Summary:
The third installment in the series only shows how Toshinden is outclassed both graphically and gameply-wise by rival fighting games.
The Review:
For those who are just joining us, the original Toshinden, a 3D fighter featuring swords and fire balls, was key to the early success of the Playstation. Many would claim that this popularity had more to do with dazzling draphics than gameplay, which is probably true, considering all the buzz and hype that accompanies the launch of a new system. However, this new series didn't evolve much while the competition has been upping the stakes in all departments. It would seem the only thing going for Toshinden 3 is the name recognition.
Starting off with a characteristically unremarkable intro, things don't bode too well on the visual side for Battle Arena Toshinden 3. As for the game itself, the programmers have opted for the same visual approach as in part 2. There is an emphasis on lighting effects, but at the expanse of detial and resolution, it seems. The 3D backgrounds have also taken a hit. In fact, they're practically non-existent! Just like Toshinden 2, part 3 looks somewhat inferior to the original. However, one thing has remained the same throughout the seires: the animation. The characters move in a very sloppy and choppy manner. There is perhaps a redeeming feature, though. You can change the frame rate from the standard 30 to 60 fps. Although the 60-fps mode removes all the 3D backgrounds (or how little there were) and a lot of details from the characters, the animation looks a bit more convincing. Whatever the frame rate is, though, the whole look of game is subpar in comparison to most 3D fighters on Playstation.
As a sequel, you can expect a bunch of new moves on top of the old ones. Unfortunately, they are too casy to pull off, which is almost sacrilegious with fighting games. On top of that, there is an annoying delay between pressing buttons and seeing the moves on screen. All of this gives an uncomfortable feel to the game. On a more positive note, closed-in arenas in a la Fighting Vipers have replaced the ring-outs of previous Toshindens. However, unlike Fighting Vipers, there aren't any wall-utlizing moves and attacks to really add a new strategic element. The walls in Toshinden 3 are just.... There!
Following a trend in many fighting games of today, the designers have thought that it would be wise to include more characters than would be needed. In fact, as it is so often the case, this is just a gimmick. Half of the characters in the game are simply clones of the other half. They might look slightly different but they share the same moves. To me, it would be more accurate to see it as a different clothing option! It also seems like a missed opportunity. The designers could have worked a bit more instead on the GENUINE characters by adding more moves, technique and better playability.
Other standard features include a team battle mode, a survival mode, and a practice mode, which the latter has an uncanny resemblance to Tekken 2.
The music stays faithful to the series: drab and easily forgettable muzak. There's no special musical arrangements, like for the Yoshimitsu character in Tekken 2 or the entire medieval soundtrack of Soul Blade. Toshinden 3 even manages to throw in a couple of remixed tunes from the original. Moreover, if you feel that a group of sound effects is the last place where you could find originality, you're pretty much right. Nothing has changed. Well, I guess that there are only so many ways to reproduce the clanking of swords and the buzzing of magic.
In conclusion, Battle Arena Toshinden 3 feels rushed and uninspired. It does particully nothing to make the series evolve into something better. With growing criticism that the Playstation is a fertile ground for shovelware, Toshinden 3 doesn't help. Let's just hope the very large shadow of rival and superior fighting games will help this lackluster sequel go unnoticed.
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