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Last Bronx is the latest 3D fighter put out by Sega. Developed by AM3, how does the game stand up to AM2's long line of venerable fighters? Let's have a look, shall we?

First off, the graphics are just gorgeous! All the characters are wonderfully detailed and the animations are superb. And all of it in 60 fps high resolution... oh yeah, it doesn't get any better then this! The backgrounds are amazing. I can see why some early reports thought that the backgrounds were true 3D... they are so well programmed it is hard to believe they are just 2D! There is some screen flicker at times... but only with some of the player poses at the end of a match... very odd. There is also an occasional slow down in the frame rate, but it is very rare and does not affect the gameplay. All in all, these are some of the best graphics seen in any Saturn game.

Unlike VF2, gameplay is fast and frantic. Also, the addition of weapons really makes this game stand out from other Saturn fighters. I love to play as Nagi, slicing up my opponents with vicious sai attacks, though nothing beats tripping up your enemy with your long stick (as Tommy) and then smashing them repeatedly in the face with it! This game gets brutal... I just love it! There are eight characters to choose from, all with different weapons, and you also get to play as the ending boss after you beat the game.

Last Bronx has been criticized for being nothing more then a button masher with weak AI. And yes, the AI in normal mode is fairly easy to beat and does lend itself to button mashing, especially when the action moves so fast. Let me assure you, though, that the AI in Hard and Arcade modes is a lot tougher to beat. Plus, this is not meant to be a VF2 clone. It is simply more of a fast and furious "arcade" type of fighter, and it is really not fair to compare it to VF2.

But wait! There is more to this game then that. After you beat the game with all the characters, you get new options... including 3 new difficulty levels. These include Defense, Berserk, and Judo modes. You really begin to see the beauty of this game when you try these various difficulty settings. In defense, you opponent blocks just about anything you throw at them, making it very hard for you to connect. It really forces you to try different combinations and learn the subtleties of ALL the moves... not only to be able to connect, but to win a match! Judo mode seems to increase the amount of throws and special moves that your opponent "throws" at you (pun intended) ;-). I don't think I have to explain the Berserk difficulty setting to you. Needless to say, simple button mashing won't get you very far in these settings.

Another complaint has been the brutal combos that can drain your life bar in a matter of seconds. I don't have a problem with this myself. If I got hit in the head repeatedly with nun-chucks, I'm sure I would be kissing the ground in no time flat! It is simply a matter of learning to use that block button, or be prepared to get sent to the hospital. But for those that don't like this "realistic" take in their fighting games, there is a simple solution. Just increase your life bar in the options menu! Now that wasn't so hard to do... was it?

Speaking of options, it is incredible how many modes of play and options are available in Last Bronx. You get Arcade Mode, VS Mode, Saturn Mode, Survival Mode, Time Attack Mode, Watch Mode, Movies and Portraits, Aerial Combo Practice Mode, and Free Practice Mode. The practice modes are a great addition that I wish all fighting games had. One nice feature in Free Practice is that it shows exactly what buttons and d-pad settings you are actually pushing at the bottom of the screen. Great for finding out exactly why a particular special move or combo won't work for you!

The controller is set up just like VF2. This is nice since it makes it easy to jump right into the game. But you will quickly find out that all the moves in Last Bronx are completely different then VF2, with more emphasis on deadly combos. Control, as expected in a Sega fighter, is spot on. Plus I have found it easier to pull off special moves and throws then in the VF games. That I don't mind at all!

Sound effects are realistic and really help to convey the brutality of the attacks. The music tracks are classic Sega fighter fare. While nothing to write home about, they are all decent tunes that compliment the game well.

Overall, Last Bronx is a great addition to the Saturn library and another fine Sega fighter. While it's brutal and frantic gameplay can certainly lend it to button smashing, it can be a much deeper game if you take the time to explore it. And don't forget two player mode... it is a blast! Heather (my 11 year old daughter) and I play all the time. She really likes this game, more so then VF2. She is quite good at it too. This is the second Saturn game that she beats me regularly at (the first being Manx TT)! Either I'm losing my touch, or she is getting a lot better at gaming in general... which doesn't bode well for me! I have to say with it's fast moves and realistic weapons, I enjoy Last Bronx's two player mode even more then VF2! Now that's saying something.

Graphics: 9.5
Gameplay: 9.0
Control: 9.5
Sound: 8.5
Replay Value: 9.0
Overall: 9.0