It's still a series that's been made for those who are truly hardcore. The deep physics model at work here is uncanny and unmatched by any other fighter. The variety of moves available at the players disposable also deserves special mention. Fight fans looking for a fireball fest should know better than to look. Its attempts at realism can't be matched.

The developers have taken extra care in bringing the game over to the states. The spectacular shadow effects stay accurate even on the games new rising stages, something sorely missed in the Japanese version. Characters clothes flow freely in the breeze, but there is still some polygon dropout here and there, something Namco managed to eliminate from their masterpiece. The soundtrack isn't very memorable and tends to fall into the background, unnoticed.

For those who are wondering, the "TB" in the title stands for Team Battle, a new feature added exclusively for this home version. Players will be required to master numerous characters before tackling this mode. A new vs. mode was added, something sorely missed from the import version of the game. Soul Calibur does have that really cool mission mode though.

It's a sad thing, but this game took so long coming home, that other fighters have long since surpassed it. Everything about this game screams greatness, but it's knocked out cold by a new generation of fighters that just run this game right over. Of course, those VF fans are a dedicated bunch and will most likely buy it regardless of this review. Just make sure to buy Soul Calibur too.