This is one of those great games where what you get out of it is just how much you put into it. Although it is of the fighting genre, it takes fighting to a whole new level. First and foremost, instead of the usual fighters you find in similar games, this game uses robots and that is only the beginning of the difference.

When you begin the game you must first login. Just pick yourself out a name which best describes the robot you are going to build and which will ultimately become the fighter of your game. After login, highlight your player and you are good to go.  Your second move will be to enter the “Bot Lab”. Now folks, this is where the fun begins! The lab is full of parts from which you can choose from to build that ultimate in metal fighters. From frames to tires to weapons, the list to choose from is almost endless. A feature I really liked is the fact that you can always click on the ? Button if you want to see exactly what you are buying. A word of caution here, although you are given a decent amount of money to work with, $1,000.00 to buy your parts with, make sure that you spend it wisely as you will need to have a fair amount left to fight with. Believe me, with the great choices you are given, keeping spending at a minimum is not an easy task to do!

Your robot is ready and so are you, so gamers let the games begin!  With robot in hand, so to speak, you will enter the Arena!  This arena is like no other arena you have ever seen and to say it is impressive in itself is an understatement. This Arena screams, only the brave dare to enter! Once in the Arena, you will find yourself once again given choices and another great feature of this game is that you do not need to finish any particular challenge to play in another. You can start with Practice or jump right into Tournament. The choice is all yours and your feelings of confidence of which level you feel you have the best chance of winning.

You are going into your first tournament and these tournaments like all the others you will be playing will be fight to the finish. The game is over when one of robots is no longer standing or working in this case. This puts a whole new edge on the competition as there can only be one winner and winner only. Each tournament is like a prizefight, you accumulate purses in each fight you come out as the winner. Remember the paragraphs above where I said to spend your money wisely when building your bot? Well, this is where that frugality comes in handy. If you are not the winner in the first few fights, you will need money to beef up your fighter and the money you have saved from the Bot Lab can be used to fix your bruised bot and buy new armor, weapons etc.. Unfortunately I learned the hard way and spent just about all the money I was given and my poor bot never stood a chance, so after two losses it was back to the drawing board. Remember that the more you put into your bot the better your chances of some big wins. It is one of those no pain no gain games which depend on you and your ability to build the biggest, baddest bot in town! 

Install: Easy
Includes installation of one CD

Gameplay: 9.2
This is some of the sweetest gameplay you will ever come across. It brings fighting to a new level and always keeps the competitive edge going, no matter what mode you choose. It is challenge all the way and you are given enough to work with to master the Arena and all your opponents.

Graphics: 9.0
Graphics are absolutely breathtaking in this game. The Arena gives you the feeling of new age fighting with its dark and somber colors. The Lab in which you build your robot is something out of the best sci-fi movie and the traps you find in the Arena itself are impressive as well. The robots themselves are something you have to see to believe.

Sound: 9.0
The sound really lends to this game as it is of the highest caliber. From the smashing of metal upon metal to the sounds of the bot being built, you feel as if you are personally in the Arena itself.

Difficulty: 8.5
Consistent throughout the game when it comes to challenge. Never any lagging moments.

Concept: 8.5
Fighting games have been around for years now but never at this level and never this imaginative. You are given control at every juncture.

Multiplayer: 9.0
Make sure that you check out this option as it really changes the whole ballgame, or fight game. You will find yourself up against some serious player out on the LAN and these players take no prisoners. Some great gameplay with this option as well as a chance to meet some new game friends.

Overall: 8.9
This game rocks and rules in so many areas. Not only are you able to build some of the meanest fighting robots you will ever find, but also the computer-generated robots you will find yourself playing against are no slouches either. The fact that you are given so many choices to choose from to build your robot really puts you in control from beginning to end. Once you are in the game, you immediately develop that Great Spirit of fight to the finish. This is definitely one of those games that you find yourself playing over and over and each time the fight will be totally different in more ways than one.