Gamers know what to expect when it comes to fighting games - special moves, overtly sexualized characters, and fast paced combat are par for the genre. But what makes a fighter truly memorable are its characters. If I throw out the names Sub-Zero, Chun-Li and Jigglypuff you know what franchises I’m referring to because they’re hard to forget. In fact you’re probably picturing them in your head right now (please put Chun-Li’s top back on, perv).
While its not likely that "Fate/unlimited codes" is a game familiar to American audiences, its commitment to building the backstory of individual characters, in addition to all the other components we’ve come to expect from a solid fighter, are what make this new game stand out.
Released as a PSP only title, Fate/unlimited codes follows the journey of 7 Masters and 7 Servants, all vying for the highly coveted, wish giving Holy Grail. In order to capture the cup, gamers must fight their way through a series of weapons-based, one on one battles. Kind of like the NHL playoffs, but without the mullets and missing teeth.
Combat in F/UC is a breeze to pick up, and with three different modes for gamers to learn from (Practice, Mission, and Tutorial), you can tell developer Cavia wants this to be a fighter anyone can master. Complimenting the controls are the visually stunning character models and animations. The action is swift, dynamic, and incredibly detailed; the game looks so good I would often forget that I was playing on my small PSP screen. And for those of you who like your badass chicks curvy, you’ll see more bounce in this game than in a bowl of Jell-o.
But what truly makes Fate/unlimited codes unique is its attention to its characters, not just in their appearance or fighting style but also in the development of their individual journeys. Gamers are forced to do a lot of reading since the spoken dialogue is all in Japanese, yet the story of each character’s motivation for pursuing the Holy Grail shines through and gives players a reason to root for or against certain fighters.
Its strong reliance on its source material, the visual novel “Fate/stay night”, gives Fate/UC its heart. Not only are characters surprisingly well developed but the sometimes awkwardly translated Japanese to English text also give the game a sense of humor.
Packed full of great content (more than 250 missions, unlockable illustrations, movies, and character models) and supporting local wireless play, this is game that belongs on your PSP. Fate/unlimited codes may not be a household name yet, but just give it some time.
Pros: Tons of content, great character development, fun to play
Cons: Contains characters that only a Japanese gamer would have ever heard of
GamePro Score: 4.5
The Info: Publisher: Capcom, Players: 1-2, Price: $29.99, ESRB: T, Format: PSP
