Now that Gekido has been released, players will have plenty of gameplay modes to meddle with for frantic multi-player action since this game has so many modes of play which are different enough to be their own game respectively (and no, this is not an advertising plug nor am I benefiting from mentioning it).
Urban Fighters- this is the Double Dragon mode where the player or players (up to 2) attempt to defeat their opposition by progressing throughout the city and battling a diverse assortment of opposing characters. By completing this mode with every character, additional modes and characters are unlocked with each successful completion of the mode.
Arena Battle- this mode allows up to four player to battle each other in a squared and isolated arena with the the last player standing being the winner (should the number of round be claimed as well). Human players can compete against three other human players or CPU fighters (plus a combination of both). Four stages are initially available, however 5 more can be unlocked.
Shadow Fighter (locked)- this mode mirrors the Street Fighter format in the sense that the selected player participates in one-on-one fights (mostly) with different characters from the playable cast and the some of the bosses as well.
Survival (locked)- pretty much the standard in many a fighting game of recent release. A single player battles opponents similar to the Shadow Fighter mode though only a small portion of health is offered with each successful round of completion. Once the players energy bar is depleted, the game is over.
Team Battle (locked)- human players can brawl in teams. Match ups can vary with the likes of one-on-two, two-on-two, or even one-on-three if anyone is feeling fortunate enough to compete!
Street Gangs Battle (locked)- this unique mode allows two players to fight-it-out with each player having his/her own team of CPU controlled combatants (two in number each) to assist them! During this mode, six characters are on-screen simultaneously without slowdown and with numerous items available for player use. Each player has 20 teams at his/her disposal, though if the human players character is defeated, the opposing team instantly loses. The stages in this mode (three in all) are actually of the Urban Fighters mode, however they are shortened, but still are quite the stretch of battle grounds.
In every mode, there are plenty of weapons to be used and items to obtain which appear for a number of time before disappearing. Some the weapons even have multiple uses, however not all character can use all of the weapons available. Most of the weapons explode or disintegrate upon contact when used in as projectile, however, others will simply disappear after its use can no longer be noted. Also note that the enemies can pick up these weapons and knows EXACTLY how to use them! Not only can the standard opponent obtain and use these weapons, but the bosses of Gekido can use them as well and will indeed take advantage of the weapons should the player not be aggressive in taking them! There are more weapons available in Gekido, however these are just a few of the more popular ones (that I have noticed). The weapons include almost every item in the background such as:
Pipes- provides a bit of distance for attacking.
Rifles- up to five shots can be fired.
Flame thrower- three bursts of flame toasts the opposition.
Hand gun- seven shots can hit distant enemies with rapidity.
Machineguns- a stream of bullets are releases. Very effective.
Hand Bomb- this weapon explodes on contact when thrown.
Dynamite- features a timed explosion.
Knife- minimal reach, but can be carried with some other weapons.
Monitors- CPU of destruction... when thrown.
Vehicles- only strong characters can use these as weapons.
Table- for strong character use only.
Soda Vendors- not just for getting soda any more.
Boxes- Can be kicked or tossed.
Oil Drums- can be kicked or tossed as well.
Other fighters- can even be picked up and tossed as a weapon! Now that is interactivity!
In addition to the weapons, there are many other power ups to be claimed for providing assistance to player or players during their journey. Items are only visible for a short period of time before disappearing and should be obtained before this occurs. In all other mode excluding the Urban Fighters mode, the items reappear in a timely fashion (as does the weapons). The power ups exists as:
Medi kit- recovers half the players energy.
Chicken- recovers a quarter of the players energy.
Sandwich- recovers 1/8 of the players energy.
Gold Bar- worth 10,000 points.
Money- worth 2,000 points.
Ammo- recovers 5 bullets for Hand guns and Flamethrowers.
Clock- adds 20 seconds to the time.
Lights- comes in three colors. Blue gives the player a single rage ability, the Yellow provides 2 rage abilities, and the Red allows all three abilities to be earned when obtained.
Options in Gekido are mainly for customizing the control via control configurations, number of arena time in Arena Mode, toggling of the Vibration feature and visible blood (on/off), amount of time in Arena mode (the time in the Urban Fighters mode cannot be altered though) and sound options for adjusting the volume for both the sound effects and music.
Initially, only Travis, Michelle, Ushi, and Tetsuo are immediately playable. However, after completing the game with these characters, more can be unlocked for the Urban Fighter mode. Other playable characters can be released as well for the Arena Battle mode such as a few of the boss characters... even the demon Akujin can be used once unlocked!
The visuals of Gekido are simply amazing! Every level has a vast array of animated elements included to create an environment which seems life-like with oodles of animation and plenty of detailed touch ups that support the action greatly! It is surprising to know how much animation has been kept intact without the compromise of speed or submission to slowdown! Even each character has an impressive amount of detail, though seen in close view, some characters appear to suffer from clipping issues during the in-game sequences. The only FMV notable is during the introduction sequence, but other than that, there is no other FMV in Gekido. Rather, in-game episodes present each level and introduces every boss character... similar to Metal Gear Solid and Soul Reaver.
Every playable character has four different outfits or visual appearances which vary according to the selected character. For instance, Ushi (one of the stronger characters and among the list of the initial 4 heroes in Gekido) has a secondary appearance which closely resembles Cody from Street Fighter Alpha 3, complete with chained wrists and ankles, striped jail outfit, and muscular physique. Another heroic character named Tetsuo who specializes in martial arts, has an alternative appearance which mirrors Laws "Bruce Li" outfit in Tekken 3. Most of the alternative looks for each character are palette swaps, however there are exceptions.
Levels are laced with the same graphical tidbits and attention to detail... well, even more in fact! Every locale has plenty of fine detail to notice and even animated elements to boot (though a bit small in size for the Urban Fighters mode, however the number of opposition and the challenge they provide makes them seem longer! In one of the enclosed arenas (in the Arena Battle mode) which resembles a backyard of sorts to an ancient Chinese housing structure, leaves gently float off into the air as players franticly dash about, and each character rustles their own leaves! Another level which appears to be a portion of a parking lot hidden within a busy city, people can be seen in the distance... in motion... and while the battle commences! The camera shifts constantly to get the best angles of each battle similar to Gauntlet Legends (see my review on Gauntlet Legends for further details) and zooms close when the combatants are within close proximity. This gives the action a more exciting flare, and it get even more exciting while the battles ensue and enhancements (or power ups) are used!
Visual effects are standard here, but are far from standard in accordance to brilliance and vibrancy! Bright explosions complete with lingering smoke, glowing fists (upon powering up or performing certain special moves) and vibrant highlights on weapons when not in use (for distinction) are just a few of the many effects that grace the television screen! In heated battles and when the maximum power is used by every character, the screen emits a glare reminiscent of the morning sun... well maybe not THAT much, but it does illuminate the television screen very well! Certain levels benefit from reflections on the floor and in puddles of water as well as small effect such as steam, falling debris, and even shifting grounds! When the boss character Mokushi (a telekinetic of sorts) appears, a bending effect takes place where the room actually twists while the battle ensues! A unique shadow effect is present as well and while not accurate to actual shadow casting, is clever in its accuracy of motioning.
During the loading sequences, the player is treated to the artwork of Gekido which consists of the characters of game... even some of the non-playable ones! For the short time that I have been playing Gekido (but this game DEFINITELY IS NOT A SHORT GAME), I have noticed new artwork with each rebooting of the Playstation! A gallery mode would have been a welcome addition to view some of the fantastic works of art minus the short period of time to view them during the loading screens (but do not get me wrong, the short loading time is good). With so many images noticeable, one would assume that they all were taken from an Anime series!
Picture this if you will... four characters are battling while each of them are giving off a vibrant glow upon performing special moves. Simultaneously, in the distance... animated figures are in motion, but can barely be detected as the camera constantly sways to make the action even more intense! The one of the players powers up and the camera zooms in for a close viewing of this surge of power energizes the character. Now this radiant character performs a devastating combo which sends two of the characters airborne... one falling to the ground, and the other lands upon the hood of a car which causes the vehicle to explode with only a damaged husk of a car remaining since the exterior now resembles that of a used vechicle. The unfallen character then proceeds to lift the car and tosses it at the powered up character which puts this character out of commission. The character who landed on the hood of the car grabs a machinegun and fires at the other character who hit the pavement. After a rapid array of shots, the match has ended... now time for round two. Such are the scenes of the Arena Battle portion of Gekido, and the other modes of play are just as exciting and enjoying to play as well!
