Criticom

Criticom copies Toshinden and VF, but slow gameplay hampers this otherwise-mature fighting game.

VF Too?

Criticom is a slow but enjoyable fighter. It's a standard two-out-of-three fighting bout with interesting characters (six of the eight fighters are female) and flamboyant moves. As in VF, you win if the opponent falls outside the fighting ring, and most characters have simple combos and a pounce move to use when an opponent falls.

To make things tougher, the special moves don't come easily. You receive more of these lethal moves when you advance in rank. But you can move up only twice, and each time you must beat the game and take on a mirror image of yourself! You'll need those specials, too, because the fighters become harder with every battle.

Criticom Condition

Criticom's graphics are similar to Toshinen's,with polygon fight gorgeous backgrounds? The fighters look vicious, but graphical glitches and sluggish moves (especially throws) lessen the impact.

The good sounds deliver solid smacks and punches, but the voices make Minnie Mouse seund like a bull. The game's music is a plus, since you need to concentrate on the action.

Criticorrns a great game for players who have mastered VF 2 or Toshinden. Until sequels of those games come out, this is a nice snack. But it definitely leaves you wanting more.

Get ready for one of the coolest fighting game experiences in a long time. Best known for the FMV scenes in the Sega CD version of Eternal Champions, developer Kronos has taken its SGI experience and incorporated it into a fighting game. The graphics are expected to look "at least" as good as Virtua Fighter 2. (Kronos also generates the breathtaking SGI backgrounds in the animated Spider-Man TV series.) These beautiful shots should tide you over until we get some more exclusive info on what's sure to be a huge hit.

Vic Tokai has a fighting game for the PlayStation in the works. It's called Criticom. and it can best be described as Toshinden in space. Criticom is still early, but it shows promise.

The game engine bears a strong resemblance to Toshinden. as the characters fight in real 3-D space. There is a button that allows you to rotate around your opponent, lending some strategy to the action. Each fighting arena is circular, and it is possible to be knocked off of the edges.

The combat is not set up in rounds. Instead, each fighter has two life bars, with the victor being the one whose strength outlasts his foe's.

There are eight characters in all offering a wide selection of fighters that have unique abilities. They range from a killer robot to an heir to the emperor's throne. You'll get a feeling for each fighter as the game progresses. Criticom features one innovation that might prove popular. As the game progresses, many fighters evolve, gaining new weapons and attacks. When this happens, they even look different. One character, for example, gains cybernetics that extend his reach. This is one of the most original elements Criticom possesses. You can use your upgraded fighter in the Two-player Mode if you remember to write down the correct passwords.

The bulk of the special attacks are done by pressing multiple buttons at once, or by rotating the control pad a la Street Fighter II.

The best element of Criticom has to be the rich story. The plot is detailed, and it provides a cool backdrop for the continuous fighting. When you keep the character's history in mind, it sorts of gets you attached to a specific fighter. To get you totally into the game, CG cinemas that show what is happening in vivid detail.

As well, Vic Tokai has put an unbelievable amount of detail in the backgrounds and characters. Each area is themed to match your opponent. The graphics are crystal clear, but for some reason it seems like the characters are just pasted onto the screen. The multiple views remedy this flaw, however.

Criticom is still early, so it's not the best time to critique the gameplay. As it is, it plays relatively similar to Toshinden. The two, engines are very close. The Al of the computer isn't finished, as the enemy seems incompetent at some times and totally merciless at others. Right now, the best bet is to trick the enemy into walking off the edge of the screen. It doesn't matter how much life he has, he'll die.

So far, Criticom looks good. Anyone who enjoys fighting games might want to pick it up. A one-player game seems a little dull, but with two, it can be a lot of fun. The graphics are good, and the gameplay looks promising. This might be a good addition to your library.