"Game" is usually spot on with its reviews and it's usually an all round 
decent magazine.

Their review of Tekken 5 is positively lukewarm for reasons that escape me. 
This is by far one of the best PS2 games ever made and it wouldn't be out of 
place on Xbox (the graphics and animation are really superb).

I've played DOA and, yes, it's not a bad game but Tekken 5 is far superior - 
playability wise it's a dream.

Seriously, if you buy one PS2 game this year and if you like fighting games 
make sure you buy Tekken 5. Bloody genius.

Gareth.

Gareth wrote:

> "Game" is usually spot on with its reviews and it's usually an all
> round decent magazine.
>
> Their review of Tekken 5 is positively lukewarm for reasons that
> escape me. This is by far one of the best PS2 games ever made and it
> wouldn't be out of place on Xbox (the graphics and animation are
> really superb).
>
> I've played DOA and, yes, it's not a bad game but Tekken 5 is far
> superior - playability wise it's a dream.
>
> Seriously, if you buy one PS2 game this year and if you like fighting
> games make sure you buy Tekken 5. Bloody genius.
>
> Gareth.


I've been reading a lot of online reviews for Tekken 5 (from the usual
suspects - Gamepro. IGN, Gamespy, Gamespot) and almost all of them put it in a
very positive light. However:

I took a look at this site:

http://www.tekken-official.jp/tekken5/index_e.html

Noticeably, the PS2 version appears to be extremely cut down from the arcade
version - fewer characters being the main thing, though I hope that this site is
simply hopelessly out of date and all the characters made it into the game
itself.

I've never played a Tekken game before. Well, actually that's not true - I did
play Tekken on the PlayStation, but none of the sequels. Because of this I have
no idea how the controls work. Are they similar to Soul Calibur II or Virtua
Fighter 4?

Graphically, from the screenshots it looks as though Tekken 5 could give Soul
Calibur II a serious run for its' money, but graphics don't really matter if the
controls are shot!

I've been tempted by Tekken 5 for a while now, but is it really worth the
plunge? Soul Calibur II is probably the best fighter game I've ever played, but
Virtua Fighter 4 was a real PITA. It's either this, or Timesplitters 3.

Paul.

Holy black hole! "Paul Evans"
 feels like a
wet noodle:


>I took a look at this site:
>
>http://www.tekken-official.jp/tekken5/index_e.html
>
>Noticeably, the PS2 version appears to be extremely cut down from the arcade
>version - fewer characters being the main thing, though I hope that this site is
>simply hopelessly out of date and all the characters made it into the game
>itself.


I think the page just has the default characters listed for the PS2
version - the others are unlocked from finishing the game and the like
as in previous home Tekken conversions. Historically, the Tekken
arcade games have had time release features where certain characters
have been made available later, and these have been hidden on the
console releases. Some of the FAQs on Gamefaqs have 30-odd characters
listed for the PS2 version, anyway.

Besides, do you really think they'd go through the hassle of given you
arcade ports Tekken 1, 2 and 3, some new game modes and rope in guest
costume designers like Oh! Great and Mamoru Nagano and *not* give you
everything in the arcade version? I honestly wouldn't worry about
Namcos ports.


>I've never played a Tekken game before. Well, actually that's not true - I did
>play Tekken on the PlayStation, but none of the sequels. Because of this I have
>no idea how the controls work. Are they similar to Soul Calibur II or Virtua
>Fighter 4?


Pass, I'm not really a fan of 3D figthers. Personally I'd recommend
finding a copy of Guilty Gear X2 over a Tekken game, but thats just
me. 


>I've been tempted by Tekken 5 for a while now, but is it really worth the
>plunge? Soul Calibur II is probably the best fighter game I've ever played, but
>Virtua Fighter 4 was a real PITA. It's either this, or Timesplitters 3.


From experience of the previous games, I'd say that Tekken is
considerably more friendly than VF4, but harsher than Soul Calibur.
I'm a 2D fighter-person though, and these 3D fighters never really
meshed with me, so others milage may vary.

Tekken 5 in't out for a while over here though, so you choice has
probably been made for you.

"Paul Evans"  wrote 
in message news:3arfkgF6cq4e4U1@individual.net...

> Gareth wrote:


<snipped>


> I've been reading a lot of online reviews for Tekken 5 (from the usual
> suspects - Gamepro. IGN, Gamespy, Gamespot) and almost all of them put it 
> in a
> very positive light. However:
>
> I took a look at this site:
>
> http://www.tekken-official.jp/tekken5/index_e.html
>
> Noticeably, the PS2 version appears to be extremely cut down from the 
> arcade
> version - fewer characters being the main thing, though I hope that this 
> site is
> simply hopelessly out of date and all the characters made it into the game
> itself.


No, it has all the characters of the arcade game and apparently even more (I 
haven't played the arcade version). At risk of spoling the "plot" some old 
and apparently dead characters return in playable form.


> I've never played a Tekken game before. Well, actually that's not true - I 
> did
> play Tekken on the PlayStation, but none of the sequels. Because of this I 
> have
> no idea how the controls work. Are they similar to Soul Calibur II or 
> Virtua
> Fighter 4?


Like neither of those but more like SC  I guess - at least in terms of basic 
moves and combo concept. Thankfully the controls aren't as complicated as VF 
and the emphasis is more on basic combat and learned button pattern combos. 
It requires a bit more thought than SC in terms of the close combat 
fighting. This is where the Game review is off beam - they claim that 
Jinpachi (an opponent and a playable character) is too difficult to beat 
with his long range attacks. But with practice and pattern combos he isn't 
too difficult to beat 70% of the time with vertical movement and close 
fighting (on a moderate difficulty setting!)


> Graphically, from the screenshots it looks as though Tekken 5 could give 
> Soul
> Calibur II a serious run for its' money, but graphics don't really matter 
> if the
> controls are shot!


The control is excellent: responsive, intuitive and the combos are fluid.


> I've been tempted by Tekken 5 for a while now, but is it really worth the
> plunge? Soul Calibur II is probably the best fighter game I've ever 
> played, but
> Virtua Fighter 4 was a real PITA. It's either this, or Timesplitters 3.


Tekken 5 is a different type of fighting game to SC and comparisons are a 
bit unfair. I guess though most people would go for Tekken 5 above SC.

Tekken 5 really is an excellent fighting game - the definitive Tekken and 
easily the best fighting game since Tekken 2 in 1996 (iirc). Seriously, if 
you like fighting games then it's a must have title and, imho, the best 
fighting game for almost 10 years and actually one of the best PS2 games you 
can buy. Some people will prefer VF because of the strategy element (for 
want of a better word). It's like comparing Ridge Racer with GT. For sheer 
arcade enjoyment Tekken 5 is the best there is - and, I think, a better 
executed game than DOA in terms of intuitive playability (which is also a 
bloody game).

You can pick up Tekken 5 on import minus heavy manual for about 13 ;-)

Gareth.

Paul Tomlin wrote:

> Holy black hole! "Paul Evans"
>  feels like a
> wet noodle:
>


 I honestly wouldn't worry about

> Namcos ports.
>

That's true. SC2 was almost arcade-perfect, but then it should've been really -
the arcade version ran on a modified PS2 board.


>> I've never played a Tekken game before. Well, actually that's not
>> true - I did play Tekken on the PlayStation, but none of the
>> sequels. Because of this I have no idea how the controls work. Are
>> they similar to Soul Calibur II or Virtua Fighter 4?
>
> Pass, I'm not really a fan of 3D figthers. Personally I'd recommend
> finding a copy of Guilty Gear X2 over a Tekken game, but thats just
> me.
>

Funnily enough, I've had that game recommended to me in the past, but back then
I was out of work and had no money. Now I have work, money and no stockist that
seems to have even a used copy GGX2 (though there's plenty of Guilty Gear X
copies around). I'll probably order it off Play at some point, when I order
TimeSplitters 3. I've always fancied playing a 2D fighter on my TV.


> Tekken 5 in't out for a while over here though, so you choice has
> probably been made for you.


True. For some reason, I had been udner the impression that Tekken 5 had already
been released here, but now I'm seeing release dates of October, though I doubt
it'll be that long.

Paul.

Gareth wrote:

> "Paul Evans" 
> wrote in message news:3arfkgF6cq4e4U1@individual.net...
>> Gareth wrote:
>
> Like neither of those but more like SC  I guess - at least in terms
> of basic moves and combo concept. Thankfully the controls aren't as
> complicated as VF and the emphasis is more on basic combat and
> learned button pattern combos. It requires a bit more thought than SC
> in terms of the close combat fighting. This is where the Game review
> is off beam - they claim that Jinpachi (an opponent and a playable
> character) is too difficult to beat with his long range attacks. But
> with practice and pattern combos he isn't too difficult to beat 70%
> of the time with vertical movement and close fighting (on a moderate
> difficulty setting!)
>

That sounds similar to some of the characters in SC2, where they are powerful as
long-range fighters, but somewhat weak when the enemy is only stood a couple of
feet from them. Of course, getting that close is another matter, and on the
hardest settings, almost impossible, especially as the game learns quickly!


>> Graphically, from the screenshots it looks as though Tekken 5 could
>> give Soul
>> Calibur II a serious run for its' money, but graphics don't really
>> matter if the
>> controls are shot!
>
> The control is excellent: responsive, intuitive and the combos are
> fluid.
>

I'll just hope my PS2 controller is still as responsive, intuitive and fluid by
the time the game's released over here. Better stock up on Dual Shock
controllers before the Eurocrats follow America's lead and orders Sony to drop
the vibration feature.


>> I've been tempted by Tekken 5 for a while now, but is it really
>> worth the plunge? Soul Calibur II is probably the best fighter game
>> I've ever played, but
>> Virtua Fighter 4 was a real PITA. It's either this, or Timesplitters
>> 3.
>
> Tekken 5 is a different type of fighting game to SC and comparisons
> are a bit unfair. I guess though most people would go for Tekken 5
> above SC.
>
> Tekken 5 really is an excellent fighting game - the definitive Tekken
> and easily the best fighting game since Tekken 2 in 1996 (iirc).
> Seriously, if you like fighting games then it's a must have title
> and, imho, the best fighting game for almost 10 years and actually
> one of the best PS2 games you can buy. Some people will prefer VF
> because of the strategy element (for want of a better word). It's
> like comparing Ridge Racer with GT. For sheer arcade enjoyment Tekken
> 5 is the best there is - and, I think, a better executed game than
> DOA in terms of intuitive playability (which is also a bloody game).
>

I've never played DOA (no XBox) although it looked good. Problem is, when a game
like that is set up on the consoles in Game and HMV, I tend to stay away to
avoid looking crap(!)


> You can pick up Tekken 5 on import minus heavy manual for about 13
> ;-)
>
> Gareth.


My PS2 isn't chipped though, so it looks like I'll be waiting for a little while
yet :-(

Paul.