Excellent 3D brawler
The Battle Arena Toshinden series is perhaps one of the lesser known 3D fighting franchises, but it is actually a generally fine set of brawlers, and this sequel stands as an enjoyable entry that is worth seeking out. The gameplay will be familiar to anyone who has played the original or games like Virtua Fighter or Mortal Kombat 4, and the core is virtually unchanged from the original. There is some attempt at introducing a story, which often feels unnecessary in fighting games, and which is some nonsense about a secret society and their rather convoluted plans to lure people into a fighting tournament. All that really matters however, is the fighting action and it is here that the game scores more highly. As you would expect, there are a number of fighters available to choose from, each with both standard and special moves and abilities, but one of the game's neat spins is the addition of weapons into the mix, which brings in something a little different. Apart from this however, it's all pretty standard stuff, with a few new mechanics and changes to the established system but little else that differs radically from the template laid down by other similar games. However, the fighting action here is certainly satisfying, with enough new characters, moves and combos to keep beat 'em up fans playing, while the game is also easy enough to pick up for newcomers to the genre. The controls are pretty tight and responsive, while the 3D graphics are slick and striking, with distinctive characters and environments and altogether, this makes for an enjoyable fighting experience.
