November Best Bets
There are dozens of ways to beat people up this month, but only a couple you should really try.Dead or Alive Ultimate
Xbox
Developer: Team Ninja
Publisher: Temco
Release Date: Now
If you're in the market for fighting action on Xbox Live, you currently have a decent amount of options like Guilty Gear X2, Mortal Kombat Deception, and Capcom vs. SNK. The difference is that none of those have robust match and tournament features as Dead or Alive Ultimate does. A varied cast of fighters await you and each has numerous outfits to unlock if that tickles your fancy. You can play either the original Dead or Alive (the "never released in the United States" Sega Saturn version), or a completely remastered and upgraded edition of Dead or Alive 2.
-- Wataru Maruyama
Viewtiful Joe 2
PS2 Xbox
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
Release Date: November 23
If for some reason you missed out on Capcom's critical smash Viewtiful Joe, then do yourself a favor and don't make the same mistake twice. It was one of the most unique-looking games to grace the GameCube (a system already rife with unique-looking games, for better or worse), and featured old-school 2D side-scrolling, kicky-punchy gameplay with an avant-garde edge. Joe, a grungy regular guy by day and a Japanese-style super-hero?ell, also by day?ould slow time, speed it up, dash around, and do all sorts of other crazy Matrix-y moves, and the designers found all sorts of creative ways to weave these moves into puzzles. The new game looks to be much the same-not a bad thing in any way, shape, or form-with a couple new thangs in the mix, including a second character to play (Joe's girlfriend, Sylvia) and a new "replay" move that lets Joe record a move and repeat it a couple times to maximize damage. Kinda like Blinx, only a lot cooler. VJ vets probably won't find much fresh about VJ2 (is a sequel to a super-creative game creative anymore?), but it's looking like it'll fit like an old glove. And anyone who skipped out on the original should definitely place this one on their agenda.
-- Sean Molloy
Also Consider: WWE Smackdown vs. Raw, Capcom Fighting Evolution
On the Horizon: Devil May Cry 3......
