Based on the hit anime that has become popular around the world, Inuyasha: Feudal Combat goes above and beyond expectations to deliver an experience as close as possible to the anime experience. Like many other games in the fighter genre, Inuyasha contains two important modes: story mode and versus mode. The story mode, of course, brings you as well as a computer-controlled partner, through the anime's rich story. Basically, many of the battles will be two-on-two, although one-on-one battles are to be expected.
One of the most interesting, as well as deep, features of Inuyasha: Feudal Combat is the relationship system that exists between all of the characters. For example, if I picked Inuyasha and made Sesshoumaru my partner, my group attacks may be significantly weaker than if I were to choose Kagome. Where the relationship system shines, however, is that, as you remain paired with the same partner longer, the bond between the two characters actually becomes stronger and more powerful attacks become possible.
The game has five major moves: weak attack, strong attack, jump, guard, and special attack. As you land hits with your weak and strong attacks, a gauge at the bottom of the screen fills up. When it's full, you get what's called a "Special Level." When you gain a special level, you can use your character's extremely devastating special attack. Each special attack comes straight from the anime, so fans of the show should have no problem whatsoever in identifying what's happening on the screen.
Unlike many other fighting games, Inuyasha: Feudal Combat allows the player to roam around the rather expansive stages freely. In addition to that, many parts of the stages are either destructible, usable, or both. Of course, if you're anything like Inuyasha, running around the stage, avoiding enemy fire is the last thing you want to do-you're going to want to go right up to the enemy and whack him or her around with your gigantic sword.
Unfortunately, some characters, such as Kagome and Sango, don't need to run up and clobber the enemy-they can just use their very, very powerful ranged attacks. Likewise, all of the hand-to-hand fighters have different ranges. For instance, Inuyasha's sword, being really, really big, has a long reach, while Shippou has to get right up close in order to land a punch. These differences in range and reach create a distinct problem in balance. The characters with ranged attacks can just run around and fire away at their opponent, and anyone who tries to get into melee combat against Inuyasha won't stand a chance. Furthermore, the special attacks that the ranged characters use are almost impossible to dodge, whereas the melee special attacks are pretty easy to see coming.
Other than the balance issues of ranged vs. melee, the game was extremely fun to play. With a little bit of polish and some elbow grease, Inuyasha: Feudal Combat could very easily be a game that just about any fan of fighters could like, fans of the anime or not.
Well, where to begin? As far as likes go, I’m a jellyfish with very few. I like to destroy AOL trial disks as soon as I get them, and I really like sniffing those markers that smell like different fruits; however, as far as gaming goes, I’m relatively diverse. But I’m not just going to spill the beans just yet—let’s go over some of what I can’t stand first. I gotta come clean.
I can’t stand horror games, and the only real-time strategy game I’ve ever even come close to enjoying was Starcraft. There’s just a certain something in those two genres that I will never be able to like. I’m also fairly averse to games such as Ninja Gaiden, Devil May Cry, and Tomb Raider—games that usually fall within the “Action” genre. Fighting games might start to get on my nerves after a while, but that’s usually because I’m too clumsy to get the insane combos done in some of the more recent ones. Just give me Mortal Kombat 2 and Street Fighter 2 and I’ll be set for life.
As for genres I do like, I’m completely crazy for RPGs. I own just about every Final Fantasy game released here in America (including the terrible Mystic Quest for the Super Nintendo and Adventures for the Game Boy). I also can’t resist a good multiplayer puzzle game like Bust-A-Move or Tetris Attack, and, even though I look absolutely silly playing it, Dance Dance Revolution is one of my favorite games.
Oh, and I also watch lots and lots of anime.
