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ONE

By goyami @ Monday, November 17, 2008 :: 995 Views :: 0 Comments :: Fighting

Every so often a game comes along that is of such visual impact that terms like Next Gen jump immediately to mind and it is declared - the One. One by Digital Legends for the N-gage 2.0 is such a game and has the promise of pulling the N-gage name out of the trash bin into the light of viability.

While visuals may not be the most important aspect of a great game, it is this aspect that carries the most immediate punch and One delivers a punch that has never been seen on a mobile device. The question that comes to mind is that without the use of a graphics accelerator “How do they do it?!”

Incredibly, the action is fast, smooth and responsive as the fighters use the motion captured moves of Jeet Kune Do champion Tommy Carruthers in their brawls. The movement, lighting, shadows, particle effects, camera angles and rotation all seem in perfect sync as the fighters perform their dance of violence. It’s remarkable action for a mobile phone and makes all other games pale in comparison.

Controlling the finely detailed moves of your fighter is surprisingly uncomplicated compared to other fighting games that have your fingers dancing all over the keypad. With one finger on the d-pad and one on the 0 key for kicks (the center d-pad punches) you can perform over 30 moves. The keys are reconfigurable and there’s a very thorough tutorial that steps you through all the various moves. Even watching your fighter move in practice is fun!

And he is very much YOUR fighter as there is a nice option to build your own character from his head down to the bandages on his feet with new items to unlock as you progress. Once you build your fighter you take him through a story mode that is told in a static black and white comic book style that I found to be somewhat jarring when placed next to the super realistic movement and the colorful fighting.

The story takes place in 7 beautifully rendered 3D locations where you must battle through several lower tier fighters for a showdown with the boss of each locale. You can choose from two different fighting styles at the outset - heavy and fast. Each has its advantages depending on your opponent. You won’t win by just by kicking and punching you way through each bout. You’ll need to learn and use the various jumps, spins, throws and counters and in some cases switch from one style to another. It’s a very deep and ultimately satisfying fighting engine. It’s especially satisfying to watch your winning blow as you get it played close up in super slow motion as bodies go flying through the air. It’s simply amazing.

The options are many. You can play three difficulty levels in either landscape or standard view. You can play versus mode against any opponents or locations you’ve unlocked in the story or survival against all unlocked fighters. There is Bluetooth multiplayer and you can post your cumulative score on N-gage arena for prizes. The game also keeps a wealth of stats on your fighter so you can see what your favorite attack are. There is a great driving sound track and all the sound FX you could possibly want with adjustable volume. If that’s not enough, there’s also a snapshot option in this total mobile package.

There aren’t enough adjectives to describe this phenomenal 5 star game. It’s the type of title that can drive hardware sales for Nokia as you must have a compatible Nokia phone with N-gage loaded to experience the power of One. If you have a compatible device go to the N-gage site for a free limited trial of One and witness the future of 3D mobile gaming.

Reviewed by goyami on Nokia N81 8GB

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