The problem with most fighting games is that they tend to become repetitive and predictable after a while and it is extremely difficult to maintain any level of interest in such games.

But Capcom has always come up with imaginative match ups of the best fighting characters around, which keep fighting fans clamouring for more. Capcom has in the past matched its Street Fighters with X-Men, The Avengers and King of Fighters. This trend of crossover fighting games continues with the Street Fighters taking on Tekken fighters in Street Fighter X Tekken. The prospect is, undoubtedly, an exciting one for lovers of the fighting games genre and they will not be disappointed as the game offers something to fighters of all skill levels.

The game offers two-on-two combat with each team in command of two fighters. Players can switch between fighters during a fight but when one fighter of the team is knocked out, the team loses regardless of how good the health of the other fighter is.

This means that you have to treat your two players as a single unit and use swapping as a way of remaining in the fight. Players have the option of teeming up and fighting on the same team if they like. In this way a total of four players can participate in the game simultaneously.

The fighting mechanics of the game are similar to those of Super Street Fighter IV with some improvements and additions. It has a six-button layout, three each for kicks and punches and also a three-section energy metre known as the “Cross Gauge”. The performance of various moves such as EX Attacks, Cancels, Super Arts and various Cross techniques is dependent on how much of this gauge is filled.

The essence of this game is teamwork and you can switch between players and utilise their powers in a number of ways. Switch Cancel allows you to change partners in the middle of a combo, while in Cross Rush you launch your enemy into the air before you switch partners and continue the combo. A full “Cross Gauge “ is required for the Cross Arts in which each player’s Super Combo is combined into a single attack. You can also perform the Cross Assault in which you can control both your players at the same time until you run out of energy.

There are two new additions to the gameplay. One is the Gem system — these are six different kinds of stat boosts namely Attack, Defence, Speed, Vitality, Assist and Cross Gauge. A player can equip the fighters with up to three gems at a time and these are activated when the players fulfil certain conditions in a fight. It should be remembered that Gems in themselves will not win you matches but will provide you with support. As the Gems offer different types of boosts, a player can choose the boosts which best suit his style, for example, if like me you plan to take a lot of beating then the Defence Gem is the one for you.

The Pendora Mode can be activated when one of your fighters has only one-fourth of his strength remaining. The character in question is eliminated and the remaining character is awarded increased strength and an infinite Cross Gauge. There is, however, a time limit to this state and you automatically lose if your remaining character is unable to defeat the opponent within the allotted time.

The game starts off with the Arcade Mode and moves on to the Challenge mode which includes tutorial, trial and mission modes.

You may want to do a refresher on your skills in the trial mode which includes basic as well as advanced moves of the fighters.

Mission mode pits you against the AI of the game with different fighting conditions.

Available on the PC as well as the Xbox 360 and PS3, this game should also become a part of your collection if you love fighting games. — Sohail Saleem