Zoned in
Anticipation Station: Fighting Games
I don’t think any gamer alive in the 80s or early 90s will forget what it means to anticipate a new fighting game. You’d hear about them from your friends, read about them in magazines, and check the nearest arcade for them every week. I’m sure some of you checked every day. I myself spent countless hours searching for that one special game. That one special game’s sequel. And that one special game that kicked that other one special game’s butt.
As frustrating as the search may have been, it was always worth the time. It’s sort of like deer hunting. Not the game but real deer hunting. You sit there for hours, anticipating something wonderful. Finally you see it! The new Street Fighter! Mortal Kombat! Tekken! Dead or Alive! They’re so beautiful!
You’ve got your kill. You’re eatin’ good for weeks to come.
Things are different these days. When a new fighter comes out, you don’t go searching for it, you drive to the nearest game shop and pick it up. Or you can order it online and have it sent directly to your home. Can you believe that? New fighting games and you don’t even have to get out of bed to buy them or to play them.
All this talk and reminiscing takes me back to the Electronic Entertainment Expo. It makes me a little teary-eyed, too. I mean I was there standing right next to kiosks! Kiosks with games in them like Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks, Soul Calibur III and Sony’s PSP-exclusive, The Con.
(Wipes eyes; holds an Academy Award-worthy pose.) I must be strong. I can do this, I can wait! We can anticipate the future of fighting games together!
Why it's intriguing: Soul Calibur II + new fighters (and hopefully several new moves). Sharp graphics, a deep soundtrack, lightning-quick gameplay and a remarkable cast are just a few of the reasons to get excited.
Why you'll love it: Mortal Kombat had "Ultimate" and "Trilogy" iterations that maximized the character lineup before big gameplay changes were to be made. Tekken did the same thing with Tekken Tag Tournament. Thus far Soul Calibur III seems to be moving in that direction. This version will include more fighters than any SC before it, destructible pavement (stomp on cement for extra eye candy), and a time-consuming single-player mode that'll attract gamers even when they can't play with their buds. The gameplay formula hasn't been messed with, ensuring a smooth and seamless fighting game experience. New characters like Tira give hardcore fans additional moves to master, both when playing as her and when playing against her.
What could be improved: The camera and character position should be tweaked a little. It's frustrating when you knock someone into the air and the following attack fails to connect. "That's part of the challenge!" Yeah, maybe. But there are times when even the most skilled Soul Calibur players can't complete a juggle because of the camera and character position issues. They're minor flaws, but they're one of the many things the developers need to evaluate as they enter the next generation.
I said go through the hoop! Not beside it, through!
Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (PS2)
Also on: Xbox
Why it's intriguing: Mortal Kombat's third venture into the world of single-player adventuring. We don't want this one to break the mold – we want Shaolin Monks to wrap up the mold, stick it in a plastic bag, and put it outside on garbage day.
Why you'll love it: Play against computer-controlled enemies alone, or plug in a second controller and take the journey with a friend! That's a new level for the Mortal Kombat series. Prior to this two-player battles were a deathmatch. Now we have a shot at true co-op. In addition to that I hear the game is going to have action-based puzzles. I'm not sure what exactly that means, but you could surmise that these puzzles will be easy to solve, but hard to do so quickly (hence the "action" element). I also wouldn't be surprised to see a mini-game or two pop up in the final version.
What could be improved: I didn't get to play it at E3 (rotten security guards! I was merely trying to pull Scorpion's classic "Get over here!" move, not yank the demo out of the kiosk. Honest!). But from what I've seen the graphics could use an extra coat of paint just to ensure the game is on par with everything else being released this Christmas. I'm sure Midway's already taking care of that – graphics aren't something gamers have had to be concerned with when it comes to the MK series. I am curious though how the multi-character fighting will work. Will it be like Prince of Persia? I hope not. PoP is great, but Shaolin Monks needs to make a name for itself, not copy something else.
Will Scorpion ever stop playing with fire? You'd think he would've grown out of that phase by now. Come 'on man, it's been more than 10 years! Get a hobby or something.
Why it's intriguing: The next chapter in the Dead or Alive series designed exclusively for Xbox 360, playable exclusively over Xbox Live.
Why you'll love it: Dead or Alive is the fastest punch-punch-kick series in the world. It showed me and thousands of other gamers the importance of reversing attacks, whether they're extremely advanced, intermediate, or the most basic moves in the game. Dead or Alive 4 will undoubtedly do the same, albeit with better backgrounds, more interaction between the environments, and a superior graphic engine that renders characters to match the quality of other Xbox 360 launch titles. (Dead or Alive 4 hasn't been confirmed for launch, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.) New combo moves haven't been unveiled, which isn't surprising considering who the developer is. Team Ninja waited until the very last minute to unveil gameplay shots of Ninja Gaiden – why spoil any surprises they might have in store for Dead or Alive 4?
What could be improved: Is it time to evolve? Is it time to branch out? In terms of innovation, the Dead or Alive series has made baby step progress over the past eight or nine years. The next step would be to create a more in-depth combo and reversal system (unique reversals for every kick and punch). That'd be a massive undertaking, but look at Ninja Gaiden's combat system. If anyone can add innovation to an old game and an old genre, it's these guys.
Why it's intriguing: A new fighting game from the studio that brought us Tekken and Soul Calibur? Sign me up!
Why you could love it: Urban Reign came across as a very simple and straight-forward fighting game at E3. This is a street fighter, which means that all the battles take place in sleazy, poorly lit areas. It also means that non-weapons (like baseball bats) can be picked up and used against thugs who expected to get a fist in the face. Real-world objects are advantageous to the swift fighter (slam your adversary into them!), and if you liked Tekken 4's eight-way run you'll be pleased to know that Urban Reign uses the exact same control style. Graphically the game is nearly on par with the Soul Calibur series with complicated character models and Tekken-quality animation.
What could be improved: The thing that rubbed me the wrong way was the fact that you currently have one attack button. The rest of the buttons are used for picking up weapons, grab moves, etc. It was also a bit strange to see Tekken character moves being performed by street fighters. Isn't this supposed to be a different kind of fighting game? I'm hoping that what was good about the demo stays, and that the Eddy Gordo clone is one of many different fighters. Maybe there's a hidden reason for this clone, a story link that will lead the way for Tekken 5. That'd be awesome.
If boots were made for walking, these shoes must’ve been made for kicking.
Why it's intriguing: With a name like The Con it has to be good. Actually that's Smucker’s. But it's true here as well. One look at the game and its unique perspective on street fighting and you'll be as giddy as the dog in the Beggin Strips commercial.
Why you'll love it: The Con's fighting engine rocks. It's rock-solid and comes packed with a mountain of moves, all of which are executed from a third-person, over-the-shoulder view. This original view gives the player unprecedented evasion capabilities, like ducking punches, things that only boxing games have tried to implement. The Con is currently a PSP exclusive (you'll never see it on a competitor's console, but I wouldn't rule out a PS3 adaptation). As such, the single-player stages will have a lot more depth than the average fighting game.
What could be improved: Too early to tell. It's not going to be easy to keep the fighting engine going for a long time, which could mean The Con will have a very short quest. That's okay for a fighter, but what about multiplayer replay value? If the move list is as high as it appears to be, and if there are more evasive moves than what we've seen thus far, The Con could turn out to be the year's hottest handheld fighter.
The Con is destined to “KO” the competition when it’s released.
Mortal Kombat: Deception (PSP)
Why it's intriguing: The best PS2 Mortal Kombat game on the best handheld system.
Why you'll love it: From extensive combos to bone-crunching fatalities, Mortal Kombat: Deception had more keys to memorize than any MK before it. Each character has three fighting styles; changing the style mid-combo changes the combo (and attack style) you're performing. The 3D walk/run/jump controls were excellent on PS2, the best yet for a 3D fighter. Seeing how powerful the PSP is, this version should be no different.
What could be improved: Scrap the lengthy single-player quest and replace it with something that has a lot more action. Gamers want to get in, fight, and get out. That's the kind of gameplay handheld fighters need to provide. It also couldn't hurt to have most of the fighters unlocked from the start of the game.
No images have been released for this version of the game.
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