This new version, limited to the PS2 looks as good as ever. Sure the likes of new fighters like Soul Calibur 2 and the new Mortal Kombat look better in comparison, but Blood Roar still hold it’s own against the big boys in the visual department. Each of the 18 characters is unique, if only too familiar to fans of the series. Even more is that the animal selection adds more personality to the character’s human form. Whether you are Alice the rabbit, or Yugo the wolf, finding your favorite beast is all in your choosing. Added to the slick character designs are the fantastic animations each fighter possesses. With a wide assortment of moves and combos, the action is fluid and very fast. Another plus is some visual special effects thrown in for special moves and final blows. Another great addition to this year’s bout is blood. Sure that may not seem a big deal to some, but fans of the Bloody Roar series never had a chance to see much if any blood since the incarnation. In BR4 the blood is red, is evident, and it flows like a river on certain attacks. Fighting arenas are just as diverse and interesting as the characters involved. What’s more, either walls or barriers that will keep opponents from earning wins in cheap ring outs surround the arenas. All in all the game isn’t a huge leap if any at all in the series in terms of graphics, but this year’s PS2 version is as clean as BR Extreme on the Xbox but looks worse than the GC version of the series.

Audio remains typical to the series. You’re treated to wailing metal guitar riffs that were best suited for 1988, but it somehow doesn’t seem out of place in this brawler. The fight sounds are standard with the average kick, punch, slap, and thuds abound. The voice acting on the other hand is laughable, with corny dialog and out of place phrases. It’s best to set this bad boy to Japanese language folks.

Bloody Roar 4 plays pretty much like the last 3 with very little extra involved. You have a punch, kick, block, and beast buttons. The beast button changes your character to their animal form if their beast meter is full. While in this mode your attacks are faster and more vicious, and using a combination of direction moves and the beast button while in this form you can perform special attacks. There is no support for the analog stick, so tape that thumb up as the D-pad is now your new friend…or enemy as the case may be. If you have played the series before, prepared to be under whelmed as no real new tactics or specials have been added this year.

What BR 4 has expanded on the series is the amount of modes of play involved. Arcade Mode, Time Attack, Versus, Training, Sparring, Survival, and Com Battle all return and will keep you button mashing for many hours through the night. Once huge and new feature comes in the form of a Career Mode. Think Street Fighter Alpha 3 if you will. In Career you battle enemies one by one in a final round, after you defeat each enemy, you are awarded DNA points which are used to increase your abilities and customize your character, making them more powerful. What’s more is you can even use this new MEGA character in all the other modes in the game. It’s this mode along with the obvious versus modes that give the game the most depth and where you will find yourself most of the game. It’s a nice feature brought back to life and I hope other will find a way to insert it into their games as well.

Fans of the BR series will be happy to get a chance to throw down once again, just don’t expect too much new to deal with besides the blood and new Career mode. Newbies to the series will find much to like about BR 4 and given time will appreciate the series for it’s depth.