I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from Way of the Warrior. There was a lot of info out there, a large amount of it contradictory. So I just resolved to buy it and see if it clicks. I've played the game for several days know and have my answer.
I won't bother repeating what the game is like or the story behind it, its a fighting game with some silly, and unnecessary gunk attached to it. I'm mostly referring here to the full motion video, its not very good, but its there since someone decreed that all CD_ROM games should have some amount of full motion video.
The opening screen finally comes up and you select the type of game that you want to play. The selection screen is fine although there's an annoying delay when moving between the selections. I gave myself a heavy advantage in the handicapping area and started a tournament. Some more full motion video popped up and eventually a fight began, whoever I was fighting began hopping quickly around the screen while I tried to remember the basic moves and began throwing me all over the place, a couple of minutes later and it was all over. I imagine that most of the people complaining about the game before the release were complaining about this type of experience. I did notice that the backgrounds were nice and the characters looked wonderful. The animation may or may not have been choppy the game was too fast for me to decide then.
Anyway, seeing as how I did spend $60 on this thing I resolved to try it again. The game starts and I manage to block an attack. My hands began to get the hang of the basic moves and I began to get a punch in here or there. I probably only score one punch to the computers three or four but the heavy handicapping says that I'm doing okay, and I win the match. Hmmm, that was better than last time. I quickly lose the next two matches and without thinking start a new game... and get past the first opponent somehow. Sometime in the third match my fingers do something and lightning explodes out of my hands. CLICK. A little while later as I play Nobunaga I keep thinking how much I love the things he does with that sword. CLICK. Later as I play Konotri I keep thinking about how cool it is to fly like that. CLICK. Then it hit me. This was great. I was really enjoying myself. This is what I had been looking for.
The game does have its problems. The voices are silly and distracting and probably should have been left out (although the music is pleasant enough although I enjoyed Road Rash's music more). The manual seems to suggest that a front sweep is easy when in fact its hard to get it right. Since that is the basis for a lot of moves it takes some time before you can do a lot of damage. The game really needs some kind of sparring room so that you can practice moves. I don't believe that this would have "compromised" the fun of finding new moves during battle, because I'm sure many of the moves being found are found in two player mode while one guy just stands there and takes it. I decided that the animation is not the greatest but it doesn't seem to matter much in terms of gameplay. On the more trivial side this is not a well designed box, the booklet doesn't have a natural niche for it to sit in, the manual is very good, making good use of color btw, and the CD holder is too pliable and requires too much force to get the CD off of it.
On the plus side, the handicapping system works well and gets you up after just a few senseless beatings. I LIKE the high jumps, and think they add a strategy element to the game missing from others. The computer does interesting things, and each computer opponenet seems to have a very distinct personality. Movement is very free-form and the fighting system seems to be much more open than in Mortal Kombat. The different moves that each character has is simply staggering and makes the game a continual discovery of new things and of new situations. "Ok I know this will work, but how about this move, or how about that one", its simply incredible.
But most importantly I'm having fun. I'm coming back for more, and I'm enjoying the process of getting things to work for me. I'm looking at this game and all its elements and thinking that this is the most fun I've ever had playing a fighting game. I'm enjoying it too much to want to take the time to compare it to Game X's fighting system. I'm enjoying it too much to notice that the Ninja's mid air diving kick should have another frame of animation for that ultra smooth look. I'm enjoying it too much to keep worrying where exactly Fox's coat goes when he takes it off (hmmm). And I'm enjoying it too much to want to try to find the bugs and holes in the AI (which being an AI it does have) so that I can win every game by performing the same sequence 2,345 times, which I wouldn't call having fun. All in all, I just want to say that I hope every one gives this game a chance, it defintely deserves it.
michel.buffa@cmu.edu