Chaos Code (PlayStation 3) Review

Coming right off the back of playing through the content-heavy BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma does not do Chaos Code any favours. There are certain game types that thrive today because of online capabilities, and the fighting genre is a prime example of that. Way back before networking features could be fully realised, it was only through local multiplayer that friends could gather to put their hard work to the test, and this naturally meant only a certain number of people to play against.

With the advent of network options, and as time has gone on, local multiplayer has become less important (though still needed), and so the fighting genre has adapted to accommodate online play, with developers working tirelessly to implement strong netcodes that enable the top players from all over the world to put their gloves on and duke it out with the best of the best. Online modes also help to match up like-for-like players, so any level of player can have a fair enough battle against someone of a similar rank, no matter where they are in the world. Simply put, online is a necessity for the fighting genre today.

This is why Chaos Code automatically finds itself in a problematic situation. There is a complete lack of modes all around in this 2D fighter, including one of the most important. Within the game is an arcade mode acting as the story (which is all rather rubbish, but purposefully unserious), as well as survival, versus, and practice modes. That's it for as far as playing goes. There is a gallery to view unlocked artwork, but this is generally all Chaos Code is. Any form of online mode is non-existent.

For a fighting game, that's a crime; that's the killer blow. Right off the bat, any hopes for an actual scene for Chaos Code were destroyed the moment this game was released without a network feature in place. FK Digital had mentioned many months ago that a future patch would include online play, but absolutely nothing has been heard since. The silence likely speaks volumes, and means this title was effectively sent out to run with a very short lifespan indeed.

It's sad because Chaos Code isn't too bad of a game. It uses a simple four-button system, and two out of a choice of four special moves can be chosen upon character selection, allowing for a little variety in gameplay, and the roster in general is reasonably well balanced. The very retro-inspired look gives off a SNES-era feel. In fact, had Chaos Code been released during the time of Street Fighter II, it may have been received far more favourably. Instead, Chaos Code finds itself amongst stiff competition, and with no way to prolong its existence thanks to the shunning of an online mode, there is not much reason for any fighting fans to bother with this one.