Has Capcom perfected the fighting-game input menu? Are there no other command options for a fighting game? Sitting down to play Battle Fantasia for the first time, without looking at the command list, I played all the way through to the final boss without losing a round. I chose Urs, the default heroic lead male (a young boy in armor with a steam-powered chainsaw), and like most fighting game fans, I tried a fireball motion. Urs threw a fireball. I tried a dragon punch. Yep, that worked, too. A hurricane kick made Urs dash across the screen in a familiar arc, and then a double fireball motion unleashed Urs' super move. Urs' back-heavy-kick move throws the opponent across the screen, setting them up for a juggled ... err, chainsaw dragon punch. Yeah, I played Battle Fantasia when it was called Street Fighter III, parries included.
Still, a re-skinned, fantasy Street Fighter game ain't a bad thing. The game has a charming medieval setting, and tips its hat toward classic role-playing games by including HP values for each player, as well as a string of damage numbers when attacks connect. This gives the game a more technical feel, as you can calculate which moves to engage by looking at the remaining HP for your opponent. The character list reads like a slightly dated cosplay catalogue of the last five years, and includes everything that's been popular since 2001: a pirate, cat-girl, Gothic Lolita wand waver, and a gunslinger that shouts "TEXAS!!" during his attacks. If the online play is lag-less, there's no reason a fighting game fan wouldn't enjoy this sharp, playful title. The Guilty Gear devs know what they're doing.
score 8.0 out of ten
verdict Fun, but slow. A bright and engaging VS game that you already know how to beat!
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