In the music industry, the "Greatest Hits" album has been a staple for every major band. Even when there aren't enough hits to fill a disc, that's not going to stop a record label from trying. It's an easy way to make a few extra bucks off of consumers who couldn't be bothered to buy the individual albums. Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a lot like Namco's greatest hits album, featuring the most popular characters from the last three Tekken sequels. It's a comprehensive collection of what made those games great, conveniently packaged on a single DVD.

The original Tekken Tag Tournament was a similar experience, mashing together the best elements of the first three installments. It was also a launch title for the PlayStation 2, which might explain why it was more of a half-step than a full sequel. This wasn't a bad game by any measure, but was a bit of a letdown after all the acclaim for Tekken 3.


It's been twelve years since that first game. Having seen the genre nearly die and then suddenly be resurrected, consumers expect a lot more from their fighting games. The good news is that Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is a much more enticing package than the 2000 original. You get a wide cast of diverse characters, exciting online multiplayer options and a few worthwhile tweaks to the mechanics. Unfortunately, this sequel feels a little barebones when compared to the myriad of fighting games currently on the market.

In all, Tekken Tag Tournament 2 features a staggering 59 playable characters. On top of the 41 fighters from Tekken 6, we're given fan favorites from each of the previous installments. Kunimitsu, Michelle Chang and Prototype Jack are all pulled in from the original Tekken, while Angel, Jun Kazama and Alex all come from Tekken 2. Tekken 3 is also represented, thanks to Ogre, Dr. Boskonovitch, Tiger Jackson, Forest Law and Ancient Ogre. And don't forget about Violet and Miharu Hirano from Tekken 4. These characters are all given new models and exciting ending cinemas.


A diverse cast this large is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it's going to take a really long time to master all 59 playable characters. From an economical point of view, this game makes a lot of sense. But with so many characters, learning how to effectively defend against the thousands of moves will take months. The roster is overwhelming, making this a daunting experience for those new to the franchise.

The game teaches the fundamentals through a silly five chapter story involving Tekken 4's lovable Combot. Here you'll learn all about releasing punisher moves, air juggles and tag combos. But the game doesn't just show you what to do; it challenges you to use them in several different scenarios. As a result, I felt like I truly understood what Tekken Tag Tournament 2 was expecting from me.