Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection Online (Page 2 of 2)

The Battle Lobby is where you wait around for games and would-be opponents

The Battle Lobby is where you wait around for games and would-be opponents

Iron Fist Online

Online fighting games have been described by some as impossible. And these folks have a point. "Lag," or the slight delay caused by data transmission over the internet, is a massive problem for all online games. Online shooters like Halo 3 build in complex algorithms that are designed to minimize or hide the effects of lag. And for the most part, these tricks work. But fighting games are a very different breed because they're built upon precision, timing, and speed. Even the best Internet connection is bound to have some lag, which would theoretically make the entire experience an unplayable mess.

Except that the programmers are starting to learn new tricks, and Tekken 5: DR Online is a good example of that technological progress. Yes, the lag is noticeable. No, it's not crippling...if you have a high-speed connection and if you play opponents who are relatively close geographically. If you go into Tekken 5: DR Online expecting perfect, flawless online matches, you'll be hugely disappointed. What you were hoping for simply isn't possible, and won't be for years until fiber-optics connections are the norm. But if you're hoping for a tolerable, enjoyable online fighter, Tekken 5: DR Online absolutely delivers.

The trick is to factor the delay into your attacks. I describe it as "thinking a half-second into the future." That means performing kicks and punches a split-second before you normally would, not unlike the concept of shooting ahead of your target to account for wind and drift. After an hour or so, it becomes surprisingly natural and your brain begins to compensate for the slight delay. Play for long enough on a good enough connection, and you'll begin to forget about the lag altogether. Don't get me wrong: you'll never find a perfect online match in this game (or any online fighter, for that matter). But if you're patient and work the lag into your strategy, you'll find plenty of enjoyable matches. Taking this strategy into account, I was able to pull off elaborate multi-hit juggles on the first or second attempt. It'll change your fighting style, and it's not perfect, but you can adapt.

Community Focused

Another noteworthy feature in Tekken 5: DR Online is its online lobby system. In an attempt to replicate old-school arcade culture, players are drawn into online rooms where they wait their turn to play. This may turn off some impatient fans, but it's there for a reason. If you lose a match, you can take a breather and observe the other matches, searching for holes in your future opponent's strategy (as well as throwing out some trash talk via headset while you wait, if you're so inclined). If you go on a win streak, you'll be playing again and again, upping the stakes and the adrenaline. Want to keep playing? Better keep winning. You'll also earn special "battle points" that are used for ranking purposes and the like.

Also important is the addition of two much-requested modes: Practice and Survival. Practice mode is crucial for mastering the toughest combos and combo throws in the game. Though Tekken 5: DR Online's Practice mode is virtually identical to the version found in the two year-old Tekken 5 on the PS2, it's still one of the best in the business, with tons of configuration options and interactive move lists. Survival mode, essentially a never-ending series of opponents you must beat to continue playing and earning cash, is another welcome addition.

Tekken it to the Streets

As a standalone Blu-ray game retailing at the full $59.99 price point, Tekken 5: DR Online would be a little hard to swallow. But you'll pay only $29.98 for the entire package ($19.99 of that is for Tekken 5: DR) or $9.99 just for the online expansion, which isn't a bad deal at all for a first-rate fighter with solid online support and several new modes.

Be sure to check out Vicious Sid's review of the original Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection!

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