DESCRIPTION

It's been a year since Bilstein's sudden death and the fall of the Fourth Empire, but all is not well in the galaxy. Rumors are spreading that Bilstein's ghost has been haunting the planet Zeta, where he died. Plasma Sword: Nightmare of Bilstein is the sequel to Capcom's first 3D fighter effort, Star Gladiator.

Players have a choice of 22 characters to play; the character select screen has two rows, one with ten characters and one with twelve. But of the twelve characters in the bottom row, ten are just move clones of the characters above them, with slightly different models. That really leaves players with twelve unique characters to choose from. Plasma Sword has the standard Arcade, Versus, Group Battle and Training modes. Once players have chosen which mode they want to play, they then choose their character from the twelve available unique choices plus the ten move clones.

The fighting system is based on plasma. Characters' plasma gauges build up as they attack. When a certain amount of plasma is available, the characters can then use a portion of it to conduct special plasma attacks. Every character has a Plasma Revenge and a Plasma Reflect technique. Both techniques consume half a plasma level; the Plasma Revenge deflects an attack and automatically counterattacks, while the Plasma Reflect deflects and leaves the opponent open for a counterattack.

Each character also has a pair of Plasma Strike techniques, super techniques that drain one level of plasma when used. Finally every character has a Plasma Field attack. With this technique a flash of energy spreads from the character; if the technique hits, the opponent is drawn into the character's Plasma Space and enables the character's special ability. These abilities range from having an elongated sword to freezing time.

Aside from the plasma attacks, Plasma Sword plays much like any other 3D fighter. Characters have a vertical and a horizontal attack, as well as a kick. These attacks can be combined in various orders to create combos. Each character has a throw as well as the ability to do quick sidesteps. ~ Kyle Knight, All Game Guide