Obviously the graphics are great but just what makes them so special? First of all the 12 playable characters are easily the most detailed group ever constructed. Period. From the original games scantily clad ladies to Ryu Hayubusa (yeah, he’s the guy from the Ninja Gaiden series!) all of the characters in the game have their unique visual flare. Not content to simply amaze us with the characters amazing visuals Tecmo also packaged in 10 extremely well done 3-d levels. Notice the term levels instead of the more common word; backgrounds. In DOA2 the levels are massive, animated, interactive affairs. Players will jump off walls, get thrown into electric fences, slammed into exploding generators or even tossed to a lower part of the level. This means you can get thrown off the top of a waterfall only to continue fighting on the bridge at the bottom. Awesome!

Gameplay is handled by an extremely easy to learn (yet tough to master) control scheme. Movement is handled with the control stick or accurately modeled after the arcade version with the L-button and D-pad. Remaining controls are punch, kick (each able to be executed in at least three different locations) a throw button and your counter key.

Counter? Adding to the uniqueness and playability of the title is her countering feature. 95% of the moves executed in the game are able to be reversed by countering. This means that no move is ever 100% guarantied to be effective if your opponent is able to counter it, which means YOU take damage. Adding yet another wrinkle to the counters is the possibility to counter a counter.

In no way a button smasher the game is extremely playable. A new player grasping the game’s combat system can be competitive against a die hard DOA2 junkie, though to be honest I’d beat you down.

With a decent one on one and story mode (you against the computer) there are a few other play options in the game. Most noticeably the tag battle. In tag battle you choose two fighters against your opponents two and duke it out in the arena. With a frame rate staying at a constant 60fps 2 sometimes 3 or even 4 players battle on screen at the same time! Other modes include limitless enemies in survival mode and a practice mode that allows you to perfect your counters and moves against programmable drones.

With an uptempo rock soundtrack accompanying the on-screen action DOA2 will overload all of your sense in what can only be described as pure gaming bliss. For fighting fans a must have, for everyone else you’ll probably want it too.