable quest for knuckle sandwiches, Wind Godfists, and proof of kung-fu superiority in the Tekken Tag Tournament.

The Tekken storyline is vast and complicated, with a focus on the soap-opera tribulations of the profoundly screwed-up Mishima family (which makes the plot a little like Dallas with martial arts). Tekken Tag Tournament exists outside of the true "Tekken canon," however. Rather, it is a conglomeration of the previous games, with every fighter that has appeared in the Tekken series (though Gon and Dr. B, present in the PlayStation's Tekken 3, are absent here), regardless of whether they are alive, dead, or far too old to compete according to previously establishedTekken legends.

But who needs a storyline, anyway? This is a fighting game, first and foremost. The Tekken series was one of the first 3D polygonal fighters, second only to Sega's Virtua Fighter, and although its gameplay has been refined, it remains operationally consistent. Tekken Tag is built on a modified version of the Tekken 3 engine, with the most noticeable difference being the aforementioned tag feature, which was clearly inspired by the Capcom "Vs." series. Players select two characters from a cast of 34, and then fight it out in various exotic locales, be it on the beach, by a Buddhist temple, or even in the dark, grimy streets of a modern metropolis.

Tekken Tag Tournament was a U.S. launch title for the PS2, and received a considerable facelift from the arcade version, which was created using Namco's System 12 board, the same architecture from the four-year-old Tekken 3. Characters and stages have been re-rendered and updated, to take advantage of the PS2's abilities. The game even received extra tweaking between the Japanese and U.S. markets, as Namco responded to claims that the game was too "jaggy" by implementing anti-aliasing features. The music has also been remixed and altered from its arcade counterpart.

Gameplay is similar in function to Tekken 3, and there are still a wide variety of moves and fighting styles available. One of Tekken's strengths is in giving new players enough simplicity to enjoy the game, while still providing enough depth to satisfy practiced "Tekken Masters." Control is based on a four-button scheme, in which each of the buttons works as one of the fighter's limbs (now a fifth button, for tagging, has been added to the mix). Successful fighting demands speed, combos, and the art of "juggles" -- attacks made while the opponent is in the air, rendering the ability to block or reverse them impossible. Add to that chain throws, side-stepping, reversals (some universal, some limb-specific), and even reverse-reversals (known as "chickens"), and you have the Tekken fighting engine.

The tag feature has been implemented with the hopes of giving the game more depth while still remaining true to its frenetic pacing. Players tap on the tag button to bring fighters in or out and, unlike the "Vs." series, once either player loses an entire life bar, the round is over. Characters sitting on the sideline slowly gain back energy, however, and if they're kept out long enough they'll come back into the fight with the ability to inflict a bit more damage, for a limited amount of time.

As is its tradition, Namco adds a heap of additional modes for this home conversion of Tekken Tag. There's "Arcade Mode," a straight-up, eight-match game; "Vs. Battle Mode," suited for two to four players fighting amongst themselves; "Survival Mode," where players must run through as many matches as they can until their life expires; "Time Attack Mode," a race to get through the Arcade Mode in the shortest amount of time; "Team Battle Mode," where players pick from four to eight characters and duke it out; and "1 on 1 Mode," another U.S.-exclusive, which returns the traditional (non-tag) style of the previous Tekken games.

Add in a "Practice Mode," where players can hone their skills; a "Pair Play Mode," where players can use a Multitap to get a little four-way brawling on; and "Tekken Bowl," a bowling mini-game, and it becomes clear Tekken Tag's cup runneth, over in terms of game modes and option. There are also "Theater" and "Gallery Modes," where one can view the rendered endings, or save and view gameplay screenshots. ~ Jon Thompson, All Game Guide

Perhaps the most popular Japanese television series in the United States at the time of release, Dragon Ball Z hits the PlayStation 2 in this 3D brawler. Just as in the anime TV show, fighting is the focus of this PS2 game. The main Story mode allows players to battle through crucial moments from theDragon Ball Z Saiyan, Namekian, and Andriod sagas, through to the Cell Games, learning new skills and upgrading their characters along the way. Other modes allow players to enter customized battles with their improved characters, to edit their characters' acquired skills, and to go head-to-head against other human-controlled fighters.

The game features seven different modes of play in all (one for each Dragon Ball), but some of the later modes must be unlocked. Nearly two dozen characters from the television series are playable in the game, each with as many as 60 combo moves. Goku, Gohan, Piccolo, Vegeta, Frieza, Krillin -- all the major players are featured. Designed to please the countless avid fans of the Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z animated shows, the game's character voices are also accurate, provided by the original FUNimation actors from the series. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Based on the animated television series and successful toy line, Beyblade: Super Tournament Battle re-creates the show's epic one-on-one battles between such familiar characters as Tyson, Max, Ray, Kai, and more. For those unfamiliar with the series, battles are fought with objects called Beyblades, spinning tops imbued with the powers of creatures called Bit Beasts. The GameCube version features such modes as the Beyblade Battle Association Tournament and Battle Royal, where multiple players can enter and compete for the right to be crowned Beyblade champion. Between bouts, players can build their own Beyblade or tweak an existing one to gain an edge on the competition. Battles are fought within a series of 3D stadiums, some possessing deadly magnetic walls to add a dramatic flair to the proceedings. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Building upon 2002's Deadly Alliance, the series' well-received leap to the 128-bit 3D arena, Mortal Kombat: Deception demonstrates the same depth in design and focus on the home console experience. The game offers five main modes of play, some of which will be familiar to fans of Deadly Alliance. The arcade-style Kombat mode has players fighting their way up a ladder of matches against increasingly difficult opponents, and Konquest leads them through role-playing styled character development in a story-lined adventure full of fights and other events. Also available are Kombat Chess, which lets players choose a team of fighters and challenges them to select matches strategically, and Puzzle Kombat, a color-matching action puzzle reminiscent of Capcom's Super Puzzle Fighter, featuring cute, anime styled versions of the game's otherwise dark and daunting kombatants. Mortal Kombat: Deception is also one of the first 3D fighting games to offer an online multiplayer mode. Broadband-connected gamers with the PlayStation 2 Network Adapter can simply log on to find a match against a human opponent.

There are a dozen Mortal Kombat fighters selectable at the start of the game, including both old favorites and mysterious newcomers. Longtime fans of the series will recognize veterans of the earliest Mortal Kombat games, such as Sub-Zero and Scorpion, Kabal, Baraka, Mileena, Ermac, and Nightwolf, who are joined by relative newcomers like Bo'Rai Cho, who debuted in Deadly Alliance. Deception also introduces four new fighters, Ashrah, Dairou, Darrius, and Kobra, each with a distinctly new fighting style intended to balance the deadly abilities of the other characters. At least a dozen more characters can be unlocked through the course of the game, by spending "Koins" to open the correct "koffins" in the "Krypt," or by completing certain key challenges in the Konquest adventure mode. In addition to its character selection, Mortal Kombat: Deception draws on the series' storied roots in other ways; development of the game was lead by Ed Boon, co-creator of the original Mortal Kombat.

Although Deception's fighting mechanics are also based on those of Deadly Alliance, a number of enhancements, adjustments, and embellishments have been made. In some instances, the gameplay may have a slightly more intense, exaggerated feel that rewards those who master the complex combo system. Characters can still take different stances, however, and can choose to fight unarmed or with a weapon. Deception features "Fight State Indicators" on the ends of the characters' health bars that make it a little easer for players to anticipate particular dangers and time their special attacks. While it may seem these indicators would take the challenge down a notch, their addition is actually quite opportune, since Deception also adds a diverse selection of interactive arenas, many with instant-kill "death trap" elements, as well as two fatalities for each and every character -- answering the most common complaints that fans had of Deadly Alliance. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

The most extensive edition of the Street Fighter Alpha series is revamped for this PlayStation Portable game. While the basic 2D fighting of earlier Street Fighter games remained the centerpiece, the original Alpha titles introduced new characters, and incorporated new speed ("turbo") and stance ("-ism") options, and The King of Fighters-styled three-on-three battles to deepen gameplay.

This PSP edition is based on Street Fighter Alpha 3, the most expansive game in the late-'90s sub-series, but adds additional, "new for 2006" content and options of its own. Along with the more than 30 characters of the original, Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX features another four, who join the competition from related brawlers such as Capcom Vs. SNK 2. This PSP game is also enhanced by a number of new multiplayer modes, made possible by the handheld's wireless communication capabilities. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

As the second edition of SNK's 3D conversion, The King of Fighters 2006 includes more than 20 characters, including returning brawlers Kula Diamond and Billy Kane. When fighting, players will have the option to use a form of combo that will evolve a character's technique called "Stylish Moves," and two new moves have been added to the game. "Counterstrike" will parry an opponents attack, and "Super Cancel" will cancel an enemies assault and launch the player's own move. The game includes a specific ending for each character and bonus games designed to extend game play. Backgrounds in The King of Fighters 2006 feature NEOGEO land, and players may listen to dialogue in English or Japanese. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

Namco's hand-to-hand fighting game series debuts on high-definition consoles with enhanced graphics, destructible environments, online features, and the series' largest character roster to date. The "King of Iron Fist Tournament" brings 40 contenders into the fray this time around, with mainstays such as Jin, King, Anna, Law, Phoenix, and Heihachi, as well as six newcomers, including the jet-pack enabled Alisa Bosconovitch, the veteran warrior Lars Alexandersson, and the obese but impossibly quick American karate champion known as Bob. The series' fan-familiar match types and battle modes are included, although some have been revamped. In the storyline-driven "Scenario Campaign" mode, similar to the "Tekken Force" mode featured in earlier editions of the game, a chosen character battles through set piece areas, fighting numerous enemies to progress.

Online functionality is fundamental in Tekken 6. Players can join matches against others over the console network, or fight alongside a human-controlled ally in a co-op campaign mode (which becomes available in a free, downloadable patch). "Ghost" characters can be trained to fight in a gamer's personal fighting style, and then sparred against to reveal strengths and weaknesses, or shared and traded online to provide a customized challenge to other players. Worldwide and regional leaderboards track rankings and top performances in all main game modes. The series' new PS3 and Xbox 360 graphics feature character models and animations of unprecedented quality, as well as enrichments such as special lighting and depth-of-field effects, all in sharp, HD detail. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Aerial acrobatics and frenzied fisticuffs return to PlayStation 2 in this 3D fighting follow-up to 2005's Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi. Included are 120 Dragon Ball Z characters, both heroes and villains, with several making their video game debut. Among the improvements to the original are a revamped camera system, real-time transformations while in battle, and environmental damage within each of the game's 16 free-roaming stages. The fighting engine once again encompasses flight-based, ranged, and melee attacks in a choice of nine game modes. Players can create their dream match-ups from the animated series or embark on a story-driven, single-player campaign complete with missions, mini-games, side quests, boss encounters, and the ability to customize characters. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Virtua Fighter 5 allows gamers to become one of 17 existing gladiators or take on a completely new persona by creating a character from scratch. Players may customize four separate costumes with a variety of accessories and weapons that feature a list of special abilities or are purely for aesthetic purposes. However, a ten-point system restricts the amount of items players can equip. Each trinket has a set point worth and once ten is reached no more items may be added to the fighter. Gamers can earn money for additional attire by winning matches and tournaments.

The existing avatars come from previous titles in the series and include newcomers El Blaze and Eileen. Each duelist comes to the ring with their own fighting style and finishing moves. In terms of gameplay, players have four modes to select from including "Dojo," "Arcade," "Replay," and "Versus." "Replay" records the brawl between two computer-guided characters for later viewing. Multiplayer action is available for two-player competitive action in a variety of environment based on real locations. ~ Gracie Leach, All Game Guide

Using all the special techniques and supernatural abilities at their disposal, epic heroes and notorious villains do battle this 3D fighting game. Melees play out in open environments where walls can be smashed and the sky is, quite literally, the limit. The game offers 13 playable characters at the start, each designed to control and perform differently. Small, agile characters may take more damage from a solid hit, but larger characters are slower, and it may be more difficult for them to leap skyward or dodge incoming attacks.

Although based on the popular animé series and designed to offer the same style of high-flying 3D brawls as fan favorites in Atari's Dragon Ball Z: Budokai series, Super Dragon Ball Z was developed by Crafts & Meister, a studio formed by creators of the coin-op classic Street Fighter II. Super DBZ is designed to offer more nuance and sophistication than its predecessors, to better reward careful combos as well as passionate button-mashing. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Twenty playable characters highlight this fighting game based on the Cartoon Network anime. As in the two Clash of Ninja titles on GameCube, Clash of Ninja Revolution has players guiding a cel-shaded Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and other principal characters across eight multi-tiered stages. Play modes include Mission, Score Attack, Time Attack, Versus, and Survival. Up to four players can also battle each other in custom team-based matches or in chaotic free-for-alls. While the Wii Remote and Nunchuk are used to unleash each character's variety of special attacks by default, the game supports both GameCube and Classic controllers as well. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The Art of Fighting Anthology invites gamers to karate kick their way through Art of Fighting, Art of Fighting 2, and The Path of the Warrior: Art of Fighting 3. Players may select from 33 classic fighters including Ryo, Robert, Mr. Big, Karate, and Lee Pai Long. Single players follow a heroic storyline through a series of one-on-one battles. Two players can fight head-to-head against one another.

Each character in the game has a unique selection of special attacks to use on enemies, and each may call on a "Desperation" attack when seconds away from defeat. The games follow events surrounding the students of the Kyokugenryu Karate Dojo. While the first two games in the series take place in Southtown, the third is set somewhere in Mexico. ~ All Game Guide

Featuring the largest lineup of characters yet seen in a Dragon Ball Z game, Budokai Tenkaichi 3 includes 161 playable fighters and 30 destructible stages. As in previous games, the visuals feature cel-shaded graphics designed to mirror the popular anime's look. Players can choose from ten game modes as they prepare to battle the AI or a friend with their favorite character's assortment of melee, ranged, and aerial attacks.

One of the biggest new features is the ability to fight on certain stages in the day or at night, allowing certain characters to transform. Also new is the Battle Replay option that revisits the last fight with multiple camera angle choices. Exclusive to the Wii version is Wi-Fi Connection support for online battles and gesture-based controls for both combos and standard attacks. A ranking system is also included for online combatants. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide