"Finally, an import game worth it's price."

I've grown up on traditional fighting games like Street Fighter II and Killer Instinct for the SNES, but when I played Super Smash Bros. and Super Smash Bros. Melee, I grew to love the new twist on the genre presented by these two games. Recently I learned more information about this game, so I purchased it and I was not disappointed by the hype presented on the internet. This game has battle strategy like any other fighter. It also has a portable, easy-to-learn interface, and even though in Japanese, the game will keep you coming back for more and more action. If you're a hardcore anime fan or love a good fighter/multiplaying game, I suggest you get this game as soon as possible.

Gameplay: 10/10
Well basically, you get to control a 4X5 deck, where you can place either a help koma (1 Square), support koma (2-3 Squares), or a Battle Koma (4-7 Squares). Each help koma increases a battle character stat; a support koma unleashes a negative status effect to an opponent, an attack, or one of your stats. Your battle characters have a weak attack, strong attack, and a special attack. There is also a bar that controls the usage of your special attack, or usage of a help or support character, which is located in the upper left of the top screen, underneath the health bar. Multiple characters from a cornucopia of anime are included, which include well known characters like Goku from DBZ and Naruto from Naruto. You control the selection of the characters through the touch screen and by the placement of your cards you can unleash tag attacks and other combos. Also, you can knock your character off the arena, by merely breaking a part of the corners of the stage and knocking your opponent through it. You unlock koma through the adventure mode and you can use the FAQ on the site to decipher the language. The game is even better if you have friends with a copy, much like any other fighter.

Sound: 8/10
The songs seem catchy at first, but the themes do get quite redundant. Maybe if there was more high-tempo music, I'd enjoy it a bit more, but the music for the most part is solid and the battle sounds are excellent to hear.

Graphics: 10/10
I've always had a fascination with 2-d sprites. This game does not disappoint. The battle animation is flawless for the normal attacks and special attacks. The backgrounds hail from virtually all the anime that are included, and there is a nostalgic feel in my favorite stage, the manga page. I couldn't ask for anything more, the graphics are awesome.

Lasting Appeal: 10/10
This game never gets old. Once you're done unlocking everything through the normal adventure mode, you can continue playing against the computer in various difficulties. If anyone you know has this game then the replay value becomes endless because there is an unlimited amount of innovation you could include in your battle strategy through your deck and the way you actually battle.

Final Word:
This game is a must have for any owner of a DS. Even though it is at a pricy $50.00, you can usually find it at your local import store like Fry's, or through the internet at liksang.com or yes-asia.com. The price is definitely worth the quality of the game.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/20/06