Tekken Tag Tournament is one of the best games for the PS2 and one of the true greatest hits.
Graphics: The graphic quality in this game was top-notch at the time of its release, especially considering the console generation jump from Tekken 3 on the PS1. So how well do the visuals hold up today? The game still looks really great after all these years. This is one of the most stunningly detailed games for the PS2. Nothing too flashy; just crisp, colorful visuals that get the job done very nicely.
Story: There is no story in this game whatsoever, which makes sense because it's a fighting game entry non-canon to the rest of the series. Upon completing Arcade mode with any character, you are rewarded with a CGI cutscene ending, but that's about it. It's worth noting the final boss, Unknown, a character whom players are told very little about. From what I understand, Unknown is a woman who has been possessed by a wolf demon who controls her body. The wolf floats behind her in battle and everything that it does, she mimics in perfect timing. Also, Unknown just jacks other characters' move-sets the same way Mokujin does.
Game Modes: There are several modes of play in this game and I will explain how each one works.
----Arcade: In this mode, you play through a certain amount of fights before battling a sub-boss for whichever character you selected and then the final boss. Completing this mode certain amounts of times with different fighters will unlock new playable characters.
----Time Attack: Race the clock, complete fights as fast as you can.
----Survival: Defeat as many CPUs as you can before your health depletes.
----V.S. Mode: 2-on-2 tag team exhibition.
----1-on-1: Only one character on each side.
----Team Battle: Create a team of up to 8 fighters per side. Defeat all opponents and you win.
----Practice: Practice fighting moves for any character.
----Theater: Watch unlocked character endings.
----Tekken Bowl: This mode is exactly what you might think it is: A bowling mini-game in which you form a team of any two characters in the game and try to beat the other team to win the big cup. I like the fact that the pins are shaped like Heihachi Mishima's head. He's a jerk. To play Tekken Bowl, you must unlock Ogre.
----JukeBox: Listen to the game's OST. To unlock JukeBox, you must earn a score of 200 points or more in Tekken Bowl.
Sound: The music is composed of a bunch of generic J-Pop and techno tunes...which is a staple in the Tekken series. The unique sound effects for the punches and kicks haven't changed much from the first game.
Gameplay: The infinite-stage plane from the early Tekken games makes a return, which isn't a bad thing. The fighting mechanics are largely unchanged from the last game. The only new mechanic is the tag feature, in which you tag your partner in and let him take the beating. The Tekken series always featured a control scheme that was easy to learn but difficult to master. You can pull off some awesome combo attacks, but the precise timing, positioning and memorization required to execute some of these moves gives the game a steep learning curve.
Final Verdict: This is a solid fighting game that holds up well today. I would recommend this game to any fan of Tekken and anyone who likes fighting games. You will not be disappointed.