'Tekken Tag Tournament 2'
Namco Bandai
Microsoft Xbox 360 (PS3)
$59.99
ESRB rating: Teen
Review rating: 4.5 stars
Many fighting games have come and gone over the years, but the "Tekken" franchise still remains as popular as ever. As one of the original 3D fighters, the series has undergone many changes but has still managed to keep combat fast and fluid. Sporting a huge roster of fighters, great visuals and awesome team-based game play, "Tekken Tag Tournament 2" is an excellent fighting game for this generation.
More than fifty perturbed pugilists are available to team up and assault competitors with a virtual cornucopia of devastating martial arts maneuvers. Old favorites like Nina Williams and Paul Phoenix join surrealistic combatants that include demons, velociraptors and panda bears. Only the boss character, who starts out as Jun and ends up as the unbelievably annoying Unknown, is new. Sadly, she isn't just difficult to defeat, she's also nearly impossible to hit because she blocks almost every move thrown at her!
Unlike past Tekken games, "Tekken Tag Tournament 2" eschews frivolous single player modes in favor of basic single and multiplayer modes. Fortunately, a new mode called Fight Lab makes up for this. Fight Lab is basically a complex teaching mode that focuses on five stages of combat to improve the player's skills. Let's face it, "Tekken" may be known for 'tap tap' game play, but promising pugilists won't get far with simple button mashing!
I also like how nearly everything is customizable in this game. For starters, Tekken Tunes lets players change the music for each level, and it's also possible to alter the game's loading screens. However, my favorite customization options come from the ability to tailor each character's clothing and appearance.
"Tekken Tag Tournament 2" isn't perfect, but it's sure to please fighting fans with its deep combat, team-based game play and robust online modes.
'LittleBigPlanet'
Sony
Sony PS Vita
$39.99
ESRB rating: Everyone
Review rating: 4.5 stars
Several years ago, a friend of mine kept repeating his desire for software that lets players craft their own games. "That's brilliant," I told him, "but with all the possibilities, it seems like a lofty goal." His idea must be a popular one, because Sony has unleashed their customizable platforming game, "LittleBigPlanet," on every console they make, and now it has finally landed on the PS Vita.
When the evil Puppeteer uses his Hollow Men creations to begin stealing the joy from the Imagiverse, only Sackboy can save the day! Players will traverse five different areas that each sport their own themes and planet sponsors as they journey to bring the joy back to gaming.
It's hard not to feel warm and fuzzy inside when playing "LittleBigPlanet" thanks to the cute, cuddly characters that resemble knitted toys that grandma used to make. Guiding these joyous creatures through creative levels filled with oversized objects is very enjoyable, and their surrealistic, lofty jumps combined with copious use of the handy grappling hook adds to the fun.
Playing this game on the PS Vita provides welcome new features that aren't available in any other version. For example, the front touch screen is used to slide floating platforms, guide projectiles and move gears, while the rear touch screen can be used to push objects and steer Sackboy around when he flies. In addition, the built-in camera is very useful for taking pictures to personalize the player's Pod (starting area).
Creating levels is much more intuitive thanks to touch screen controls that let players select items, move them around and paint objects. Just like a cellphone, you can pinch objects to make them smaller and vice verse. These handy features make creating levels much easier, and there are already dozens of free user-created levels to download and play even before the game's release.
"LittleBigPlanet" is a great game no matter which platform it's played on, but the PS Vita version is the best to date!
'Tekken Tag Tournament 2'
Namco Bandai
Microsoft Xbox 360 (PS3)
$59.99
ESRB rating: Teen
Review rating: 4.5 stars
Many fighting games have come and gone over the years, but the "Tekken" franchise still remains as popular as ever. As one of the original 3D fighters, the series has undergone many changes but has still managed to keep combat fast and fluid. Sporting a huge roster of fighters, great visuals and awesome team-based game play, "Tekken Tag Tournament 2" is an excellent fighting game for this generation.
More than fifty perturbed pugilists are available to team up and assault competitors with a virtual cornucopia of devastating martial arts maneuvers. Old favorites like Nina Williams and Paul Phoenix join surrealistic combatants that include demons, velociraptors and panda bears. Only the boss character, who starts out as Jun and ends up as the unbelievably annoying Unknown, is new. Sadly, she isn't just difficult to defeat, she's also nearly impossible to hit because she blocks almost every move thrown at her!
Unlike past Tekken games, "Tekken Tag Tournament 2" eschews frivolous single player modes in favor of basic single and multiplayer modes. Fortunately, a new mode called Fight Lab makes up for this. Fight Lab is basically a complex teaching mode that focuses on five stages of combat to improve the player's skills. Let's face it, "Tekken" may be known for 'tap tap' game play, but promising pugilists won't get far with simple button mashing!
I also like how nearly everything is customizable in this game. For starters, Tekken Tunes lets players change the music for each level, and it's also possible to alter the game's loading screens. However, my favorite customization options come from the ability to tailor each character's clothing and appearance.
"Tekken Tag Tournament 2" isn't perfect, but it's sure to please fighting fans with its deep combat, team-based game play and robust online modes.
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