Metareview - Tekken: Dark Resurrection
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jul 26th 2006 at 12:25PM }
Your PSP is in need of a resurrection, ain't it? Was that too harsh? 'Kay, maybe just a lil' resuscitation. Uh-huh, admit it, unless you're a raving fanboy, the past four months, in terms of licensed game content, have not been kind to your Sony portable.Naysayers may write off Tekken: Dark Resurrection as another example of a popular PS2 franchise making the jump to PSP -- or worse, declare it 'just a Tekken 5 port.' Forget that. TDR is an enormous accomplishment in the portable fighting genre and more importantly, it's got your PSP's heart beating again.
- GameSpy (90/100) points out the game's most apparent flaw .... "it's that there are online features, but they don't include versus play over the internet."
- Games Radar (90/100) concludes that it's "oceanic depth" that makes this "the single best portable fighting game ever."
- 1UP (80/100) finds that despite a cheap end boss and d-pad issues, "Tekken: Dark Resurrection is one of the easiest games to recommend for the PSP."
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
.ed @ Jul 26th 2006 12:30PM
This game isn't fun at all unless you absolutely LOVE Tekken BEFORE buying it.
To others (and by others i mean general fighting game fans), it won't live up to the hype in those reviews.
I now prefer the Virtua Fighter series, and I used to really (and i mean really) love Tekken, but this game fell flat for me, and i really really wanted to like it.
Tesla @ Jul 26th 2006 12:33PM
Why are there so many fanboys spreading the hate? Just look at ed's blog for an idication of how pro Nintendo he is.
32_Footsteps @ Jul 26th 2006 12:37PM
Actually, reading .ed's comment makes me think he's pro-Sega. I mean, he's praising Virtua Fighter, not Super Smash Bros., as an example of a great fighting game. And last I checked, there were no VF games on any Nintendo system.
Honestly, until they can finally kill off Heihachi once and for all, I don't see any reason I need to get any Tekken game since I already own the third one.
JimmyHACK @ Jul 26th 2006 12:38PM
i have been burned out on fighting games for a long time now.. this game is maybe not as GREAT as some may say, but it definately is a good fighter... and for a handheld its very good.
my ds has its fun lil addictive games. but my psp is also growing in its collection of decent to good games, yet everyone still speaks down on it...
if you like fighters and own psp, id grab this i guess.. it is quite fun
McWeen @ Jul 26th 2006 12:44PM
This IS just a Tekken 5 port. It was a special edition arcade version of Tekken 5 they put on the PSP. That's fine if you are a huge Tekken fan who is willing to rebuy the same game for two more characters.
ProjectGSX @ Jul 26th 2006 12:44PM
Apparently im a raving fanboy. Ive been playing the hell out of my PSP for quite a while now. Currently playing Valkyrie Profile, which is excellent. Spent a while on Juiced as well, which had some great stuff in it. Prior to that was Daxter, which is an excellent platformer. Before that, Syphon Filter - a great stealth shooter. I think James needs to actually play some of the better PSP games.
Jay @ Jul 26th 2006 12:51PM
... So it IS just a port after all? but that's okay because it's an enormous accomplishment?
sorry. I'd call GTA a bigger accomplishment. No thanks on this, too little too late. My PSP was sold 2 months ago and I won't be picking another one up for this.
.ed @ Jul 26th 2006 12:52PM
@ Tesla
Thanks for driving traffic to my opera page, but if all you can do in a comment is try to bring down other people for preferring something other than PSP, doesn't that make you far worse than me?
I honestly had my hands on this for a full week, and tried hard to get into it. But if you don't love Tekken, it's not that great a fighting game.
Tekken is very different from other fighters, it is a game where you can button mash through every challenge the game offers. It has always been that way, even when playing in arcades vs people who thought they knew it all, i would see people show them up by picking a character they never played as before and beating them within a credit.
The fact that I am anticipating Wii (like most people) or reviewed the Opera Browser (because of conenctions) doen't mean all of my comments on gaming are skewed and pro Nintendo, in fact I never said a thing about it.
Stop pidgeon-holing people for preferring other things.
My comment and opinion stand: If you don't already love Tekken, you probably won't love this game. It's not something I think general fighting game enthusiasts would be happy with, even after a week.
I felt those reviews had a lot of hype that is misleading to people who do not love tekken.
Clint @ Jul 26th 2006 12:52PM
I got this yesterday and it's great. It's the best portable fighting game ever. That's my opinion too!
coolashacka @ Jul 26th 2006 12:57PM
ok if we look at the last 2/3 months:
psp: tekken, loco roco, valkyrie profile, field commander, monster hunter freedom
nds: NSMB and......oh wait, that's it then...
Clint @ Jul 26th 2006 12:57PM
That Ed guy's blog is hilarious. Some old guy playing with his DS and soon to be his Wii...He probably doesn't even have a PSP judging from that kiddy blog of his.
Jeff @ Jul 26th 2006 1:10PM
"Some old guy playing with his DS"
25 is "old" to you? What are you, like 11? Show some respect for your elders. Go back to MySpace where you belong.
25 is "young" to some of us here.
Now get the hell off my lawn!
Ubersnuber @ Jul 26th 2006 1:22PM
Hmm..i've never liked handhelds, but seeing this game out..actually pretty interesting to have a Tekken game in my pocket :)
well, if they release 2 more games that appeals to me, ill friggin buy a psp ^_^
Square PSP @ Jul 26th 2006 1:28PM
Clint and Tesla
why do you hate on .ed so bad?
as afr as I can tell, and from memory he usually has pretty insightful comments.
the two of you are just being childish, he defends his opinion with honesty, you two are pathetic for doing what you did.
.ed, I think you're awesome.
SymetriX @ Jul 26th 2006 1:29PM
No online play--what is this 1992 or something?
Mike @ Jul 26th 2006 1:36PM
What the hell is wrong with this web site?
No doubt James carefully choose "4 months" rather than "5 months", because a shitload of stuff came out in March.
But fine, in the last 4 months, according to Gamespot, PSP has 6 games rated 8.0+ and 1 9.0+.
By comparison, DS has one 9.0+ game and ZERO 8.0+.
You'd have to include DS games all the way back to NOVEMBER to equal PSP's April-July lineup.
"But that's Just one site!!!"
OK, lets look at IGN.
April - July
8.0+
PSP: 5
DS: 4
9.0+
PSP: 1
DS: 1
PSP is still head.
(waits for sales figures to prove that consumers always buy the best games)
Martin @ Jul 26th 2006 1:40PM
psp: tekken, loco roco, valkyrie profile, field commander, monster hunter freedom
nds: NSMB and......oh wait, that's it then...
ummm Loco roco hasn't come out yet in the states, Wonder what would happen if I listed all the Japanese released DS games that came out in the past few months., ... you forgot big brain academy, and if your gonna put down loco roco and we don't count released Japanese games.. then lets be fair and put upcoming DS games!!!
Tenchu, Mech Assault, Star Fox, Mario Hoops, Harvest Moon DS, Lego Star Wars II, MegaMan ZX and there is more but I will stop there.
And besides...
Mike @ Jul 26th 2006 1:41PM
RE: SymetriX
Unfortunately, none of Namco's fighting games have online multiplayer. On any system.
Namco seems to believe the quick pace of 1 on 1 fighting games makes it nearly impossible to provide reliable, lag-free gameplay.
Dan @ Jul 26th 2006 1:41PM
The reason reviewers gave this a high score was because one of the few PSP games that successfully ports a PS2 game without sacrificing the controls (gasp!), load times, or features.
Other than that, it's still Tekken. Tekken fans will love this, and people who don't like Tekken won't change their opinions from this game.
don't dis my ds @ Jul 26th 2006 1:45PM
hey you mean people. now I know the PSP has a great library (with bigger longer and more fullfilling games) but look at the DS fall line-up:
Here's the list:
Oct. 9: Clubhouse Games(TM)
Oct. 16: Nintendogs(TM) (Dalmatian)
Oct. 23: Magical Starsign(TM)
Oct. 30: Pokemon(R) Ranger
Oct. 30: Children of Mana(R)
Nov. 6: Elite Beat Agents(TM)
Nov. 13: Yoshi's Island(TM) 2
Dec. 4: Custom Robo(TM) Arena
Dec. 4: Kirby(TM) Squeak Squad
I can't wait! Also, I heard tickle me elmo is coming! That will be sweet!!!!
Martin @ Jul 26th 2006 1:48PM
ummm number 20. You do know that Children of Mana is in the Mana series, made by Square Enix, and regarded as a great RPG game, its original being a SNES Classic!? Moron!!!
Darth Pixel @ Jul 26th 2006 1:51PM
I got my PSP yesterday and so far, I am very impressed by the device.
Clearly, this machine can do things my DS Lite can only dream of.
I bought Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, which is excellent, Daxter, which appears to be excellent as well and Lumines, which is very good as well.
I also bought a UMD movie, just to try. The PSP LCD blows away the screen of any Nintendo handheld. It is so sharp and crisp.
My only gripe so far is the glossy plastic faceplate. It's a dust and fingerprint magnet.
And the PSP does support WPA wireless security, which my DS Lite does not. And the PSP has a functional browser today, while my DS Lite waits for its port of Opera.
Darth Pixel @ Jul 26th 2006 1:53PM
@20
A line up like this one and people keep telling you it's not a kiddie system...
Go figure...
Martin @ Jul 26th 2006 1:54PM
Lets look at PSP's non-port fall lineup...
Mercury Meltdown
LocoRoco
Rengoku 2
Online Chess Kingdoms
Hammy Goes Nuts?
GTA:VCS (Sorry but I will wait for the PS2 19.99 version if I wanted this game (though this really is a port!!)
Death Jr. 2
Pimp my Ride?
Shrek Smash and Crash!!!!
Loque @ Jul 26th 2006 1:55PM
goddamn psp fanboys. Nobody tried to pimp the DS here...
I'll be in the corner with my GameGear.
coolashacka @ Jul 26th 2006 1:58PM
-----
ummm Loco roco hasn't come out yet in the states, Wonder what would happen if I listed all the Japanese released DS games that came out in the past few months., ... you forgot big brain academy, and if your gonna put down loco roco and we don't count released Japanese games..
-------
->
don't, I said don't even start with brain academy....reviewed it's barely a 75% title anyways..
I counted loco roco in because it's out in the eu (where I'm at). There is no way we can count jap games in as there's only 1 reviews source (famtsu) + we don't know for sure we'll ever see them in the west.
-------
then lets be fair and put upcoming DS games!!!
Tenchu, Mech Assault, Star Fox, Mario Hoops, Harvest Moon DS, Lego Star Wars II, MegaMan ZX and there is more but I will stop there.
------
-->
What's so special there? There are some games anounced for the psp too, such as:
FF: Crisis Core, Mgs: Portable Ops, Silent Hill, Killzone, Ultimate Ghosts & Ghouls, Ace Combat, Metal Slug Anthology, Gran Turismo, Ratchet and Clank, Power Stone, all those Tales of games
That's just to name a few.
The psp came out about half a year later in most territories, costs about 100$ more than the DS and had no hardware renewal.
It was on par with the ds in april (before nds lite)
What more do you ppl want ?!
Darth Pixel @ Jul 26th 2006 1:59PM
@24
Nice try, but Sony has not announced any fall line up.
Lee @ Jul 26th 2006 2:03PM
Martin, maybe he's from the UK? We've been enjoying Locoroco for a little while now. And that's a pretty bad upcoming list of DS games(for a start Lego Star Wars is coming to every platform ever, including the NES), though Starfox should be good.
It's also a bad list because it doesn't have FFIII! I can't wait to get that game. Though if we're talking upcoming games I can't wait to get some MGS Portable Ops and Crisis Core. And also Zelda: Phantom Hourglass.
I wonder what would happen if you started listing games? Nothing, because people are gonna buy the games they want anyway.
Mike, online reviews are hardly definitive, though make a fair point that the PSP's hardly been dead. But what else would you expect Joystiq to say?
P.S. "don't dis my ds", I don't know what you're trying to achieve, but all you're doing is perpetuating the "raving fanboyism" people criticise. Stop making PSP owners look like idiots.
Martin @ Jul 26th 2006 2:04PM
ok, if your selected list of DS games make Nintendo look kiddy, what about this though?
8/1 super monkey ball adventure
8/1 veggie tales: Larry boy and the bad apple
9/1 ZatchBell
9/5 Okami (since the grapihcs aren't realistic therefore kiddy!)
9/12 eye toy play 3
9/18 bratz:forever diamondz
9/19 open season
10/2 barbie 12 dancing princesses
10/2 Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
10/2 Tokobot plus
10/3 Strawberry Shortcake
10/16 Sponge Bob SquarePants
10/17 Garfield: A tail of 2 kitties
10/24 Cartoon Network Racing
10/24 Nicktoons Unite
10/31 Chicken Little Ace in Action
PS2 fall lineup!!! Super Mature!!!
Martin @ Jul 26th 2006 2:06PM
Lee, the only reason I went that far is because I was only going as far as the release of Loco Roco to be fair. There is also a great list of games coming out for the PSP. I am not in any way dissing the PSP, I am making fun of these people with their "lists" which are created by them to cater to their point, and leave out information that does not help their cause.
don't dis my ds @ Jul 26th 2006 2:06PM
Totally catch your drift Martin! I'll wait for these to make it to the DS! just like Burnout Legends did. It got rated a 3 by IGN, but eventhough the PSP version got an 8.5 I know ours is much much better. It has to be 'cause we have these two really low resolution old-school screens versus their big hirez 16x9 one and don't forget our really cool (free comes with system) stylus (perfectly sized for my cat Princess Puff's paw).
Tesla @ Jul 26th 2006 2:08PM
ed,
First off, the proper spelling is pigeonholing but who's checking? You can try to twist my comments all you want but the fact of the matter is I'm pointing out that you seem to join the “in” thing of bashing anything Sony while loving everything “Nintendo” like most other people on the Internet these days. You say I’m worse than you but we can argue that to eternity because we’re both expressing opinions. I’m just stating facts of your disdain for one company and love of another to help discredit your skewed opinion. I never said Sony is better than Nintendo nor have I deluded myself enough to want to create a blog specifically devoted to fanboyism. (Although the more I think of it I want to create one to laugh at it the fanboy phenomenon.)
If you think Tekken is easily played by button mashing then you should probably say that for every other mainstream fighting series. There aren’t many that the occasional button masher would at least once beat a seasoned veteran.
My opinion still stands as this: Ultimately I'm just sick of fanboy evangelist tactics of spreading hate for other companies and only praising the one company they think is great. They often do so because they cannot form an original opinion unless it is spoon fed to them via brand loyalty.
Darth Pixel @ Jul 26th 2006 2:13PM
---
I am not in any way dissing the PSP, I am making fun of these people with their "lists" which are created by them to cater to their point, and leave out information that does not help their cause.
---
Uh, that list was officially released by Nintendo.
I think it's fair to call it Nintendo's list.
Square PSP @ Jul 26th 2006 2:14PM
lets see if this works. Go Notepad Go!
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FORUM!
Lee @ Jul 26th 2006 2:16PM
Ah, okay Martin. See this is the internet, we can't hear your sarcasm. =P
When you imitate fanboys there's literally no way we can tell. As exaggerated as you may think you're being, there's always a fanboy who's said something stupider and meant it.
It's a sorry state of affairs...
Lee @ Jul 26th 2006 2:17PM
Square PSP, I can't read that.
Nathan M @ Jul 26th 2006 2:25PM
"Tekken is very different from other fighters, it is a game where you can button mash through every challenge the game offers. It has always been that way, even when playing in arcades vs people who thought they knew it all, i would see people show them up by picking a character they never played as before and beating them within a credit."
LIKE HELL. I've been playing Tekken for years and button mashing has NEVER been a viable strategy. Go ahead and try button mashing against heihachi, he'll kick your ass. If you try button mashing in an arcade against someone who is any good you'll get torn limb from limb.
nalgae @ Jul 26th 2006 2:27PM
The problem with ed's comment is that any real seasoned veteran will clean up a button masher easily. The people you see getting beat are not seasoned veterans. They are people who know a few combos.
An expert raven player will be able to destroy any button masher after getting one knockdown and doing combos that would prevent the button masher from even getting up, simply because his okizeme is that powerful. His attacks usually only give you one or two options to get out of them, such as a stand up block or a roll to the left. Any other action taken will have 40% of your life bar gone.
But really, I've yet to come across ANY video game reviewer who truly is into fighters at a tournament level. They play and review for the average joe, which is totally fine, because those are the people who want to read the reviews.
I do not contest your right to review or your right to have an opinion, but please, please, do not spout random crap about how a random button masher can beat a seasoned veteran. This is untrue for ANY fighting game, even broken ones like MVC2 and especially true for complex games such as the Guilty Gear series or Third Strike that rely on timing and precision. Hell, I'm even including DoA in this group, even though most tourny players frown down upon that game.
The inability of the people you see to play does not speak for the people who actually know how to play.
Ubersnuber @ Jul 26th 2006 2:32PM
sry for bein' noob here, but i didnt know mgs were comin to psp, that's it, im gettin' one :D
i thought psp was dead so i havent been following which games r arriving, big mistake by me;)
hehe, i can allmost see the psp pointing a gun against the ds, while sayin': ezikiel "25:17.." xD
Player1 @ Jul 26th 2006 2:37PM
It's called Playstation Portable--as in a portable (carry it around in your pocket) version of the playstation. Why would you not expect ports of playstation games? As a matter of fact that's why I got it, ports of great games in addition to good originals. They are totally different machines. Get a clue.
Darth Pixel @ Jul 26th 2006 2:39PM
@39
Again, no. The PSP and the DS target different markets.
Nintendo's market is much bigger, if they can recruit enough non-gamers.
Mike @ Jul 26th 2006 2:43PM
RE: Ubersnuber
Its easy to think PSP is dead reading fanboy blogs like this one. Joystiq.com may as well redirect you to dsfanboy.com.
By the way, if you haven't seen it yet, check out this MGS: Portable Ops trailer:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PTZ44mBm3X0&search=portable%20ops
Ubersnuber @ Jul 26th 2006 3:06PM
Darth Pixel: wasnt ment like that, im just happy to see psp alive nd well;)
Mike:
omg, that video was awesome! snake eater is my favorite, cant wait for the "followup" :DD
striderhayasa @ Jul 26th 2006 3:22PM
TekkenDR on PSP? It's great for tekken fans true but Virtual Fighter would have had me running to the store to buy a PSP. It's going to hurt like hell that I can't play VF5 on PS3 because of the retarded price tag.
Who says DS doesn't have good fighting games? Bleach is awesome on DS and is better than the 3D PSP versions. Jumpsuper Stars is a great game too. Both are getting sequels later this year or early next.
Insomnia Bob @ Jul 26th 2006 3:26PM
All rampant fanboyism aside (please), is this a port of Tekken 5 with two new chracters or what? That should be the real question. And a better one is "is this really a good game, or is it getting great reviews because the PSP just came off a dry spell."
Hunger is the best seasoning, after all. And I've noticed this trend of game reviewers before, on a number of platforms.
As for the PSP vs. DS lineups, stop trying to out-do each other, fanboys. Both systems have solid titles coming out this holiday season, but neither system's lineup is so amazing that you can expect to shove it in someone's face and silence their arguments.
Mike @ Jul 26th 2006 3:33PM
RE: striderhayasa
In September 2005, CVG reported on (Japanese Mag) Game Lobo's claim that Sega and Namco were hard at work on Virtua Fighter and Tekken respectively for the PSP.
A year later, Tekken is here. Maybe we'll see Virtua Fighter soon... or maybe not. But maybe ;)
http://pspupdates.qj.net/index.php?pg=49&aid=7809
Gorvi @ Jul 26th 2006 3:34PM
Unfortunately, this doesn't interest me in the least. Like others have said, if this had been a VF game, I'd be all over it, Tekken just isn't my thing. That being said, all the "PSP is teh dead" comments are simply ignorant. I own both, and they each get about equal play time. I may be playing Phoenix Wright like crazy now, but it's all about VP : Lenneth and then Loco Roco until Starfox comes out.
duscrom @ Jul 26th 2006 3:38PM
Well, TekkenDR isn't an import game. It's $0 vs the $50 for a Import. The question i'll always ask is Jump SupeStars "good" because of the anime characters? As in, If I'm not an anime fan will I still like it?
And how IS bleach better then the 3D versions. It's a different game, as the DS one is 2D and the PSP one is 3D.
So currently the only real counterpart the DS has to tekken is Guilty Gear... and that game is painfully wretched. I SHould know, I own it.
As for Tekken's "Button Mashieness" It's kinda the nature of the beast for making a game accessable w/o making it simplistic. But with it's billions of moves, those who take the time to get into it's depth, you can beat any button masher. Like when I bought tekken 3 and realized I could beat any Eddy Gordo Masher... But characters like that helped me get into the game.
DOA is loosing me on that level. Took DOA2 to a party a few years ago, and someone who never picked up the game, beat myself, and 2 other fighting game vetrens, DOA players.. 7 games in a row.
Lee @ Jul 26th 2006 3:49PM
Oh I'd forgotten about the beat'em ups almost. I don't care what consoles they're on (well 360/PS3, Nintendo's never had great beat'em up systems, at least not recently).
VF5 and SCIV are gonna be soo gorgeous, crisp sound, high def visuals, wireless arcade sticks, hopefully finally some online play in a fighter other than DOA (don't get me wrong, DOA4 online is hella fun, but the whole time I just think how much better it'd be if it were a better/different game).
Man, I'm almost creaming myself.
sony shill, lol @ Jul 26th 2006 5:50PM
Tekken sucks. What a shit excuse for a fighting game, seriously. If you want a dumbed-down button mashing fighting game, play Dead or Alive. It's two less buttons you have to mash, and the jiggling physics are probably super duper advanced by now.
Or you could play SF3, Mark of the Wolves, SSBM, or Soul Calibur instead.