Bloody Roar 3
 
        
 
STORY: 

  
Bloody Roar 3's gameplay also shows some improved areas, featuring a more intuitive combo system, somewhat improved sidestep game and flashier special & super moves. The game uses a 6-button layout consisting of: Punch, Kick, Throw, Beast Form, and two buttons for sidestepping (L2 and R2). Sidesteps can also be performed by double tapping down or up, similar to the TEKKEN series. The main feature is still the ability to transform into beasts, which is involved in all of the Bloody Roar games. Once the character transforms, they regain all the health they have lost and become much stronger and powerful than before.
 

When characters activate their "Beast Form" they regain all health and become much more powerful than in pat titles. Now, characters can sacrifice their entire store of Beast Energy to unleash a "Beast Drive," a powerful super move that can do upwards of 20 hits if it connects. To be quite honest, that's about as exciting that Bloody Roar 3 gets. Sadly, the core gameplay still suffers from general clunkiness and is very, very basic for a 3D fighting game in 2001-2003. The sidestep system isn't nearly as smooth or effective as other 3D fighting games of the time (which is a very important mechanic for a 3D fighting game, mind you).


Furthermore, many combos can be done simply by hitting 1-button, and the nearly "instant-kill" super moves are just laughably broken. Instead of a supplying a proper fighting engine, matches in BR3 seem to rely heavily on "who can get their super move off first". So many elements of the gameplay don't even require any sort of skill. In my book, transforming from human to beast over and over again also gets old very quickly. And in the end, it's more of a novelty or gimmick rather than an actual, thought-out fighting game mechanic. But hey, the casual crowd will be pleased! At least visually, BR3 is offering something unique.
   

  
Bloody Roar 3's animation is fairly decent overall, but many attacks just lack that "ouch factor". Moves just don't seem to connect like they should, and many don't seem to hurt very much at all. Most character win poses and other animations also seem robotic and last-gen. Furthermore, the music isn't very memorable and sound effects are status quo. Stage designs are a mixed bag and some are terribly generic, even though they are the best the series has seen. At the end of the day, Bloody Roar 3 turned out to be a fairly mediocre PS2 fighting game. Worth mentioning, the load times are also annoyingly long.


There were two title updates to the original Bloody Roar 3, those being Bloody Roar: Extreme (released on Microsoft Xbox) and Bloody Roar: Primal Fury (released on Nintendo Gamecube). These updates added new characters, new backgrounds, and even improved Bloody Roar 3's overall graphics and gameplay system.
 

Page Updated: May 14th, 2024 Developer(s): Hudson Soft, Raizing Publisher(s): Activision Platform(s): PlayStation 2, Gamecube, Xbox Release Date(s): Mar. 1st, 2001                   PS2 June 25th, 2001                PS2 Aug. 24th, 2001                PS2 Mar. 18th, 2002               GC - as BR: Primal Fury Apr. 25th, 2002                GC - as BR: Primal Fury May 3rd, 2002                  GC -as BR: Primal Fury Mar. 27th, 2002               Xbox - as BR: Extreme July 17th, 2003                 Xbox - as BR: Extreme Nov. 28th, 2003               Xbox - as BR: Extreme Characters:  Yugo, Alice, Long, Shen Long, Uriko, Gado, Bakuryu, Busuzima, Jenny, Shina, Stun, Uranus, Xion Featured Video: Related Games: Bloody Roar: Primal Fury, Bloody Roar 4, Bloody Roar, Bloody Roar 2, Battle Arena Toshinden 4, Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance, SoulCalibur, SoulCalibur 2, Virtua Fighter 4, VF4: Evolution, TEKKEN 4, Capcom Fighting All-Stars      Gameplay Engine  5.5 / 10 Story / Theme  4.5 / 10 Overall Graphics  7.5 / 10 Animation  6.5 / 10 Music / Sound Effects  5.5 / 10 Innovation  6.5 / 10 Art Direction  4.5 / 10 Customization  5.5 / 10 Options / Extras  6.5 / 10 Intro / Presentation  7.5 / 10 Replayability / Fun  4.5 / 10 "Ouch" Factor  5.5 / 10 Characters  5.5 / 10 BOTTOM LINE  5.8 / 10  Review based on PS2 version       Final Words: Bloody Roar 3 is the best of the series to date, but more of the same. The "who-can-get-their-super-move-off-first" gameplay leaves much to be desired from a serious fighting game player. Like the prequels, Bloody Roar 3 is geared towards casual gamers... and towards those who are amused by giant lions, tigers, and bunnies whom walk upright, wear human cloths, and don't do anything besides kick the crap out of each other. *crickets* Anyone who's been exposed to more technical, more dynamic fighting games will quickly pass on the Bloody Roar 3. Other top 3D fighters, namely Tekken, Soul Calibur and Virtua Fighter have advanced impressively in their latest installments; but the wild animal that is Bloody Roar just can't seem to evolve. f you want something completely different from the norm, and something a little more "button-masher-friendly," Bloody Roar 3 might be your cup of tea.... Key word, might. ~TFG Webmaster | @Fighters_Gen                     Click Here for all Posters / Box Artwork! Click Here for all Screenshots! FOLLOW    ON:                             TFG NEWS CHARACTERS GAMES