PlayStation 2

Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duelists of the Roses

With over 850 unique cards, battle sequences that showcase Final Fantasy-like qualities, a deep story arc, and intelligent CPU adversaries, The Duelists of the Roses is a bona fide hit and an absolute necessity for Yu-Gi-Oh enthusiasts. For those of you who know nothing about this property, you’ll probably write this release off as yet another card game adaptation. If you have no interest in a title along these lines, by all means, flee while you still can. On the other hand, if a small portion of you has always wondered what a game like this is all about, this is the best card game that money can buy.

Yu-Gi-Oh! was a popular manga that spawned into an anime and a card game. While I expected the first Playstation 2 Yu-Gi-Oh! game to follow the story of the anime; it doesn’t. Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duelist of the Roses takes place in an alternate reality, and even though you will recognize the characters, there is no relation to the anime’s story. If you are a fan of the anime then this will disappoint you, but Yu-Gi-Oh! is not just about the characters; it’s about the card game Duel Monsters.

I'd say that those who love the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga, cartoons, and card games will probably enjoy this offering for the most part. Though there's a two-player mode, it probably wouldn't be as engrossing as a physical game of cards for players. As for the non-Yugi fans that might be into strategy games, or maybe even puzzle-type games, they might take to this title for a rental. Just about everyone else probably won't lose too much sleep over missing out on it.

When you’re into a popular battle card game like Yu-Gi-Oh, there’s really no substitute for the thrills of putting together a primo deck, dealing a head-to-head match with a worthy opponent, and then watching said adversary break into a cold sweat as you play your game-breaking card. Having said that, Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses is a fine way to stay in shape in between real-life monster wrangling matches.

The graphics and sound are functional but not great, and you'll want to skip the Pokemon-like battle scenes. Still, gameplay is what counts, and with the proper investment of time, Duelists of the Roses delivers. After some initial frustration, you may have a hard time pulling yourself away from this engrossing strategy game.

Overall, The Duelists of the Roses is a graphical step forward for the Yu-Gi-Oh! video game series, but overall is a giant step backward. Forbidden Memories, despite its flaws, was a somewhat worthwhile investment because of its $30 price tag and the fact that there were no better Yu-Gi-Oh! games available at the time. Now, The Duelists of the Roses costs $20 more than the best Yu-Gi-Oh! game currently available (The Eternal Duelist Soul) and does not provide even a fraction of the play value. Unless you’re an obsessive Yu-Gi-Oh! fan who must own every bit of Yu-Gi-Oh! paraphernalia, definitely rent The Duelists of the Roses before you consider a purchase. After all, $50 is a lot to spend on a game that does everything in its power to keep from being played.

The other day, I was flipping through the channels, and I stopped on a colorful cartoon show. I am a huge anime fan, and the stuff on the TV rarely appeals to me; yet this show was well drawn and intrigued me. That’s when I found out it was the Yu-Gi-Oh show, and I let out a moan. But I decided to give it a chance, and I’m ashamed to admit, I really liked it. The idea of a living card game is awesome; the characters where cool, and the monsters where even cooler! So when I saw a PS2 game coming out in the Yu-Gi-Oh universe, I jumped on the chance to play it. My experience left me bewildered and more than a little disappointed. Let me explain.

For those outside its sphere of influence, Kazuki Takahashi's Yu-Gi-Oh! property could be summed up as a cross between Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering. Anime-faced youths battle each other in an ancient Egyptian collectible-card game, with the goal of collecting as many high-powered cards as possible and becoming a master duelist. Yu-Gi-Oh! The Duelists of the Roses takes some liberties with the standard Yu-Gi-Oh! collectible-card game format and the story line of the animated series. If you're already a fan of Yu-Gi-Oh!, these discrepancies probably won't dissuade you, and neither will the game's many technical shortcomings. But if you're not already familiar with the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime or collectible-card game, The Duelists of the Roses is a very uninviting title that will likely sour your interest in Yu-Gi-Oh! permanently.