Tekken fighting to the next level

By William Barker

I said tell me the goddamn time, impudent fool!

The PS2 already has Dead or Alive 2.

Replete with bouncy goodness, multi-layered fighting arenas and some of the best fisticuffs action on offer, does this mean there isn't any room in the PS2's launch line-up to accommodate another fighting game?

Well, perhaps not.

But then, what would all the Namco fanboys say, huh? They'd cry foul - that's what.

Luckily, Namco decided early on that a Tekken game for the sleek PS2 would be a licence to print money. . . err, a good idea.

Where most of the Tekken games were a step up from each other, small revolutions in their own rights, the latest game in the series is merely an evolution.

Most of what's offered has been seen before. Granted, there are the new graphics and Tag Tournament catch-cry, but the gameplay is fundamentally the same. Depending on where you come from, this can be seen as both good and bad.

There are cool, new, special moves, the tag battle aspect and a slew of new characters - but if you were expecting Tekken 4, you may be underwhelmed. Essentially, the game plays the same as its precursors and those who never got into the groove of Tekken won't be converted by TTT.

However, the millions of fans of the series will be able to jump right in and start kicking some booty, all in super-high PS2 levels of detail. Namco's latest creation has more players than a medieval football match, with a plethora of moves to match.

On a personal level, I much prefer the fighting mechanics found in games like Soul Calibur. Tekken has never really pushed my buttons, but, truth be known, I was impressed with TTT. A convert? Mayhaps…

Without checking out move lists, or even knowing any combos, this reviewer set out at a lightning pace. After completing the game a few times, far from a chore, mind you, I had still a long way to go with mastering all of Yoshimitsu's moves. In all, there around 30 players, and many of the players carried over from Tekken 3 have new moves too.

The single player modes are fun, but are ultimately there for practice. Face up to a talented TTT veteran and things really start to get interesting. With the tag aspect, both duelers pick two players each and can switch betwixt them in the heat of battle. For beginners and intermediate players, the core of the game will revolve around button mashing.

This is in no way a bad thing and does nothing to cheapen the experience. You'll always have a smashing time - ha! For masters of the game, succinct use of the controller and its buttons, timed attacks and combos will provide an equally absorbing experience. Gameplay in TTT can be bulls-eye precise when you want it to be, but also recklessly brutal when button mashing. Kudos to Namco.

Visually, TTT is stunning. In the next few years' people will be saying "…is the arcade version as good as the console one?" Because, really, the games on home consoles are outshining those found in arcade parlours and pubs. This isn't just a case of a slowing arcade sector, but the console scene reaping huge benefits as far as video processing techniques are concerned. Your PS2 'Emotion Engine' video chip doesn't support tri-linear deep frying? Simply program it in via software et voila!

Suffice to say, TTT is rather eye-catching. The graphics have depth, detail and purpose. The visuals are also anti-aliased. A technique many doubting-toms said the PS2 couldn't do.

It's really cool to be surrounded by a bunch of highly detailed polygonal on-lookers yahoo-ing and urging combatants to belt the crap out of their opponent. The 3D levels are, in general, rather nice to look at. But Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore wins out here, simply by way of its multi-tiered stages.

With more secrets than a cross-dressing FBI agent, enough multiplayer goodness to last a lifetime and visuals that stand up to the PS2 promises, TTT is one fine fighting game. It's not so much an innovative new fighter as it is a progression of the series, an addendum, if you will. Tekken fans need this game, and others should give a try. It's surprisingly cool. Now, Mr. Namco, where's Soul Calibur 2, eh?

Game: Tekken Tag Tournament
System: Playstation 2
Players: 1-4
Memory Card: Yes
Developer: Namco
Distributor: Sony

Rating: 80%

(Ratings Key/Explantion)