I highly recommend this game to anyone owning a Playstation, or a Ps2 for that matter.
Graphics:
After seeing the beautiful and superbly made intro-sequence to this game, you know that you will play something special. The flashy menus and cool character selection screens solidify that impression. Once you start one of the many different kinds of game-types available, the fighting takes place and the animations of the characters are flawless and as you advance through the story-mode (called edge master mode) you direct a small character around a map where you can choose to move, fight or read the book (where the current character's story unfolds). The map looks cool and all the menus look good too. The backdrops ,which change according to the story, are all VERY nice looking and varies from a pink, shiny castle, an underground pagan temple, a raft (complete with moving background), a German-style castle yard (complete with burning towers and swaying flags in the background) to an arena in the Collusseum and a pirate ship. You'll get a well drawn still-picture based ending sequence as you complete the edge master mode with a character. As you progress through the story you unlock different weapons for your warrior to wield. The animations of your character also change accordingly. Seriously, this is one of THE best looking and smoothest running games I've ever seen.
96%
Sound:
The sound effects are crisp, clear and powerful and if you play this with a stereo-surround system you're in for a very awesome experience. Sword-clashes, thuds, face smacks and swooshes. You name it, this game's got it. The music is also a very inspiring and driving music for this kind of game. And different stages have different music to them and you'll also unlock new "re-mastered" songs that sound different from the original. All the songs are way above average and some are masterpieces in game-music. The diabolical laughter of Cervantes is probably the most evil I've ever heard in a game.
92%
Gameplay
There are loads of characters and they all have signature moves and special attacks as well as the normal attacks, but what's extra cool and deep about the gameplay is that you find new weapons that you can choose from and they all have different characteristics; some are fast, some are powerful, some can destroy other weapons easily. Speaking of destroying weapons then. Your weapon also has a power meter ,that goes down when you parry or clash with other blades, and when it's depleted you lose your weapon and have to fight with your bare hands. This is also the game's weakest point because as unarmed combatants all characters have the same moves, but on the other hand, who cares? The amount of time spent fighting with your fists is minimal anyway. This is a game that can be enjoyed by hardcore gamers and the novice action-gamer alike as there are tons of options to tweak in terms of styles of play, difficulty and button-setup. Personally, I think playing this without an arcade-stick of some sort is just not as fun, as some of the combos (the critical edge attack) require three buttons pressed at once and some of the many different available combos are difficult to execute without the precision of such a controller. I highly recommend buying a stick for this game though. On the negative side, the 3D side-stepping (in and out of the screen) doesn't work very well and how fast you get up after having been knocked off your feet seems very random. I'm sure there's like a timing system or something but I never figured it out. Anyways, one of the best fighting games ever.
82%
Lastability
This is definitely one of those pick-up-and-play games that you'll play forever in short bursts. The huge amount of option-tweaking available and the many characters, many high-score tables and the multiplayer game mode add up to an experience you'll never forget.
85%
Overall
A game no-one should miss. If you're into Tekken, Dynasty warriors and Battle arena Toshinden, this game is a must. I highly recommend this game to anyone owning a Playstation, or a Ps2 for that matter.
90%