One (N-Gage)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 6.6 (3.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Greg Kasavin
• Reviewed on: 12/09/2005
• Released on: 10/13/2005
• Originally published on GameSpot: One (N-Gage) Review

If you need a new fighting game to have with you on the go, here's One. Featuring some pretty nice-looking 3D graphics and a good create-a-fighter system, One definitely has its share of distinguishing features. But the quality of the action itself doesn't compare to that which can be found in console fighting games, though it's fairly satisfying for what it is.

The title of the game refers to the moniker given to whomever is the greatest fighter around. There's a story mode that tracks your quest to become the "one," and before you begin it, you must create your own fighter, who essentially becomes your sole playable character throughout the game. You can customize your fighter as often as you wish, but you're limited to cosmetic changes to your character's clothing and hairstyle. The game gives you lots of options for different clothes and accessories right from the start, and many more are unlocked as you progress through the story mode. The quality of One's visuals makes even some fairly subtle differences, like shoes and gloves, quite noticeable even in practice.

Despite the seemingly limitless options you've got in terms of tweaking your fighter's appearance, you're stuck using largely the same variety of moves over and over. One attempts to add depth to its one-on-one fighting system by letting you easily switch between three different fighting styles at the touch of a button, and each style has its own moves. The offensive stance is focused on quick strikes and combos; the defensive stance deals with grapples and counterattacks; and the normal stance is a balanced combination of the other two. You'll face a variety of computer-controlled opponents over the course of the story, and chances are you'll quickly find one stance or another that lets you beat them down. Sure enough, the offensive stance is your best bet more often than not, because the easiest way to defend against a string of fast punches and kicks is by responding in kind. The computer's ability to easily break out of throws also discourages you from messing with some of the more powerful grappling moves available from the defensive stance.

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