Tekken 5 (PlayStation 2)

Light on story, the beauty of TEKKEN 5 -- a head-to-head battle game -- is the range of choices available. In the basic story mode, players pick from 17 characters (almost all holdovers from past Tekken games) and battle their way through 10 random competitors. Other modes include time challenge, survivor mode, and team battle, which vary primarily in how players are rated or advance.

In Devil Within mode, players follow Jin, a warrior trying to find his long-lost mother, who has been kidnapped and is being held in a chemical lab complex. This mode resembles many adventure games on the market and may appeal to players looking for more of a story.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the game is its inclusion of the arcade versions of the first three editions of Tekken. This feature allows series novices to get acquainted with the characters and stories woven throughout all the games and become familiar with the basic controls. The game's only real drawback is the difficulty of the many required moves. Mastering the controls can be cumbersome, confusing, and tiresome.

In the end, colorful fighting environments, realistic gameplay, and superior graphics make it all worth it. From the speed of attacks to the overall creativity of the moves at a player's disposal, Tekken 5 has taken battle games to a new level.