The onset of the Playstation in the mid-1990s
saw the creation of not only some excellent games, but ground-breaking graphics rendered
in an enhanced 32-bit style that was state of the art.
One of the more fortunate genres of gaming that benefited from the 3D revolution away
from static 2D graphics was fighting games, and the success of Tekken, Virtua Fighter,
and Soul Calibur are testament to this, and each series owes its success to the popularity
of video arcades.
One such fighter that is perhaps lesser known among casual gamers and more among fans of
Takara ports of classic arcade fighters is Battle Arena Toshinden 2, developed by Tamsoft,
the sequel to the original killer app designed by Sony Computer Entertainment.
I found this game not in a jewel case, but in its original box, and such packaging makes
me want it more for some reason.
Maybe it was because of Sofia's come-hither outfit.
In any case, the sequel to the well-received Battle Arena Toshinden looked to sell even
higher than the first, but with an entirely new label, it would be a test of the game's
quality and fun factor.
Behind any great fighting series is a story that leads you right up to the first fight.
In this case, Gaia, the master monk and featured character, organized the first Toshinden tournament,
and now a new competition has been announced by his former organization, the creatively
named Secret Society.
Behind the veil of the competition is one of Gaia's former accomplices, Uranus, who
not only wants Gaia dead, but every competitor in the second Toshinden tournament.
Fans of the first Battle Arena Toshinden will not have to change much of their style to
suit the sequel.
A 3D ring is your battlefield, and your attacks will be primarily weapon-based.
However, a few bugs that made dodging so broken in the first Battle Arena Toshinden have been
updated.
It used to be you were able to roll and dodge even your opponent's most dangerous knockout
combinations.
Now, you're subjected to your opponent's wrath if you try to do the same thing.
Alas, where one bug is eliminated, another remains.
If you're caught on the ground face up and your opponent swings their weapon towards
you, no damage is calculated.
Just make sure on the way up that they aren't still attacking and you'll be fine.
A trademark of the Battle Arena Toshinden series is the sumo wrestler-like ringouts
that fighters are subjected to.
In the first, if both fighters rung out, the match would be declared a draw, but this time,
the last fighter to hit the ground will taste victory, however painful it may have come.
I definitely dig the fighting styles of each combatant.
Gaia is devastating with his broadsword, fencing skills, and fire-breathing abilities.
The magician Fo has, along with a set of Vega claws, fireball tricks.
And the blonde vixen Sofia is wicked fast and will crack her whip as much as perform
devastating combos that will leave opponents dizzy.
Battle Arena Toshinden 2 is a decent fighting game, and although it doesn't have much of
the polish or popularity that the Tekken series has enjoyed in the past, it's likely you'll
find it in the library of nostalgic arcade junkies nationwide.