But Lost Odyssey was supposed to be something different.  Here we had a visually gorgeous RPG on a next-gen system with realistic graphics straight from the man who established Final Fantasy as the RPG series (he produced 1-5, and then 9).  People had high hopes for Lost Odyssey; probably too high.  The game didn’t fall short of any realistic marks, but it wasn’t the second coming of Cecil people had hoped it would be.

Of course, at the time I had no idea if it was worthy or not.  I bought the game at release, let a friend play it, and then never touched it until a couple weeks ago.  I quickly sunk almost nearly 80 hours into it and it has been one of the finest RPG experiences I can remember.  I was ready to declare it one of the best RPG experiences I’d ever had before finishing it, and the suberb ending only served to strengthen that conviction.  It’s also the first truly next-gen JRPG that I’ve had the pleasure of sitting down with.  Japanese developers for the past few years have been obsessed with cranking out DS titles, and we lovers of pretty cut scenes have been left to the sharks.

The game certainly is not without its flaws.  The battle’s load times are ridiculous.  It suffers from random encounters.  It has dream sequences, that while beautifully written, should not have been presented in pretty text form.  As cut scenes, even in a comic book-style form, they would have been amazing.  The villain is boring for the most part.  Some of the women tend to be objectified in disappointing ways (though this is nearly balanced out by the awesomeness of Seth).  The game’s also not particularly challenging.

But for its few faults, it has strengths aplenty.  As mentioned, it’s beautiful.  The characters are fantastically rendered, stylish, and convey a personality that’s difficult not to grow attached to.  The story is also moving and emotional, and while it can be a slow burn at first, it doesn’t take long to become invested in it and actually care about the outcome.  It rings with themes of time, love, family, and heroism of the grandest kind.

Kaim, the cover protagonist, is a cold hero, and might seem stereotypical at first, but as the game progresses, his memories return and he is joined by those he’s loved and those he will love.  The transformation in him, while not overt, is noticeable and meaningful.  His is a quest of 1000 years, a deathless existence alone and truly lost at times.  To see him come full circle from his solitary, self-imposed prison into basically the head of an extended family is heart-warming, even to those with the mere shreds of a heart.  And his is just one story among many.  The others may not be as fleshed out, but they nevertheless keep tugging on those heartstrings, and it’s difficult to keep up that wall between player and characters.

I don’t know that I will ever go back and replay Lost Odyssey.  I played it to near 100% completion right down to collecting 90% or so of the achievements.  I completed every side quest, defeated every optional boss, and even slashed my way down the DLC dungeon.  This might have readers thinking that it couldn’t possibly be a favorite if I’m unwilling to replay it.  That’s not true.  That’s not even a little true.  Sometimes the best experiences we can have aren’t those that we can replay over and over.  Sometimes the best games are those we can sit down with for one long week and fall head over heels for.  The initial experience is so strong that replaying would only diminish the memory we formed from that first trip across the land.  That’s what makes Lost Odyssey one of my favorites.  It may only take that one journey, but it’s one I won’t be forgetting no matter how many different lands I visit through the years.  And yeah, it’s not Final Fantasy, but it sure feels like it.

Title: Lost Odyssey Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Developer: Mistwalker Platform(s): Xbox 360 Release Date: February 12, 2008

Starting off the game, players are able to choose between two different characters. One is a young man named Rue with a confusing past. Apparently, Rue was actually created in order to serve a master. One day he wakes up, remembering only scraps of his creation and former life, and is taken in by a lady named Claire. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes when a vicious fiend attempts to assassinate Rue. Jumping in to save the hero, Claire is slain, and Rue sets out to find the only known relic powerful enough to return her to the realm of the living.

The other character is Mint – a feisty, vivacious young princess of the kingdom at hand. Mint is quite full of herself and prone to violence, and in a bid to give the throne of the realm a rightful (and much less dangerous) heir, Mint’s sister was chosen as the successor. In order to prove her worth, Mint seeks out the relic to usurp her sister’s position and show herself the most powerful member of the royal family.

The two story lines for the game meet up with each other at several instances, with Rue and Mint forming a unique relationship amongst themselves. While both are going after their same goal, bonds are formed between the two, and in the end (and somewhat determined by which character was chosen) a mutual respect is found. One interesting element is the how the protagonists interact with the large cast of the game. There are several people who are mostly in the sidelines, including two Squaresoft-standard mismatched ne’er-do-wells, and most everyone from one side of the game comes into contact with the other side.

By completing the game with both characters, the player is able to see all of those characters from an outside perspective. Afterwards, upon consideration, gamers may (like the many denizens of the game including the protagonists) wind up mulling over the idea of fate versus choice. It’s an odd shift from the quirky and colorful nature of the game, but Squaresoft clearly saw it fit to introduce some heavy drama into the title; this is one of the reasons why Threads of Fate is as memorable as it is.

The gameplay in Threads of Fate follows a rather simple action/RPG formula. Most of the exploration and battles take place on a two- or three-dimensional plane. Rue attacks enemies with a rounded axe called the Arc Edge, and is able to transform into various beasts he encounters in his journeys. Mint has two hollow, round blades called the Dual Halos that she uses in attacks, and she is also able to cast a variety of different magic spells.

Though only being able to spend a small amount of time in-game (both character’s parts of the game are packed onto a single CD-ROM,) gamers are shown a wonderfully stylized world. Using polygons almost exclusively, the visual style of Threads of Fate looks much akin to Final Fantasy VII sans the pre-rendered backgrounds. The score of the game was composed by Junya Nakano, who went on to work with Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu on the Final Fantasy X soundtrack, as well as perform additional work on the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII.

Though a far cry from the blockbuster games released around a similar time frame, Threads of Fate provides an easygoing adventure that is simple and lighthearted enough for younger gamers, yet interesting enough for older players. Threads of Fate is very much worth the small amount of time it takes to complete, and will surely have a lasting impression on all those who experience it.

Title: Threads of Fate Publisher: Square Electronic Arts Developer: Squaresoft Platform(s): PlayStation Release Date: July 18, 2000

Pikmin 2, originally released in the summer of 2004, is a real-time strategy game in which you take control over Olimar, the original game’s protagonist, and Louie, his assistant. Olimar and Louie return to the planet of the pikmin to find treasures in an attempt to get their company out of debt. Now these “valuable treasures” are little more than litter with items ranging from a box of matches to a battery. Part of the humor and charm of the collection of these items is the in-game names of each. For example, a screw is called a “Repair Juggernaut” and the jack-o-lantern is referred to as a “Possessed Squash.”

To obtain these knickknacks, your Olimar and Louie must command a variety of pikmin to complete tasks such as building bridges, moving obstacles, or destroying enemies. You may direct, at the most, 100 pikmin at a time and as part of the strategy you must select how many of the variety of pikmin make up that number. As in the original game, there are red, blue, and yellow pikmin. However, in the sequel, the white and purple pikmin have been added. Each of these creatures has a different ability or strength. For example, red pikmin are fire-resistant and yellow pikmin are nearly unaffected by electricity.

Many complaints of the first Pikmin title were based around the 30 day challenge. Meaning you had to find all of the items within 30 days (each day is approximately 15 minutes real time) to succeed at the game. This sequel did not include that stipulation and you can explore, experiment, and collect for as long as you want. Another complaint of the original was that you had to run back and forth between different groups of pikmin to control them. This was addressed by adding Louie to the game, which allowed you to switch between the two characters to control the armies of pikmin. Another issue with the first Pikmin was that it was a single-player affair. Nintendo added co-op challenge areas and versus battles in response.

I love this game because of its humor and focus on collection. It appeals to me because of the same love I have for Borderlands and Animal Crossing: Wild World (check out the SKF for it here). Pikmin 2 is also a gem of my collection because it was the first console real-time strategy game that I had a positive experience with. And yeah, I know it’s not a traditional RTS title, but Nintendo brought those elements to a console to make a great game. Try it out with either Pikmin or Pikmin 2 on the GameCube or the New Play Control! re-release of the original on the Wii.

Title: Pikmin 2 Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo EAD Platform(s): Nintendo GameCube Release Date: August 30, 2004

What they will gain is one of the finest portable strategy RPG experiences they’ll probably ever play.

It all sounds preposterous.  Mixing up such famous ingredients with such overused ingredients seems a recipe for disaster.  In fact, it is beyond my massive imagination to even conceive of what drawing board this particular conglomeration of ideas formed up under.  I suppose maybe someone had just watched The Messenger and had been playing Vandal Hearts or something.  I know I have odd thoughts that tend to merge my present interests in weird ways.  Regardless, it works and I’m glad someone out there is completely insane.

As mentioned, Jeanne D’arc is a strategy RPG in true isometric fashion.  Players control a team of characters with overly large heads on predetermined maps, completing the map objectives and trying to stay alive.  Battles are turn-based, players and enemies alike counterattack nearly every time, and there are even magic spells that will hit all the enemies on the map (and some that hit allies as well).  It’s standard fare, standard enough that at first glance it might even seem old-fashioned or boring.  It’s not.  The game isn’t overly difficult, particularly if played in proximity to any Fire Emblem game or even Final Fantasy Tactics.  One could even say it’s a good introduction to the SRPG genre given its relative ease.  It nevertheless presents itself so well that even SRPG veterans should find something to love here.

The cutscenes are done in an anime style and are gorgeous.  I could easily watch a feature length film of this game with just cutscenes alone.  The characters all have a uniquely French style, but aren’t annoying for that fact.  Jeanne in particular looks like she’s just sauntered out of a medieval armorer’s fashion guide, and it’s fantastic.  The game has depth too, despite its ease of play.  There is a massive skill combination feature, as well as armlets worn by some of the main characters that, while limited, turn them into machines of destruction.  Players can engage in interesting side quests, some of them revolving around characters in the party much like in BioWare RPGs, and even a coliseum to test out one’s arena skills (no online play).

The entire concept sounds wacky, I know.  I wouldn’t have touched the game, figuring it for shovelware, had Level 5’s name not been attached, and if it hadn’t been on Metacritic’s top ten PSP games of all time.  I’d have sorely missed out on a great experience though, and I urge readers  not to make that mistake.  Even people unfamiliar with the genre should check out Jeanne D’arc.  If nothing else, do it for the talking frog who swings a sword with his mouth.

Title: Jeanne D’arc Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Developer: Level 5 Platform(s): PSP Release Date: August 21, 2007

If you’ve never experienced an Animal Crossing game, just hearing the premise might sound stupid. Yeah, you’re a human who has recently moved to a town full of talking animals. And yes, you are gonna be fishing, buying and selling various goods, and even doing your new furry friends favors to pay off your house. Hell, you’ll probably find yourself digging for treasure and dino bones in your spare time.

So, what is the appeal to this random game? I can’t speak for everyone’s tastes but, if you’re anything like me, you’re a collector. During my life I’ve collected coins, stamps, comics, baseball cards, skulls, transformers, and, more currently, video games. Animal Crossing: Wild World brought my favorite pastime, collection, to a game and it was great.

You begin the game by riding in a taxi and a dog, the driver, asking you questions that will determine your character’s appearance and the layout of the town in which you are moving. Once you get to the whatever-you-named-it town, you are set up with a house by Mr. Tom Nook, the aforementioned entrepreneurial raccoon, and you are required to pay for this house in bells, the town currency. Poor and looking for a way to pay your debt, you might start collecting fruit and selling it to Nook. You might start digging for bells and bones, or catching insects or fishing. All of those items can be sold for cold hard bells as well, but… there is a freaking museum in your town! Yep, you guessed it, they want your dinosaur bones, insects, art pieces, and even your fish to display. That is the part of the game that hooked me… the collection of items for your museum.

My wife, on the other hand, found the collection of items to decorate the home more appealing. Carpets, wallpapers, furniture, decor, etc. Although I was interested in getting the special items, such as Star Fox, Metroid, or Zelda wares, Amy (my better half) was spending her time completing coordinating collections. Her rooms were neat while mine were cluttered with samurai swords and shark tanks.

Despite the openness of the game, the fantastic collection aspect, and the intriguingly random plot, Animal Crossing: Wild World would not have worked had it not been for the ease and fluidity of the controls. This was the perfect DS title. It didn’t use the touch screen as a gimmick and it allowed the use of the d-pad and buttons. I loved that you had a choice. I used both the options because it was easier, say, to pinpoint where you want to cast your fishing line with the stylus than with the buttons. However, I liked navigating the menu by using the d-pad and buttons.

Though, I could go on for hours describing the variety of activities and aspects of Animal Crossing: Wild World, such as decorating your own clothes, connecting with friends via wifi, and neighbor portrait collecting, I’ll spare you from my ramblings and leave you with one final thought: This game is crack and you collectors truly owe it to yourself to experience Animal Crossing.

Title:Animal Crossing: Wild World Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Nintendo Platform(s): Nintendo DS Release Date: December 5, 2005

Set up like a George Romero film, your character, photojournalist Frank West, finds himself trapped in a zombie-infested mall. Your task is to stay alive and, as any journalist would, discover the truth behind the zombie invasion. The appeal, for most players, was that virtually any object in the environment was a potential weapon against the walking corpses. From baseball bats to bowling balls, Frank’s zombie slaughter could be endless fun.

The weapons of the game are scattered throughout the inside and outside of the mall. Much of the time spent in Dead Rising will be using a variety of items to kill your zombie friends. From popping heads off with a scythe or sending bodies flying with a 2×4, you’ll notice that the weapons will deteriorate in time and fall apart switching your weapon to the next one in your reserve.

Several things might put off a player when they first attempt Dead Rising. As mentioned in the introduction, the words are TINY. Even on an HD set, one might have difficulties reading the mission and side-quest texts. The other big turn-off players have with this game is the save system. Not only are the save points few and far between, you can only have one save per profile forcing you to take some sort of responsibility for your actions and decisions. God, this is a game, right?

The main task of the game is to survive seventy-two hours. Though many sidequests and storyline quests are present, they are not required to “beat” the game. These quests include escorting survivors and dealing with psychopaths, who end up being the storyline bosses. If you die you can choose to start from your last save or start over keeping your stats. Choose wisely…decisions are final.

Other than living, Dead Rising is full of fun activities. For one, mall shopping is an interesting diversion from the zombie killing. Shopping for new clothes, costumes, new weapons, and food bring about the awesomeness that comes from having the setting in a mall. Another aspect of the game that was exciting for me was photography. Frank gains experience, thus increasing offensive and defensive abilities, by taking pictures. The worth of the picture is determined by the subject matter and quality of the picture.

Dead Rising was my first now-generation disappointment, but, with the right television and the acceptance that this is more than a game (my choices MATTER dammit) it was also my first gaming experience that was more than a graphical upgrade of a PS2/XBox/Gamecube game. This was what it was like to be gaming in the next-gen.

Title: Dead Rising Publisher: Capcom Developer: Capcom Production Studio Platform(s): Xbox 360 Release Date: August 8, 2006

It starts out as so many Mario games do, with Mario and Luigi setting off to Bowser’s castle to rescue Princess Peach.  However, it isn’t long before you realize this isn’t your typical Mario plotline after all: as you all soon learn that she has actually been kidnapped by the nefarious Count Bleck, the true antagonist of the game.

Part of what makes SPM such an enjoyable game is the humor, which you get a taste of right from the start, and that will have you chuckling throughout the long adventure (if you try to be a completionist, you could easily spend 80-100 hours on this game).  Whether it’s poking fun at itself, the Mario franchise, or gamers in general, the dialogue is enjoyable, and the characters are pretty well-developed.  The story is actually very good and keeps you playing as you hope to find out more backstory, and the key characters (i.e., Count Bleck), are actually more than just two-dimensional characters (no pun intended).

The gameplay gimmick for the game is that Mario learns early on how to flip between 2D and 3D.  Although you’ll spend most of your time in traditional 2D, platforming a la the original Mario Bros. games, you will occasionally need to flip into 3D in order to discover hidden paths or solve puzzles.  The game also doesn’t take place in the Mushroom Kingdom, and instead transports you to the village of Flipside, where you will encounter Merlon and Tippi, who request your help in defeating Count Bleck, who is attempting to destroy all of the worlds.  Throughout your journey, you will thoroughly explore Flipside (and another village you discover), as well as traveling to various interesting worlds, all with their own character to join your party, and many with interesting people to meet, including Pixls.

Pixls are another element that makes Super Paper Mario’s gameplay different: throughout your adventure, you will find various Pixls, magical fairies that have different abilities.  For example, one Pixl will help you blow things up, another helps you cross spikes (also helpful for traveling quickly over large distances), and another will make you thin enough that you will be invisible to enemies and other dangers as long as you stand still.  You can also use the Wii pointer to discover hidden doors or stairs via the power of your original companion Pixl, Tippi.  You will also end up having a party of four, including Mario, with each character having their own abilities.  Although you will play as Mario for most of the game, the other characters have their purposes.  The game is also an RPG-lite, so you do have a leveling system, which is actually a lot of fun, as your attack power and HP will increase the more enemies you kill.

The game was originally developed for Gamecube, and then ported to Wii at the last minute (although never released on Gamecube, as Twilight Princess was), so the graphics aren’t ground-breaking, and there isn’t any voice acting (you also play holding the Wiimote sideways, like a NES controller).  Still, the dialogue is great, with each character having their own manner of speech (for example, Count Bleck uses the third person and always says “Bleck!”).  Some complained that there was too much dialogue, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

You have plenty of great platforming (including two bonus 100-room dungeons), a great cooking system (you can bring various ingredients to two different chefs and they will make new, often more powerful, items for you), and more, so you have plenty of gameplay. You can probably rush through the main story in 30 hours, but as I said before, if you really want the full experience, you can easily sink 100 hours (or even more) into the game.

I’ve played the game twice, and I know I would easily play it again.  It’s a great homage to the traditional Mario games of the early days, while still injecting something fresh, and with a fun and touching story sprinkled in.  If you own a Wii and haven’t played this game yet, you owe it to yourself to do so right away.

Title: Super Paper Mario Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Intelligent Systems Platform(s): Wii Release Date: April 9, 2007

Released in 2005 for the Xbox, Sid Meier’s Pirates! was a successful computer title ported to Microsoft’s console by Firaxis Games and published by 2k Games. Missing Pirates! when it released, I picked up a copy this backwards compatable game last year and was immediately addicted. In short, this pirate simulation is an action packed game that can be played for ten minutes or hours at a time.

As a land-lover myself, I wondered, before I played, what was the appeal of Pirates!? Described as part strategy, part action, and part adventure, I can tell you that this game brings naval battles, village plundering, sword fighting, trade/commerce, and dancing with the ladies together in an orgy of piratey goodness.

Sid Meier’s Pirates! begins with the protagonist as a young boy evading capture as a Spaniard official enslaves the rest of his family. After this initial story setup, we flash forward ten years and the story’s hero, controlled by you, enters a bar where you select his name, difficulty level, skill set, and nationality with which to sail. After setting sail with the English, Dutch, French, or Spanish, the crew mutinies against the existing captain and sets your player as the new captain. After you have control of the ship, the rest of the game is an open-ended quest for fame, wealth, notoriety, and family.

Most of the gameplay involves sailing around the Caribbean islands and attacking other ships. Any ship, regardless of nationality, that you encounter can be attacked by pressing the “x” button. While in attack mode you have a variety of options including firing one of three types of cannonballs, boarding the other ship, and crashing into the enemy. As sinking the ship isn’t the best way to increase your wealth, you will often find yourself in the board-the-ship-swordfight-mini-game. Coming off as a tug of war, you win the swordfight, the ship, the loot, and usually some crew after hitting the captain enough times.

In the game several famous or historical pirates are portrayed in a top ten list with your hero being number ten on the list. As these famous pirates are defeated and treasure captured, you climb the ranks of the top pirate list. Wasn’t it always a dream of yours to be a part of the Caribbean’s Next Top Pirate?

Sailing around and defeating Blackbeard or Captain Kidd is great fun, but you and your crew will need time off the boat. There are many ports to explore. At each of the ports you can repair and upgrade your ship, talk with the governor (who always seems to be pimping out his daughter), recruit crew, buy and sell goods, and hang out in the bar. At the bar many things can happen such as learning where a famous pirate is, being offered to buy special items such as pistols, or given portions of maps that lead you to family members and treasure.

Speaking of land, you also have the opportunity to attack cities and ports. These turn based land battles take place on a grid map of forests, hills, and flat land. During your sides turn you can choose to attack or move. After winning a land battle, you may choose the nationality of the city’s new government.

You might be asking yourself, if you haven’t played Pirates!, why haven’t I purchased this game? Well, in heart, it is a PC game. This means that not only are the controls not exactly what you want, but the gameplay contains a few monotonous mini-games. Yeah, when you first escort a lady to a dance it can seem humorous. However, by that sixth time it is old. The same goes for the swordfight minigame.

Sid Meier’s Pirates! is not a perfect game but if you can get past the flaws above you will be in for a treat. A game that can take up hours of your life, it is the best game that I have found that allows you to Live the Life of a pirate.

Title: Sid Meier’s Pirates! Publisher: 2k Games Developer: Fireaxis Games Platform(s): Xbox, PC Release Date: July 11, 2005

Eternal Darkness is a strange, wonderful beast.  It combines the point-and-click genre with survival horror, as you journey through time and take on various characters in the epic battle to thwart the ultimate evil.  Most of these characters you will only control once in their particular level, with the only constant character being Alex, the protagonist, to whom you will always return, and who will fight the final battles.

What makes Eternal Darkness so memorable is the way in which the developers play with the gamer’s mind throughout the adventure, and truly in a way unlike any game before or after.  As the game explores the concepts of good and evil, it also delves into the delicate nature of sanity: as your characters confront various evils, their sanity will be affected.  The more your character is in a room with zombies, for example, the faster his or her gauge will drop.  As that gauge shrinks, the characters begin to hallucinate: they can see things that aren’t there, hear strange voices, see blood dripping from the ceiling, even envision their head being removed from their body and talking to them.  But the horror doesn’t end with your character alone.

No, Eternal Darkness will play with you, the gamer’s mind as well, if you let your character’s insanity go unchecked for too long.  You might experience something as benign as thinking you’ve collected ammo when you haven’t, to the truly “terrifying” error messages that make you think your game save was corrupted or that it deleted all your saved games.  The best thing about the sanity effects is that they are so varied, they really do keep “getting” you, even later in the game.

The other thing that really surprised me about Eternal Darkness is the fact that the writing really is outstanding.  Granted, the story/plot wasn’t earth shattering, but the actual quality of each sentence, whether it was narration or simply the description of an object, caught me off guard.  Having played my fair share of adventure games (which usually involve a lot of description), it was so refreshing to see that the developer really put a lot of effort into making sure all the details were done well.  I only wish more games would take a page out of Silcon Knights’ book and give us some well-crafted sentences!

The story of Eternal Darkness is not really its strong point, although it is an interesting one.  Alex, the protagonist, arrives at her Uncle’s mansion to find him brutally murdered.  She soon discovers her family has protected a very important secret, and many different individuals throughout history have given their lives (and even their souls) in order to prevent an evil being unleashed on the world.

Although it can be hard to track down a copy, if you own a Gamecube (or a Wii), do yourself a favor and play this game.  This game definitely goes on the top of my list of games I’d like to see re-done for the Wii (or even the PS3), or that I would like to see a sequel.  I also wish more developers would play this game for inspiration, as Eternal Darkness has so much unique concepts that really are worth revisiting: the ensemble cast throughout time, the sanity effects, that terrific writing, and more.  Not to say the game is perfect (you do a LOT of backtracking, for example), but it is still an important part of gaming history that, sadly, was overlooked by many gamers.  Why?  Perhaps it tried to do too much new, perhaps because it was a new IP exclusive to Gamecube.  Whatever the reason Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem didn’t succeed, it still won’t keep me from hoping for a sequel some day.

Title:Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem Publisher: Nintendo Developer: Silicon Knights Platform(s): Gamecube Release Date: June 24, 2002

Bloody Roar 2, developed by Eighting, Raizing, and Hudson Soft, and published by SCEA in 1999, was met by fighting game fans with a degree of enthusiasm. The first in the series (Bloody Roar for the PlayStation) had proven somewhat successful, and the second in the series was built to improve on all aspects of the first. Utilizing three-dimensional arenas, simple-but-effective controls, and Street Fighter-esque special move combinations, almost every fighter in Bloody Roar 2 has a distinct fighting style.

The 3D polygonal graphics contain a certain appeal, and the various arenas themed on the popular fighting genre arena archetypes are well-applied. However, what is important for Bloody Roar 2 (and is technically a bullet point on the back of the case) is that the game ran at a rate of 60 frames per second. For a game released over 10 years ago, Bloody Roar 2 has exceptionally fluid graphics and combat.

The main appeal, if not the point of the game, is that each fighter therein also has a unique Beast form. Not exactly human, each combatant is what is called a Zoanthrope, a person with the ability to turn into some kind of a human/animal hybrid. The plot obviously ties heavily into this theme, putting the Zoanthrope characters into positions of war-torn mercenaries, assassins, demented doctors hell-bent on power, and more. The uniting plot behind the game is something perhaps lifted from the pages of X-Men, as a general fear and hatred amongst normal people for the strange yet powerful beings is now gaining prominence. As Zoanthropes are hunted and executed for being different, specific groups of the beast-infused persons begin to rebel and plot against humans while the others want to blend in with normal society.  Factions of Good vs. Bad  Zoanthropes not only have to live within a society that wishes to rid itself of them, but are battling each other for power.

As for the beasts in-game, characters in beast form move faster, hit harder, and regain some of their lost health during the transformation. In some cases, basic elements of combination attacks would change, requiring a player to master both the human and beast form in order to use a fighter effectively. There is also the the ability to perform a very cinematic final attack before changing from the beast form back into the human form.

The overall effect of the fighting is somewhat of a striking balance between the complexities of Tekken and the flashy antics of Street Fighter. All of the moves could be chained to others with basic attacks in almost any given direction, and cancel moves are available to back out of attack patterns that are perhaps a bit too ambitious. Skilled players can choose their characters based on their opponents strengths and weaknesses, or try their luck with some of the most complex fighters in the game.

Bloody Roar as a series has fallen under the dominance of the more popular fighting games like Virtua Fighter, Tekken, and Street Fighter. While perhaps not offering the exact depth or or unique gameplay factors of the aforementioned, the series commendably went its own direction. Although the later PS2 and Xbox sequels dropped in popularity do to a number of various missteps and a lack of true evolution, Bloody Roar 2 shows all of the promise and polish that the series has to offer. Simply put, gamers looking to try a solid fighting game outside of the modern mainstays have to look no further than this title.

Title: Bloody Roar 2: The New Breed Publisher: SCEA Developer: Eighting/Raizing/Hudson Soft Platform(s): PlayStation Release Date: May 26, 1999

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