Fighting Video Games

Gamers take control of 20 classic characters like Iron Man, Hulk, and Wolverine as they fight Skrull invaders in Marvel Avengers: Battle for Earth. Players use specific motion controls to let each character unleash special Velocity Boost, Breaker, Frenzy, and Super attacks, unlocking new outfits and special collector cards in the process. Gamers can take on the Campaign, Arcade, and Tournament modes, try out special challenges, or join friends for Co-op and Versus modes, and all of the visuals are designed to mimic the look and themes of the Secret Invasion storyline. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Tecmo Koei's long-running 3D fighting series, known for its fast-paced action and occasionally titillating visuals, returns to gamers with destructible stages, perilous new danger zones, and new critical attacks in Dead or Alive 5. Combat takes a rock-paper-scissors form, with players executing throw-beating strikes, hold-beating throws, and strike-beating holds, with properly deflected attacks resulting in high-damage counters. Landing specific moves leaves opponents in a Critical Stun state, which prevents blocking and can lead to devastating Critical Combos and Power Blows.

There are more than a dozen characters from which to choose, with fights occurring in places like a downtown construction area, a war-torn desert city, and a circus, among other locations. Xbox 360 gamers battle as the world crumbles around them, flinging foes into Danger Zones to inflict massive damage and cause buildings to collapse, helicopters to crash, and oil tanks to explode. Some of the stages include upper and lower levels, allowing for new "Cliffhanger" action sequences in which one combatant dangles from the edge of the upper level. Multiplayer fans can take on friends in local or online action. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Coming more than a decade after Tekken Tag Tournament, gamers can once again engage in team-based 3D Fighting with nearly every character in the history of the franchise in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 for Xbox 360. There are more than 50 available fighters, each with new arsenals including tag-throws and tag-combos, and the new "Fight Lab" mode allows players to customize their character's appearance and moves. Up to four people can compete in tag-team fights or the "Ultimate Team Battle" mode, while solo gamers can hone their skills in "Practice" mode or the classic "Arcade" mode. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Atlus' long-running series about demon-battling high-school teenagers abandons the realm of role-playing in favor of classic 2D fighting in Persona 4 Arena. Set two months after the events of Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4, players find themselves entering the "P-1 Grand Prix" fighting tournament in order to learn why the character Teddie is suddenly hosting a TV show. There are more than a dozen fighters culled from Persona 3 and Persona 4 (not including their persona alter egos), each offering unique heavy, light, and persona attacks, as well as persona rushes.

Combat places a special emphasis on fast-paced combo attacks and defense, and gamers are encouraged to liberally switch back and forth between their character and his or her persona, though personae that take too much damage become temporarily unavailable. A number of gauges frame the cel-shaded, anime-inspired action, including: the "Life Gauge"; the "SP Gauge," which allows player to perform special attacks and even one-hit kills; and the "Burst Gauge," which can be used to send opponents sprawling backward. Persona 4 Arena also includes an online mode as well as a unique story mode for each character. ~ Christopher Brown, All Game Guide

Two of gaming's best-established fighting franchises match up for the first time in Street Fighter X Tekken. Building on the Street Fighter series' archetypical arcade action, the game pits fan-favorite characters from the Capcom and Namco series in head-to-head, 2D-style combat. Borrowing from the seminal Tekken 3D fighting franchise, players can team-up two combatants for a Tag battle. As in the recent high-def editions of Street Fighter, characters are rendered in virtual 3D, and fighting arenas are alive with background animations.

The roster includes central characters from both game series, including Ryu, Ken, Guile, and Chun-Li from Street Fighter, and Tekken's Kazuya, Nina, King, and Marduk. Characters can perform their signature special moves, and individual controls are designed to feel familiar to fans of either franchise. Before a match, the game's "Gem" system allows players to customize any character for a certain fighting style. As in the high-def editions of Street Fighter IV, internet-connected gamers can compete in a number of online multiplayer modes. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Soul Calibur V sticks to the series' signature "8 Way Run" style of 3D fighting, bringing subtle refinements to control mechanics and a drastic expansion of customization options. The game's "Just Guard" defensive move requires less accuracy, but rewards perfectly timed blocks with a nearly instantaneous opportunity to counter attack. The game also adds a sidestep move, accessed with a quick double tap. The Character Creation mode allows players to choose height, facial expressions, colors, voices, weapons, and special effects, as well as fighting style.

In the series' tradition of guest stars, Assassin's Creed II's Ezio is available for play. The game's 30-character roster includes Siegfried, Ivy, Yoshimitsu, and other Soul Calibur legends, as well as new characters, such as Patroklos and Pyrrha, the son and daughter of Sophitia. Set 17 years after the events of the previous game, the main story follows Patroklos' quest for the Soul Swords through Renaissance Europe. In addition to the solo modes, players can battle against a friend on the same system, or find a fight online. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Spidey swings at Ryu, Chun-Li kicks up a Storm, and Hawkeye takes a shot at Phoenix Wright, through a button-punching fury of special attacks and combo moves. In the style of its high-def predecessors, and in the tradition of its 1990s arcade inspiration, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 pits an expansive selection of Marvel Comics characters and Capcom veterans in heated, 2D-style fighting. The addition of 12 characters, new to the series or returning from a long absence, brings the game's roster to 50 playable fighters, including two downloadable heroes.

From the pages of Marvel, Doctor Strange, Ghost Rider, Hawkeye, Iron Fist, Nova, and Rocket Racoon are introduced to the long-running rivalry. Hailing from Capcom's side of the aisle are newcomers Firebrand, Dead Rising's Frank West, Nemesis from Resident Evil, Phoenix Wright, Strider Hiryu, and Devil May Cry's Vergil. In standard modes, players choose a team of three characters to fight in successive one-on-one battles. Successful button-mashing attacks quickly fill the "Hyper Combo" gauge, and as in the original Marvel vs. Capcom 3, the X-Factor can be used to temporarily speed up attacks and increase damage. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

High-impact, supernaturally infused, anime-inspired martial arts duels are fought, in high-def, throughout the combat arenas and adventuresome realms of Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi.

The over-the-top fighting plays out in three dimensions, often high above the ground, and is characterized by long-range attacks, crushing blows, fearless charges, and last-moment counters. As in the anime, fights often feature two combatants racing toward one another for a furious bout of action, followed by a moment of recovery at a distance, and then another rush together, until only one remains standing.

The game's "Impact Break" system emphasizes the enormity of the exaggerated hand-to-hand action, with attacks so powerful that they the tear apart the landscape itself, leaving crevasses and craters that stretch across the earth. An extensive selection of camera angles helps to highlight the big hits (and misses) in the style of the cartoon series. As in the earlier Budokai Tenkaichi games, for Xbox and PS2, a combat-driven story mode is available, featuring 15 super-sized boss fights, along with pick-up-and-play versus battles starring dozens of Dragon Ball Z characters. Players can create their own customized characters, choosing body type, hair, facial features, and attire, as well as fighting style. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

UFC Personal Trainer presents an interactive, whole-body exercise program, inspired by the ultra-fit athletes of the Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts league. The program involves more than 70 exercises inspired by wrestling, kickboxing, Muay Thai, and other fighting sports. All exercises are certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Users can work toward fitness goals through customized routines involving up to a dozen different exercises. Providing further inspiration for fitness-minded fans, popular UFC competitors are featured in "Ultimate Training Mode" workouts that challenge players to outperform their favorite fighters in rhythm-based punching and kicking drills. Personal progress is charted through an in-game journal, which tracks time spent working out and performances in specific exercises. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Released in conjunction with DreamWorks Animation's computer animated film, Kung Fu Panda 2 finds panda bear Po and the "Furious Five" on another quest to save kung fu. The Xbox 360 version of the game requires the Kinect motion-sensing peripheral, allowing players to practice moves like blocking, dodging, ducking, punching, and kicking to prepare them for hands-free combat against a variety of new enemies designed specifically for the game. As players move in front of the Kinect, Po will follow each action. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide