The Triangle

Issue date: 5/20/05 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Namco Jinpachi of unknown background and unkown fighting style (right) blows away Koreen Hwoarang with is inhuman strength. Hwoarang´s fighting style is Tae Kwon Do.

Since the birth of the next generation consoles, there has been a huge decline in the number of fighting games that are available to play on home systems. This is probably due to the fact that the controllers make playing two or three-dimensional fighting games challenging. There are not many fighting games on the market, so when a game like Capcom vs. SNK 2 comes out, or Soul Calibur 2, it's like a new-born messiah for all fighting fans alike. For instance, Tekken 5 is Namco's latest and possibly the greatest fighting game they have released (Sorry Soul-Calibur fans, but this one is good).

The game's specifics are really enticing. The graphics - the bump mapping textures, for example, are extremely smooth on the polygon characters. The game runs fast enough to make it arcade perfect, while making good use of the Playstation 2 processor and calculation systems. It was like Namco just took their game out of the arcade and put it on a DVD-R. Next comes control handling. Current systems' controllers make it hard to play fighting games and the same applies here for the PS 2's D-pad. The D-pad is the only option on the PS 2 controller that allows the person to make precise and accurate commands in fighting games. While it is responsive, it is still tricky to pull off complicated motions in the middle of a combo.

Namco incorporated plenty of modes within this game for one-player and multi-player. On one hand, you have a system that can help build up your characters rank and status throughout the fighting world, and on the other you have over 30 playable fighters all with their own unique personalities and move sets. If you love Tekken, I can guarantee you will be playing this game for months. There is no experience missed during game play; loading times are enough, the graphics make the fights look like something out of a Jet Li movie, and the audio quality makes the fight sound serious. Namco made this one count.

Though this is game is worth owning, if you're into 3-D fighters or fighters in general, I recommend renting the game first to try out the first player and multi-player modes. If you are a Namco fan, or just a fan of Tekken, do not hesitate - go to the store and tell the cashier to keep the change because you will realize you have the greatest Tekken game of all time. If Tekken 5 does not appeal to your pleasure as a Tekken fan, this will. It includes playable arcade versions of Tekken 1, 2, and 3 on the disc for your playing pleasure. The only downside is that Namco used their arcade counterparts instead of their console equivalents. But in buying this copy, you're giving yourself an opportunity to own a classic series all in one disc, so you don't have to mess with ROMs or E-bay.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools