When I think of fighting games, Tekken is synonymous when it comes to Playstation. One of the original reasons I bought into Playstation was when I saw what Namco had to offer in the then 32-bit next generation. As the years went by Namco continued to grace the Playstation with each incarnation of the Tekken series. Many would argue that the series plateaued in Tekken 3, but Tekken Tag Tournament offers just enough more to round out the series. Therefore, it was no surprise to see Namco name TTT as one of their first Playstation 2 offerings.

It just amazes how incredibly gorgeous TTT looks. For starters the characters appear to be made up of thousands upon thousands of polygons which enable nice visual treats such as defined muscles, detailed faces and moving strands of hair. The arenas are also incredibly well done. While they are not as interactive as those found in Dead Or Alive Hardcore, they offer some neat visuals. In most stages, you will find a number of things going on in the background. From high school students doing calisthenics, to by-standers cheering on the fight. The depth of detail is astounding. I do have one complaint however. The arenas are not seamed together. In some instances this is evident as you move to the periphery of the stage. A minor complaint that could have been fixed. As for anti-aliasing issues, Namco had done a nice job to enable the feature that was absent from the Japanese version. No jaggies are found here. The visuals are nicely complimented with one of the better soundtracks available in the series. A variety of trancey tunes round out the usual sound effects that we have come to expect in the Tekken series.

As for gameplay, TTT remains faithful to the arcade version and the previous installments in the series. Of course the new addition this time around is the ability to tag in a partner during a bout. There is quite of bit of skill involved here in order to utilize the tag feature successfully. As you progress through the game, you will find that certain pairings of characters will enable a stream of combinations moves using the tag. Beyond the tag feature, the control mechanism remains the same. This is good and bad. Good in the sense that are a multitude of moves to learn. Bad on the other hand because the response time from control pad to onscreen action is a little behind. In takes some getting used to and once mastered you will be on your way to linking all kinds of moves. Some will argue this is problematic when compared to the control of DOA2 Hardcore which features lightning fast responsive moves.

What is a Tekken game without loads of extras? While TTT does not sport as many extras as previous installments, it offers a couple of new features that gamers will welcome. With more than 30 playable characters, games will find themselves busy going through each one. Your reward? Each character has his or her own unique ending. Unfortunately Namco opted not to showcase each ending with their award winning CG cut scenes but instead use the game's engine. Many of the endings are far too short and lack some critical thinking on the developers part. They however still retain their classic Namco humor. Once you have cleared a certain number of characters, the extras start appearing. This includes a theatre mode to watch all of the endings, a gallery mode whereby you can take snapshots of in game screens and the humorous yet quite playable Tekken Bowl Mode. In this mode, choose from any one of the 30 or more characters as you engage in a game of bowling. Players will throw what looks like a disco ball down the lane towards pins shaped as Heihachi's head. If you are good enough you may even be able to take out one of the onlookers cheering on the sides.

As a first generation title that was originally released during the Japanese Playstation 2 launch, TTT showcases what lies ahead in the world of Playstation 2 gaming. Many gamers will ask the question "TTT or DOA2 Hardcore?". My answer is simple: both. Each offer its own unique gaming experience. TTT edges DOA2 Hardcore in terms of depth. This is a must have for any hardcore fan of fighting games and for those wanting to show of their new prized possession to friends.