For those of us that can remember the hazy transition from 2D games to the first generation of 3D games, Battle Arena Toshinden is the game for you. Having been the first 3D fighting game to use weapons, this game was the pioneer that paved the way for later well loved fighting games such as the Soul Edge/Calibur series. It allowed for an early, and very complex system to move back, forwards and even to the sides in combat that make the game play alone exceptionally enjoyable.
Enjoyable enough that this first installment to the Battle Arena Toshinden series was used not only on the PSX but the Sega Saturn and the PC as well.
The game revolves around eight different fighters that are invited to participate in an underground tournament. Eiji Shinjo, a young swordsman who enters the tournament and hopes to find his older brother and teacher Sho. Kayin, an American swordsman and friend of Eiji who desires to assist his friend in finding their childhood instructor Sho. Duke B. Rambert, a French nobleman who wishes to prove that his skills exceed that of his rival Shinjo. The assassin, Mondo enters the tournament in an attempt to kill Shinjo. The Chinese Magician known as Fo Fai enters the competition for his
own blood thirsty reasons. The young Turkish girl Ellis enters the contest to test her deadly mastery of Twin Daggers against other fighters. The Russian vixen Sofia, whose mastery of the whip makes her an elegant agent of death. The American Rungo Iron, who desires to wrest his friend free of the Organization hosting this event. Each of these fighters has their own personal fighting style that makes each new stage all the more challenging and rewarding.
As an extra added feature to all of the features mentioned above this game offers a few golden nuggets to the package. Like some of the best fighting games of all time, Battle Arena Toshinden sneaks in a cameo fight by a secret boss. Searching for which characters can interact with this hidden boss combined with all of the detailed endings of the various characters gives this game serious replay value. All of these features having been woven intricately into overlapping stories makes this game one of my personal favorites of all time.
So if you are feeling a bit nostalgic, have the urge to bludgeon someone with a large club or just looking for a good time then this blast from the past is the game for you!
