Fighting Video Games

The fighting genre's poster (whipping?) boy for gruesome violence makes its final appearance on Xbox before moving in a new direction for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Mortal Kombat: Armageddon is thus a hostile homage to its frenzied fans, a love letter of sorts that tears away the heart-tugging sentiment for the still-beating heart. Armageddon offers the most significant throng of Mortal Kombat fighters thus far, with a roster spanning 62 combatants -- every minor and major character that has appeared in the series to date. The entire cast is also immediately playable from the opening screen.

The "Konquest Mode" introduced in 2004's Mortal Kombat: Deception returns with faster-paced action, two new boss characters, and a seamless blend of one-on-one and group encounters through an estimated six hours of story-driven action. While the core 3D fighting engine is similar to 2004's entry, the fatality system now allows players to create custom finishing moves. Players can also design their own fighter with an assortment of body parts, weapons, clothing options, and fighting styles to choose from. Each new combatant can challenge others online in a tournament or a single match.

Perhaps the most amusing addition for longtime fans is the debut of "Motor Kombat," a racing mini-game patterned after Nintendo's Mario Kart. Motor Kombat has players selecting a vehicle from the following ten characters: Sub-Zero, Bo' Rai Cho, Scorpion, Mileena, Kitana, Johnny Cage, Jax, Cyrax, Baraka, and Raiden. Each super-deformed driver performs his or her trademark move on rivals, from Raiden's electricity to Scorpion's spear attack. The themed courses also feature hazards of their own, including lava pools, spikes, fire, and more. Motor Kombat supports four players in a split-screen view, or up to eight via Xbox Live. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

The 16-bit sensation that defined the 2D fighting genre comes to the Xbox in this collection. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Street Fighter series, which began in arcades and blossomed on the SNES and Genesis, this comprehensive release includes all of the characters, game variations, and other options featured in the 2003 Japanese PS2 compilation Hyper Street Fighter II, as well as a direct port of Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike, which was originally found in arcades and later on Sega's Dreamcast. ~ All Game Guide

Fight Club is a 3D combat adventure built on lots of one-on-one, hand-to-hand, no-holds-barred fighting matches. Players are led through a violent storyline based on David Fincher's popular 1999 film. They can design and play as their own Fight Club characters, and choose from three authentically designed street fighting styles: brawler, grappler, or martial artist. Characters featured from the film include Jack and Tyler, Ricky, Bob, Lou, and even the unlucky/lucky convenience store clerk, "Raymond K. Hessel." Combatants display the damage they're dealt in real-time, through blood and bruises that appear on their bodies. Toward the end of a match, when an opponent is almost defeated, an icon appears onscreen to let players know that bones could be broken and a dramatic victory assured. But really, we're not sure we're supposed to be talking about this.... ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Building upon 2002's Deadly Alliance, the series' well-received leap to the 128-bit 3D fighting arena, Mortal Kombat: Deception demonstrates the same focus on the home console experience. The game offers five main modes of play, some of which will be familiar to fans of its immediate predecessor. 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 storylined third-person adventure full of fights and other events. Also available are Kombat Chess, which lets players choose a team of fighters and challenges them to strategically select matches on a chess board, and Puzzle Kombat, a color-matching action puzzle reminiscent of Capcom's Super Puzzle Fighter, featuring cute, anime 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. Xbox Live connected gamers 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 characters, Ashrah, Dairou, Darrius, and Kobra, each with a distinctly new 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 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 two most common complaints that fans had of Deadly Alliance. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

Gamers gear up and get back to the battle in this 2004 edition of the cult-popular 2D fighting series. This Xbox "#Reload" of Guilty Gear features more than 20 playable characters, nine modes of play, and full support for multiplayer matches over the Xbox Live service. Like earlier games in the series, this edition of Guilty Gear is defined by fast-action fighting, precision control, over-the-top characters, and flashy special effects.

In the 22nd century, a new form of energy is discovered; it's potential for solving the world's troubles is so great that it is dubbed simply "magic." Instead of ending poverty or reducing pollution, however, this magic is used to create deadly weapons called "gears." In a last-ditch hope to save humanity, a great fighting tournament is staged, to seek out those exceptional men and women strong enough to defeat the deadly gears in battle. ~ T.J. Deci, All Game Guide

MTV's tongue-in-cheek clay fighting and wrestling series hits the consoles with a lineup of 20 celebrities to pummel, pin, parry, and puncture. As in the show from which it is based, the game is a no-holds-barred fight for survival as players punch, kick, grab, and maim opponents on their way to victory. Finishing moves and taunts are unique to each character, whose violent coups de grâce may include ripping out hearts or brains for the ultimate insult to injury. Six different arenas are available to battle in, including a mall, steel factory, and the official Celebrity Deathmatch stadium.

Play-by-play and color commentary are featured throughout each match by show announcers Johnny Gomez, Nick Diamond, and roving reporter Stacy Cornbread. Featured celebrities include all five NSYNC band members, comedian Carrot Top, as well as Marilyn Manson, Tommy Lee, Shannen Doherty, Carmen Electra, Dennis Rodman, Jerry Springer, Mr. T, Busta Rhymes, Mills Lane, Ron Jeremy, Miss Cleo, Cindy Margolis, Debbie Matenopoulos, and Anna Nicole Smith. Multiplayer bouts are supported as well as a single-player tournament. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Taking place four years after the events chronicled in 1998's hit arcade game and subsequent Dreamcast port, Namco's Soul Calibur II continues the weapons-based combat found in its predecessor but from within larger, more interactive 3D environments complete with walls and breakable objects. Among the returning characters from the series, which originated in 1995 as Soul Edge, are Astaroth, Siegfried, Ivy, Hwang, Kilik, Xianghua, Taki, Heishiro, and Nightmare. In addition to a retooled 3D engine featuring eight-way directional movement, a lineup of new characters has entered the fray, including Sophitia's younger sister Cassandra and two characters designed by comic book artist Todd McFarlane: Necrid and Spawn. The latter is promoted as an Xbox exclusive.

The story begins as the mysterious and powerful Soul Edge makes its presence known to the world. Infecting anyone who wields it with a lust for power and domination, the sword had most recently found its way into young Siegfried's inexperienced grip. Transformed into an entity called Nightmare, the once noble knight is rumored to have caused widespread death and destruction throughout the latter half of the 16th century. Worse yet, illness and strange happenings have befallen those who once fought for control of the evil blade. The few who survived plan on battling for the enchanted weapon once more, some to destroy it, some to harness its power for their own gain.

Seven modes include Arcade, Versus, Survival, Team Battle, Time Attack, Practice, and Weapon Master. The latter offers players a chance to collect over 200 weapons while fulfilling a character's distinct storyline. Players engage rival fighters while advancing across a world map and must satisfy specific conditions to win, such as performing a combo attack, defensive move, or throwing an enemy off a platform. Once new weapons are acquired, ranging from battle-axes and swords to staves and spears, they can be used in other modes of play. Arcade is based on the 2002 coin-op game, Versus has players battling a friend, Survival is a test of endurance against an ongoing flow of enemies, and Team Battle involves pitting two groups of characters against one another. Time Attack challenges players to defeat opponents in record time, while Practice helps players familiarize themselves with the various moves characters can perform. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

After conquering the GameCube, Godzilla lumbers onto the Xbox in a four-player 3D brawler starring over 14 monsters from Toho Co. Ltd.'s famous movie series. Godzilla is pitted against such enemies as Mothra, King Ghidora, Mechagodzilla, and more as they fight amidst the chaos of Tokyo, San Francisco, Seattle, Monster Island, and six more environments. Populated regions will send out armies in an attempt to prevent their cities from being ravaged by the hulking beasts.

Details such as moving vehicles, working traffic lights, and more help bring the locales to life, and destructible objects allow for pieces of crumbling buildings to be used as weapons. Basic moves include punches, kicks, jumps, and throws, while more advanced techniques involve using each character's special powers to perform deadly combination attacks. Players can also use the environment to their advantage while fighting, as human armies will focus their efforts on the creature causing the most damage to the city.

In addition to a Story Mode, which involves battling each monster in succession until the player is victorious, Godzilla features a number of other play options. Modes include Versus, where up to four monsters can fight at once; Destruction, which has players smashing as many things as possible within a time limit; Survival, a test of endurance as players fight as many enemies as they can without losing a match; and Practice, where players can familiarize themselves with each creature's moves and powers.

Xbox-specific features include the addition of Mechagodzilla 3, two new arenas, computer-controlled combatants in both four-player melee and team games, and an option to play Destruction Mode alone. New arenas consist of the Vortaak Home World and a giant Boxing Ring. The former features volcanoes, alien structures, spaceship launchers, and more, while the latter offers ropes, bells, and blimps in what is described as the "largest boxing ring in the world constructed for monster battles." Other enhancements include upgraded visuals with bump-mapping, high-resolution textures, and other special effects, as well as support for custom soundtracks. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Capcom's three-on-three arcade game featuring popular characters from their previous lineup of action, shooting, and fighting titles makes its Xbox debut with the release of Marvel vs. Capcom 2. A total of 56 characters are available to fight as or against, 24 of which are initially playable. Each combatant offers a variety of aerial maneuvers, special attacks, and projectile blasts as players attempt to defeat their opponent's team.

Rather than having all three characters fight on the screen at once, players swap fighters in and out of the match at any time, even for a single attack on an opponent. The remaining two characters rest on the sidelines until called upon to assist. In addition to a health bar, each fighter has a separate meter used for Hyper Combo attacks that can be powered-up to five increasingly destructive levels.

Besides directly switching characters during a fight, players can press one of two assist buttons to have one of their teammates perform a pre-selected attack or defensive maneuver. If an opponent has unleashed an aerial attack, for example, pressing the assist button might have the second or third character enter the screen to perform an anti-air maneuver, thus leaving the primary fighter free from harm.

Notable characters include Mega Man, Dr. Doom, Cyclops, Captain Commando, Cable, Jill Valentine, Wolverine, Spider-Man, Ryu, Strider, Hulk, Captain America, Morrigan, and Tron Bonne. Game modes consist of Arcade, Score Attack, Vs, and Training. Hidden characters, bonus stages, extra costumes, and additional colors can be unlocked using points earned by competing in the various modes of play. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

An Xbox exclusive, Tao Feng is a 3D fighting game helmed by John Tobias, best known for co-creating Mortal Kombat. Tao Feng features 12 male and female fighters, equally divided into two opposing sects, who fight within interconnected, interactive stages set in a fictional country named New China. Battles take place on a rooftop, in an arcade, dojo, alleyway, and more as players punch, kick, and throw their opponents into scenery objects. The lack of a traditional timer and round system means fights can last minutes or hours depending on the player's skill.

Three special attacks can be performed using a character's Chi, represented by a horizontal meter, which will destroy objects in addition to damaging the opponent. Chi can also be used to heal damaged limbs that, if left unchecked, will result in limited mobility and diminished attack power. As the fight progresses, details such as broken bones, torn clothes, and blood trickling from wounds can be witnessed as players use their environments to perform a variety of acrobatic attacks. Players can swing around poles, flip off walls, kick players into pinball machines, and more.

Six modes of play include Versus, Quest, Survival, Team Battle, Tournament, and Training. Versus is a single fight against the computer or a friend in a choice of environments. Quest involves selecting a character and fighting a series of rivals, one after another, until he or she emerges victorious. Survival is a test of endurance as players try to keep fighting as long as possible, while Team Battle has both sides selecting two to six characters before attempting to eliminate all opposing team members. Tournament supports four to eight characters in random pairings, and Training gives players the opportunity to learn each character's moves. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide