Battle Arena Toshinden 2

It should come as no surprise that Takara ot Japan is working on a sequel to their popular PlayStation fighting game. What caught us by surprise when we were in Japan asking about the game was the fact that it would be coming out in the arcades! And not by Takara but by Capcom of Japan. (Hmmm...can't do another SF2 game so they decide to do somebody else's fighting game?) Then, before we could ask another question, they said the PlayStation version would be coming out after the arcade game (which was nearly done).

As far as new items, Takara is planning on adding three new characters bringing the total up to 11; a new Boss character and a new feature translated as an "overdrive gauge."

The polygon graphics have been tremendously improved. The developer stated that in this version to have the best 3-D effect, they will be paying a lot of attention to the lighting and the shadows to enhance the 3-D element even further.

As a follow-up to its award-winning fighting game Toshinden, Takara of Japan has created a sequel that rewrites the book on PS polygon fighting games. Several aspects set this game apart from its precursor, particularly in the graphics department. For example, each character has\been rendered with much more detail. So much that you can see the musculature in Sofia's back! As well, the backgrounds have not been ignored as all have been nicely detailed and improved. All of the areas are new, and some like Gaia's stage are simply breathtaking.

You're probably wondering about the gameplay. After all, it is the most important aspect of a fighting game. Well, it's pretty intense. The control has been refined, especially with the fireball motions and you can still rotate around your opponents in the 3-D fashion.

The feeling of depth is now more prevalent and each character now has new attacks that he/she can perform with his/her back to opponents. However, it seems harder to turn around.

Of the original cast of warriors, several have had moves removed and/or replaced. Overall, there are more attacks, but you might find that some of your older combos do not work. In addition, if you're close to losing, it's possible to still do the Desperation moves, just like before. On top of all this, there are Overdrive moves that can be charged by doing normal attacks. These attacks can easily remove a quarter of your life if they aren't blocked. Overdrive moves can be done simply by holding down all four Attack buttons. If you're feeling a little obnoxious, it's also possible to taunt. Some of these taunts are comical.

There are five new characters. Two are Bosses and one is a hidden character. First there is Chaos who is a bizarre warrior who uses a scythe to cut down his foes. As can be expected, his attacks are best suited to long-range strikes, similar to Mondo. However, his range is at the expense of speed. He does have some interesting combos that combine weapon strikes with foot attacks. The bulk of special moves Chaos employs are a series of noxious gases that are emanated from his mouth, and a few moves where he slams himself into whoever gets in his way.

Last but not least is his Aerial Sonic Blast that can be beneficial against fireball characters like Kayin.

The second new character who's easy to get a hold of is Tracy. She is a cop who has a number of acrobatic moves and attacks with her baton. She moves quickly and can inflict a large amount of damage. Her range isn't all that far, so the best strategy with her is to get in close and start with the combos. Longdistance characters will give her a tough time.

The first of the two Bosses is Uranus. This female warrior resembles a Gothic angel, complete with wings. (Note the nifty transparency effect.) She has a number of projectiles and some damaging close attacks. She is best described as how Gaia was in the first game. Hit-and-run tactics work best against her. If you are using her, just counter anything your opponent does. It shouldn't be too difficult.

The last Boss is a young girl named The Master. Don't be fooled by her small size and what appears to be an absence of weapons. This girl can summon a sword that looks like Gaia's. She can ride it like a surfboard and wields it with ease. Her moves are damaging to the point of being cheap. If you are using her, tap the buttons rapidly, and you'll find yourself doing some combos. Her special moves cover every angle, so jumping in is a bad idea. Try to rotate around her to get an advantage.

The most secretive new fighter is Vermillion. This guy looks like he's a gnarled killer right out of a Victorian horror novel. He has a shotgun in one hand and a revolver in the other. You can't see his projectiles, which hit almost instantly.

His actual attacks are slow but powerful. Most of the time you can take him out by rotating around his shots.

If you are using him, shooting from the air will almost ensure a victory. His range is hard to beat especially if you try to stay away from him.

Of the older characters, most have returned. Sho is now one of the hidden characters though.

Gaia, the master monk, has shed his powerful armor in favor of more revealing attire. He still has his giant sword though. Gaia's moves are among the most powerful, and his combos are easy to do. However, Gaia lacks speed. If you can get in the first hit, you can chain your attacks together. When fighting him, keep your distance.

Ellis retains most of her attacks. Some of her twirling attacks along the ground have been replaced by sweeps. Her new special is a twirl where she surrounds herself with magical energy. Overall, she's the character. When using her, get close and rapidly tap some combos. To stop her, do what she's weakest at doing: close fighting. Keep your distance, and she's meat.

Fo, the comical old man, has a new look that is sort of like a jester. He retains all of his attacks. In the first game, Fo was susceptible to aerial attacks. To counter this, Fo now has a move where he lies on his back and conjures up a power blast. Of all the characters, his rear attacks seem to go out the fastest.

Mondo plays pretty much the same, but his moves seem to do a lot more damage. He now has a spear move that allows him to strike upward. Mondo is good at all ranges, but overall he is weakest when you are close to him.

Rungo has seen several improvements. He's quicker and also has a new series of kicks where he steps toward his opponent three times. He also has a brand-new twirl move. Rungo has a hard time against hit-and-run tactics, so chisel his life away bit by bit. If you are playing this guy, try to counter your opponent's attacks rather than going on the offensive.

Sofia has had some of her attacks modified. Now her energy rings can launch upward. She has couple of kicks that can be used for leaping in. The most important fact about her is that all of her specials can be done in the air. This can give foes a nasty surprises, especially if they jump in at her.

Duke is relatively unchanged. A new swipe that twirls him around his opponent has been added. However, he still matches up well against the other characters. Duke is strong both up close and from a distance. He is best used to counter whatever is thrown at him.

Eiji and Kayin are still two of the most powerful characters in the game. They both have a new sword-swipe maneuver that covers a hefty distance. Eiji's tends to go a bit further though. Their super moves are really nasty looking. They knock their victims into the air while hacking at them. These characters are best used for beginners who need to get the feel of the game.

Overall, all gamers should check out this second-generation PS fighter. It sets new standards in gameplay and graphics. Toshinden 2 is now the game all others (including Tekken 2) will be compared to.

MORE FIGHTERS!

It is possible to play as four more characters, including the two Bosses and Sho! To do this, first set the difficulty of the game to Level 5. Now beat the game and return to the One-player Mode. You'll notice that there is a Random Select Box. If you hold the Select button while on the box, the characters will move by slowly. Notice that Uranus and Master are playable. Choose Master and play through again. After you win, check the characters available in the Random Select Box. You should be able to use Sho and Vermillion. This is much easier than the old Toshinden codes!

FIGHTING TACTICS...

All characters now have a move that can hit enemies on the ground. This is done by pressing the Triangle and Circle buttons at the same time. If you knock someone down, you can often get in this extra free hit. Use caution though, because if they move out of the way, you'll be left wide open to an attack.

The PlayStation's first polygon fighting game is back with even more in-your-face chop-socky action. In Battle Arena Toshinden 2, which Playmates has secured the rights to release in the States, the-mysterious syndicate that organized the first Tournament has v summoned the fighters back for another, round of relentless violence. Beyona the original cast, Gaia, the deposed organizer of the first tourpament, returns to avenge his honor Two other new contestants have been added: Tracy, a tonfa baton-wielding policewoman, and Chaos, a wiggedout executive of the syndicate who swings a nasty scythe.

Identical to The Arcade

Little difference exists between the arcade and PlayStation versions except for the opening computer-generated live-action movie in the home version, and the'fact that the arcade k version uses only three butbns. Along with Ridge Rater and Mortal Kombat 3, this is tlje sequel to one of the tbp three bestselling PlayStation games in the U.S. last year.

New Bosses

Facing the contestants at the end are two bosses-the winged Uranus, armed with a bow and arrow, and Master an incredibly tough opponent with a magical sword. There are also two hidden bosses. Sho returns from the original game. To fight him, you must beat everyone, including Master, without losing a match at level 4 at least. Vermilion is a gaunt, gunpacking angel of death. To challenge this sinister character. you must meet the conditions for fighting Sho, with at least four perfect victories with no damage.

The inevitable sequel to one of last year's biggest PlayStation sellers, Battle Arena Toshinden 2 offers more of the same. While this may please fans of the first Toshinden, gamers who didn't like the original won't be won over.

Toshinden 2 adds three new fighters: Tracy, a tonfa-toting policewoman; Chaos, a giddy, sickle-carrying former executive; and Gaia, one of the bosses from the previous game, now stripped of his armor. The best new characters are the bosses-especially the winged Uranus and the hidden boss, Vermilion.

Fighting fanatics will find little technique in Toshinden 2. The combos are very restricted; fighting is limited to an exchange of blows or special moves, which will disappoint those looking for another Street Fighter Alpha or Tekken 2.

Graphics

The fighters are cleaner than in the previous game, and some elements, like Vermilion's graveyard and the dark-to-light effect in Duke's stage, are a visual treat. Skip the lame live-action opener, though.

Sound

All the grunts, smacks, and victory chants are discernible, though most are spoken in foreign tongues. With jazzy and upbeat rock tunes, the music is also a plus.

Control

All the moves are easily executable, even the complex "desperation" and finishing moves. Configuring the top buttons to sidestep is especially helpful.

Fun Factor

So much for a deep fighter-there aren't many combos, just a plethora of special attacks. The three new fighters liven things up, but otherwise Toshinden 2 provides nothing terribly new.