Hands-onKakuto Chojin

We had the chance to check out the US version of Kakuto Chojin, the upcoming 3D fighter for the Xbox. Developed by Dream Factory, the game was initially shown as a tech demo for the Xbox hardware nearly a year ago and went by the name of Project KX. Since then the game has undergone a number of changes and has been renamed. The US version we played differed a bit from the build we saw in Japan last month at the Tokyo Game Show, and it let us explore what it's going to offer.

You'll find two modes in the game, single- and multiplayer. Single-player mode offers three game types to choose from: story, survival, and practice. While all three modes are fairly self-explanatory, story features two game types that are unlocked sequentially. The first time you play story mode you'll fight in kakuto mode. When you finish the story mode in kakuto you'll unlock chojin mode. The differences between the two types are the moves available to your character and the skill of your AI opponents. Kakuto mode gives you a basic array of combos and decent challenge from the game's AI. Chojin mode offers a wider variety of combos and a more aggressive AI.

The game's multiplayer mode has three game types: versus, battle royal, and capture the crown. Versus is a standard one-on-one brawl between you and a friend, while battle royal and capture the crown are for up to four players. Battle royal is an all-out brawl where the goal is to dole out damage and stay standing. Capture the crown is a rumble to maintain possession of a crown.

The game's fighting system breaks down to three main attacks: low, middle, and high. Different combinations will trigger various punch and kick attacks that are suitably flashy. In addition to standard attacks, you'll be able to charge up and perform powered-up attacks that deal greater damage.

Graphically, the game distinguishes itself with a sharp presentation that features nice bits of animation, detailed character models, a high frame rate, and Dolby 5.1 sound. You'll find 12 characters to choose from, each with two stylish costumes. Style is a large part of the game, with its dramatic lighting and Matrix-style camera angles at the end of a fight.

From what we've played so far, the game seems solid enough. It appears to have most of the basics covered, although we've yet to see just how deep the fighting engine is in chojin mode. Kakuto Chojin is set to ship November 15 for the Xbox. Look for a full review on the game then.