When I play a fighting game, I usually connect with a character or two after tinkering around in practice mode for a while. In Soul Calibur IV, it was Taki. In Dead or Alive 4, I was partial to using Hitomi.  Samurai Shodown Sen left me absolutely infuriated. Here was a list of 24 characters I could use right off the bat, and I hated them all. Every fighter in Samurai Shodown Sen is unbalanced and lack the usual strengths and weaknesses that would set them apart from other fighters. The unbalanced characters are the least of Samurai Shodown Sen’s worries, however.

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Sure, everyone’s excited about the announcement of Marvel VS Capcom 3 recently, but don’t forget in less than a week (April 27) Super Street Fighter IV will be released!  You’re probably eager to play with all the new characters, figuring out their strengths, weaknesses, and chainable combos, but don’t forget about the new online modes!  There’s even some new Avatar clothing coming to you Xbox 360 fighters.

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If you’re looking forward to the Ultimate Edition of Zeno Clash for XBLA, then you’ll enjoy this video, which shows off the new attacks found in this updated version.

“Initially, ACE Team had offered to demonstrate the new moves in Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition in person for the Atlus staff,” chuckled a grimacing Aram Jabbari, Manager of Public Relations and Sales for Atlus.  “We all thought they were kidding when they talked about cool-sounding moves like the ‘headbutt’ and ’spin kick.’  After a week in the hospital, I’m happy to say that fans can expect to find those and equally punishing new attacks in Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition, and that the moves deliver the same satisfyingly visceral feel as all the other injury-inducing first-person melee combat Zeno Clash has to offer.  In other good news, the doctor says the swelling on my head will go away in about a month or so.”

For more info on the game, which is set to release March 30, 2010, exclusively for XBox Live Arcade, check out http://www.zenoclash.com, or scroll down for an ACE Team roundtable interview, discussing frequently asked questions about the upcoming title.

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Tekken has long been a viable alternative to those who have strayed from the Street Fighter, Soulcalibur, or Mortal Kombat camps. Ever the dark horse of the genre, it’s been around long enough to avoid the typical pitfalls that riddle efforts considered unsuccessful by the community. With the advent of Tekken 6, that lucky streak seems to have been cut short. While the core gameplay is slick and enjoyable brawler, the pithy Scenario mode and overall presentation mire this flashy fighter in a mess of broken gameplay, dated graphics, and disappointing online play. While it may be enjoying great success in the arcades, I can’t quite recommend it as a console port.

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Just the other day I reviewed Garou: Mark of the Wolves here at Spawn Kill, a solid 2D fighter that’s well worth your Microsoft points via the Xbox Live Marketplace. Now, I’m bringing you my thoughts on the latest entry into the venerable King of Fighters series, King of Fighters XII. The most current contender along with games such as Fatal Fury and Samurai Shodown has no use for button mashers. Only the serious fighting game enthusiasts need apply. How does this fighter fare in the ring? You need only read further.

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