The digital delights of Sony’s scrumptious PlayStation Network service know no bounds. Aside from letting punters compete in online gaming, stream films, browse the Internet and more, its premier attraction rests in the copious supply of downloadable games ripe for the picking. From PSN exclusives to PSOne Classics, minis and plain old add-on content, Sony’s online space is chock full of goodies battling it out for your hard-earned digital dollars.
Welcome back to another installment of Inside PlayStation Network, where every Monday – Friday we’ll pluck a PSN release—be it new or old—and put it in the spotlight for a thorough dissection. Fancy getting a new PSN game but don’t know what one to plump for? Perhaps this feature will help. Didn’t realize that a game was available in your region until now? We’ve got you covered. Or, perhaps you were musing over what those lucky Japanese folk were tucking into over in the Land of the Rising Sun? You can be sure our coverage will extend to those rare regional exclusives as much as those firmly embedded on the public consciousness.
Today, we shine the spotlight on the downloadable PSP brawler, Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection.
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Developer: Namco Bandai
Region(s) available: North America, Europe, Japan
Players: 1-2
For many, Tekken 5 was responsible for reinvigorating the series following the experimental yet ultimately lacklustre fourth instalment, and is unanimously viewed as a triumphant return to form for the brand. Dark Resurrection builds upon the main game’s core template, offering extra characters, fresh FMV endings, all-new moves and introduces online gaming for the first time in Tekken history. Starting life as an arcade update, DR eventually make the transition to PSP and PS3.
The PSP version remains one of the portable’s most celebrated beat ’em ups, running at a blistering 60fps as well as offering ad-hoc functionality without the need to own more than one copy of the game. New to DR is the inclusion of Tekken Dojo, where gamers can square up against other player’s ghost data download online. A Gold Rush mode is also up for grabs, where you battle opponents for cash to spend on various items for customising your combatants. In addition, DR also chucks in fresh updates of the popular mini-games Tekken Bowl and Command Attack.
In terms of new additions to the roster, DR offers three fresh faces to get to grips with: posh bird Lili, silent but deadly Sergei and masked man Armor King II. The latter should be familiar to Tekken aficionados’ as the successor to the original Armor King who featured in Tekken 1, 2 and Tag Tournament. The trio also come packaged with their own unique intro montage and FMV ending sequence – Armor King II’s is particularly amusing. Meanwhile, the game also chucks in a couple of new stages to batter your opponents in, as well as offering up new audio to digest.
As for the rest, it’s pretty much your bread-and-butter Tekken brawl fest. Fighters boast a plethora of special attacks and techniques, ranging from rudimentary combos to more advanced tactics such as throw escapes, ten-hit combos and chickens. For the hardcore players juggling is pretty much instrumental to winning a bout, and, while you’re unable to bounce your opponent off the ground like Tekken 6, remains just a delicate and rewarding process as it’s always been.
That’s your lot for this week. Join us again on Monday as we once again go gallivanting around Inside PlayStation Network.