Yu Yu Hakusho: Dark Tournament

"I would say this is mostly if not only for fans of the show."

I had heard some pretty terrible things about this game so I thought it would be WAY worse than what it was. Which is why I first rented it to see how it was. And it is actually pretty good. I was pleasantly surprised. Many people complained about the lag time after mashing buttons. In training mode, you almost can't even tell there is a problem. But once you actually start fighting in Arcade or Dark Tournament mode, believe me you can tell. It isn't as responsive as it should be. Well, let's go deeper into this review shall we?

Gameplay: 7 out of 10

The reason I gave it this score is because it is fun, although it is flawed. Be prepared to be highly annoyed, no matter how skilled you might be in other fighting games. I catch on to games pretty quick, and I found my smashed face handed to me time and time again. I was really ready to throw the PS2 out the window. This game is more challenging than it should be due to the unresponsive controls. It isn't just crazy unresponsive, but it is just enough to get on your nerves.

If you try to do a combo or punch and you miss or your opponent blocks, there is such a lag that it is almost certain you will get hit. Rather destroyed in this game though....as some combos literally drain your entire energy bar. Yes, some characters can do ONE combo and you are either dead or near death. This game threw "balanced" fighters out the window. I found myself returning to the move list and training time and time again to see which combos and moves worked the best. I rarely ever go to "cheesing" to win, but in this you almost have no choice. Once you find a move or combo that is unbeatable, you basically have won the match. It doesn't matter about skill level, so anyone looking for an incredibly deep game won't find it here. But if you are a fan of the show, just try it out.

Graphics: 9 out of 10

The characters are cel shaded and pretty much look like their anime counterparts. They might look less detailed somewhat, but nothing big. I was impressed. From the spiritual energy to the breaking backgrounds, this game does a good job. It is also animated very well. Moves such as Dragon of the Darkness Flame are just gorgeous to behold.

Replay Value: 10 out of 10

There is ALOT to do in this game. There are so many characters to unlock, and it isn't easy. You will really have to be dedicated to unlock everything in the game VOID of cheat codes. It is your choice. There are also more modes to unlock, such as Tag Battle and there are other mini games. Really good replay value if you have patience with the controls and the game itself.

Well, all in all this is a great game for fans of Yu Yu Hakusho. People that aren't fans might instantly write this off, but it is an okay game. If you are wondering about it, just rent it to see if you like it. Hey, you might just like it.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/25/04