Deadly Arts

"Be happy I reviewed this so you don't have to waste your money."

Throughout all the video game giants such as Capcom, Namco, and Squaresoft there are always a few games that slip through the cracks and lack the quality set by the companies other games. It may be simply because they are not priority or because the company lacks experience in making a game of a certain genre. Appar- ently this happened with Konami. When Konami comes to mind, first you think Castlevania, then you think Metal Gear Solid, and for those who have played it, you think Deadly Arts unforunately it's not because of fond memories of gameplay and anything else like that, it is because this is one of the games that Konami let slip through the cracks. I got excited when this game was announced a few years back and got disappointed when the game was delayed. I was drawn in by it's create-acharacter mode. However Deadly Arts was one big let down.

-GAMEPLAY-

This is supposed to be a game based more on a realistic fight rather then a fantasy fight. This doesn't do much for the boring slow gameplay found within this cart. Enemies seem able to cheat and can pull of incredibly hard to do moves with ease and seem to move faster then your character. Spcial moves are bland and hard to pull off. Then there is the create-a-character mode. Don't expect much from it you choose from a stock of about four characters essentially then you select their hair and fac and a few othe things and thats about it not much depth. THen to "customize" your character you fight the other characters in the game to learn their moves and then mix and match them. But to learn them you have to play for hours at a time. All in All this is a boring play experience but hardcore fighting fans might like it.

-GRAPHICS-

If this game had been released on time then maybe it would of stood a chance in the graphics department but with todays standards the graphics are sub-parr. However compared to other Nintendo 64 fighting games then the graphics are average. The animation is choppy and the backrounds are small and either boring or too dark.The character designs are bland and uninspired and most of the cha- racters look like each other.

-SOUND-

For the most part the sound does the trick, however you find that you don't notice it much at all. The music is about on the same level as most average N64 games. There is not really much to say about it except that it is nothing special at all.

-CONTROL-

The control is dead on and responsive but it is ruined by the fact that your character pulls things off so slowly that control doesn't do you any good. Pulling off moves is too hard and not worth the trouble it is in other games.

-FINAL THOUGHTs-

Like I said before this game was a big let down, it lacks polish and simply can't compete with other games of the same genre. My best advice to most people is to avoid this game and get some other one unless you are a diehard fan of the genre and even then this game might be let down still. Lets just hope that Konami can do better with ny other fighting games.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99