Shenmue
Considering Shenmue was largely written by legendary Virtua Fighter creator Yu Suzuki, it makes sense that it would have some seriously beefy combat mechanics. Whilst the Virtua Fighter games offer more sturdy and frequent combat scenarios, it is Shenmue’s duality that made its combat feel so incredible. Considering you spend a large majority of the game wondering around the immersive game world and searching for clues, it made the infrequent fights seem like a huge deal.
Dead or Alive 2
There are a lot of fighting games that could grace a list about fist fighting but, as far as intensity goes, Dead or Alive 2 beats them all hands down. It was the first time in the DoA series that counter moves really came to the fore, and they were all a million shades of hardcore. The sound effects too were big; colossal even, to the point where every hit felt like a lifetime of punishment.
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Another game made awesome by some meaty counter animations, Batman: Arkham Asylum’s combat defined the “easy to pick up hard to master” paradigm. It all felt smooth, but it hit a perfect level of challenge, feeling difficult but fair. The sheer variety of Batman’s arsenal also prevented it from lulling for even a second, and armed enemies who required a specific tactic constantly kept you on your toes. Let’s just hope Arkham City can retain this level of intensity when it launches this October.
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