You'll 'roar' about this 'bloody' good time

Bloody Roar\nRating: T for Teen\nBy: Activision\nFor: Gamecube\nNintendo players finally have a solid fighting game to chew on. "Bloody Roar: Primal Fury" offers brutal 3-D fighting with a unique twist -- every character can transform into an animal alter ego. Although it might sound a bit hokey, these transformations turn an otherwise average brawler into a bloody good time. \nEssentially, the game is a revamped version of "Bloody Roar 3" on Playstation 2. The Gamecube version sports two new characters, new arenas, gameplay tweaks and more modes of play. While these changes are not enough to warrant another purchase by someone with the PS2 game, it is nice to see the developer utilizing the power of Gamecube.\nThe cool characters are where the game moves to the head of the fighting pack. While the human counterparts are mostly fighting-game clichés, the animal transformations are what make this game memorable. While the conventional predators such as lions, tigers and wolves are fun, the weirder animals are even cooler. Laying the smackdown with a giant rabbit, mole or penguin is hilarious.\nThese dual characters allow the fighting system to have a great deal of depth. You can only stay in beast form for limited time, so you have to capitalize on those moments and balance your fighting style for when you are in weaker human form. The control style is easy to pick up, but mastering the two fighting styles takes some time. \nThe detail in the characters is impressive and the fight animation is fluid. The lighting effects are amazing, from the subtle flickering of a temple flame to the burning neon of the flashier attacks. The anime style of the prologue and character endings is by far the best looking part of the game. Unfortunately these scenes will mean little to most players. The plot is paper thin, so much so that I won't bother attempting to explain it. Luckily you can skip these pointless scenes and jump straight into busting heads. The music is standard guitar rock and is neither spectacular nor annoying.\nBeing the only 3-D fighting game on Gamecube, "Bloody Roar" is the pick of the litter by default. But brutal action and fun characters make this game a "must own" for any fighting fan.\n

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