Tekken 5 [PS2]

Arcade ports just don't cut it in the console fighting realm. Each release brings more replay and content to the fold -- whether it's Mortal Kombat's unlockables and minigames, Soul Calibur II's weapon master mode, or Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution's groundbreaking arcade mode. So it's funny that a Tekken release -- usually low on the extras -- would usurp them all to become what may be this generation's best fighting game.

Tekken 5 is a gorgeous game, there's no mistaking it, and the graphics are the first thing you'll notice when you pop this puppy in your console. Every character looks amazing, and their various costumes are adorned with all sorts of details. Hwoarang's Taekwondo Gi moves independent of the rest of his body, while the ribbons attached to Raven's blades swing around behind him.

Levels also bring about a new degree of beauty. You'll fight on a glacier populated by playful penguins, battle poolside amid bikini-clad hotties, and throw down in a pirate-esque treasure trove. These stages offer a degree of interaction to boot. While it's not the breakthrough environments of Dead or Alive 3, it's still empowering to see parts of a fence fall down when struck, or the floor crack underneath a downed opponent.

Each Namco fighting release is worth checking out, if only to see what kind of CG masterpieces grace the intros and ending sequences. This is another area where Tekken 5 doesn't disappoint. All the characters show off their personality in tiny snippets, while the intro conveys the point that Heihachi -- the clown-haired patriarch of the series -- has bit the big one. Even if this game was on the Xbox, the graphics would be praised six ways from Sunday.

The gameplay is nothing to sneeze at, either. A new engine means a smooth, flawless flow. Both sidestepping and jumping are handled with ease, and combo strings go off without a hitch. The timing is right on, and there's nary a collision hiccup in sight. Even the most nitpicky gamer will have a hard time complaining about the way Tekken 5 plays. Perhaps the closest thing to negativity is saying that the gameplay hasn't advanced as much as the graphics have after five installments.

Speaking of other Tekken installments, arcade versions of the first three games are included as a mind-blowing bonus. You don't have to do anything to play them aside from picking "arcade history" at the menu. As this series has always been the leader in graphics, it's funny to see just how primitive Tekken 2 looks today. That's not to say it looks bad, it's just that many will remember salivating over the "high" polygon count. It still plays like a champ, mind you. These inclusions alone will make Tekken 5 worth your money. As infomercials everywhere say, however: But wait, there's more!

Story mode isn't going to knock you out like a kick to the head, but it's the only way to earn new characters. The boss will do plenty of Koing, though -- literally. He's a tad on the cheap side, able to take off half your life with one blow, but isn't totally unbeatable. The ending movie you get as a reward is well worth the effort.

Arcade mode takes a page from Virtua Fighter 4: Evolution -- the best page of that title. You start as a beginner, and work your way up the rankings. After each victory, you earn some cash and can choose your next opponent. Instead of just going on a difficulty ramp like most fighters, these guys may be rated higher or lower than you. Want to choose another character? Sorry, but you have to start back at beginner with them -- which is actually a good way to master characters for multiplayer bouts.

"Devil Within" is Tekken 5's answer to Tekken Force mode -- the forgettable side-scrolling brawler included in Tekken 3. Minute amounts of platforming and puzzle-solving join straight-up fist-flinging as Jin Kazama battles hordes of cyborgs and other adversaries. He can block, lock-on, double-jump, and even morph into devil form. You're not likely to play more than a few hours of it, but at least Devil Within came free -- unlike the recently released Death By Degrees, starring Nina Williams.

Rounding out this fighting fan's wishlist fulfilled is the ability to customize every costume for every character. Money earned in several modes can buy you a wearable championship belt for Marduk, or horns for King's mask. Colors can also be swapped, so you can have Lee wear a sea-green tuxedo. Again, this is a great little extra that many gamers will sink some time into.

What more can you want in a fighter? Some may say online, but lag-heavy battles are still a problem in beat 'em ups. Sure, a mode like Soul Calibur II's Weapon Master Mode would be neat, but it wouldn't work in the context of Tekken. The only missing component is a real-time tag mechanic like Tekken Tag Tournament; but realistically, you'll be having so much fun with all the other modes, you won't miss it for long.

What Tekken 5 does give is nothing short of the best fighting ever seen on the PlayStation 2. Hours will melt away like ice cubes in coffee -- whether you're playing solo or with a few buds. Nothing is prettier, nothing plays as deeply, and nothing is so chock-full of value with additional material. The new characters rock, the levels are compelling, and Namco even included a classic to play while it loads. It's night and day when compared to the unambitious fourth installment. If you've ever enjoyed a fighting game, you owe it to yourself to get Tekken 5 right now.