Urban Reign Pouring Onto PS2 in '06
Namco's gang-themed brawler picks up a street date
The pretenders to Grand Theft Auto's gangster violence throne are perhaps not as plentiful as you'd imagine, considering the enormous success of Rockstar's series. One game apparently torn from the same cloth is Namco's Urban Reign.
The similarities between the two are only skin deep, though. Urban Reign is a far more hands-on experience - fitting, as it comes from the house of Tekken and Soul Calibur.
Playing as one of more than 60 characters (including Tekken stars Paul Phoenix and Marshall Law), you're responsible for keeping your gang boss safe. This means battling with multiple enemies using your fists or the dozens of weapons on offer in a combo-heavy fighting game.
You'll play solo most of the time, but a friend (or a computer-controlled partner) will be able to join you in the fisticuffs. Together you can also do special tag-team combo attacks.
Urban Reign is coming exclusively to PlayStation 2 in February 2006.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games