ASUKA 120%

Let me start by saying that this is without a doubt one of the oddest games i have EVER played in my life. At first, i was somewhat skeptical about how good an all-female fighting game could possibly be. My first reaction was to dismiss it as a half-hearted attempt to appeal to hormone-ridden adolescent males, but being a fair person, i gave it a chance. I must say, i was thoroughly surprised to find an amazing fighting game lurking beneath its plastic cartoony appearance.
Well, it's a unique style, that's for sure... the characters are quite cartoon-ish in appearance, with bright colors, over-exaggerated features (Cathy Wild has the biggest .... umm .... hands.... i've ever seen on someone her size), but a pretty good attention to detail. I must say, i've always been a fan of hand-drawn fighters... they just look better than the 3d ones, i think. anyhoo, back to the game at hand... The moves tend to be really flashy, especially the super moves, and when two moves hit each other, the action pauses for a split-second in a most dramatic way. There are a couple of annoying bits though: when your super bar goes to 120% (yeah, i know it doesn't work out mathematically), the way the characters flash can get pretty old. Also, the backgrounds leave a bit to be desired, as they are nowhere near as detailed as the characters. Aside from that, it looks pretty nice.
The music is pretty decent, although in the heat of battle, there isn't really time to stop and listen to it. the sound effects are standard fighting game fare: grunts, shouts, thuds, and the unmistakable *thwack* of a good punch. oh yeah, and the obligatory special move shouts (some of which sound vaguely Street Fighter-ish...). Perhaps the most often-heard sound in the game is the "chink" sound you hear when attacks collide. Believe me, it happens a LOT.
This is where Asuka 120% really shines. First off, the fights are fast. Don't get me wrong, they can last for a really long time, but the actual combat takes place at an incredible rate. The combo system is very loose, so there's a whole lot you can get away with. Those of you familiar with Capcom's vs. series (X-men vs. Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom, etc) will be pleased to know that air combos are quite possible, although they aren't quite as insane as the ones in those games. However, the combos on the ground achieve new levels in insanity. In practice mode, I was able to pull off a 55-hit combo without too much difficulty at all. Of course, playing against a person makes it quite a bit harder, as it is possible to recover in midair and counterattack. The ability to defend by intercepting your opponent's attacks with your own (as well as the strange ability to block fireballs by dashing forward... weird) makes possible a very aggressive style of play. My only complaint is that the game is a bit too "button-masher friendly."