Ehrgeiz

Genre: 3D Beat-em-up

Players: One to Two

What's it about then? The first thing that grabbed me about Ehrgeiz was the characters you could use. What would you say if you could use your favourite characters from Final Fantasy VII in a beat-em-up? If you are like me, you would die for the opportunity.
So, you can choose from a number of new and 'interesting' characters or you can use Cloud Strife, Tifa Lockheart, Sephiroth, Yuffie or Vincent Valantine! Which would you prefer?
There are also some sub-games as opposed to the Tekken style game. There is the Quest Mode, which is a kind of mini RPG, there is Beach Runner where you take part in a kind of Beach Olympics against computer opponents, Battle Runner, where you run around a track whilst fighting computer opponents, Infinity Battle which is like the Tekken 3 style Survival mode and finally Puzzle Battle where you play a board game against the computer.
So the options are all there, but is it any good?

Summary: I had been waiting for this game to arrive on these shores for ages. Ever since I started playing FFVII I thought it would be really cool to use Cloud or Vincent or Barret in a Tekken type game. I thought my prayers had been answered when I heard about Ehrgeiz. It was only when I had started the game up did I realise otherwise.
If any of you have completed Tekken 3 with Xiayou, remember the cartoony ending sequence with Heyhachi opening Xiayou Land? Well, I get the same kind of feeling when I realised what Ehrgeiz was. Instead of being King of the Fighters it was the Arse of the Universe. I couldn't contain my disappointment and immediately placed it for auction on Yahoo! Guess what, no-one has bid for it yet.
The reasons for my bitter gall are many and varied. Firstly, the moves are really bad. The only good thing was the fact that it is truly 3D. You can run circles around your opponent or they can kick, punch or headbutt you from wherever they are in whatever direction they want. The only problem is lack of moves and thus lack of interest. There are good moves, but they basically involve you hitting the pad randomly to try and get them.
The other disappointing things are the sub-games. The RPG type Quest Mode is boring and dull, the four mini-games are interesting the first time you play them, but you win easily and get bored even quicker.
The graphics look alright, but are easily two years out of date.
Overall, if you want a good 3D beat-em-up shell out for Tekken 3 on platinum. If you want to play as your fave characters from FFVII, you will at first be loving it, but after ten seconds realise what a mistake you have made. I recommend going down to Blockbuster and hiring it for a night, because that is all the gameplay you are gonna get out of it.

Rating: 4/10