PS2 Kenka Bancho - Late Import

School toughs strut, swagger, and punch... in that order, in Spike's cel-shaded 3-D action game where Japanese wannabe gangsters engage in a street spanning school vs school war. A big pompadour bolstered by copious amounts of hairspray and pomade gives the aspiring gang leader Yasuo a distinctive Arthur "Sit On It" Fonzarelli-esque profile. As the story goes, a new and powerful gang has begun to assert its power amongst the high schools in the area by way of brute force. Yasuo challenges the gang with a medley of over 100 attacks and special moves that range from punches, kicks, and even swinging hoods by their heels.      The action runs smooth with beautifully animated squabbles that would almost be comical were it not for the game's already self-effacing demeanor that pokes at itself throughout the entire game. Every gangster shuffles down the street with a laid back manner that is amazing to witness. No one that is gainfully employed walks like that... The gangsters also dress up like Neo from the Matrix in yankii revival garb, except none of them have the skills that Neo possesses. Kids cower in the presence of higher level gang members while adults generally mind their own business and keep their chins up. As Yasuo increases the level of respect that he deserves, rival gangsters of lower stature will vamoose when they spot him moseying down the street.    When fighting, an opponent may be knocked down to the ground and then continually kicked as he/she bounces around like a wooden husk. When it's time to flee instead of fight, Yasuo rushes forward, head down and arms slung behind him for optimal acceleration. If a thug gets too close, the hero may perform a backward kick to slow down the pursuer. Policemen roam the streets and will arrest any street fighters that they see. If arrested, Yasuo's street cred drops and he will have to rebuild his reputation.    In addition to the brawling action and missions that require a certain number of beat downs, there are tasks in the game where the following conditions must be met: · Save needy civilians within posted time limits · Stare at 100 girls' bosoms or bottoms · Collect a certain amount of money · Help 10 normal citizens with a task · Battle and beat a few hundred gangsters · And many, many more    Gang leaders and their high-level molls have a special stare - a steely eyed electrical one called a menchi beam - which is used to elevate one's status. If Yasuo's stare is able to scare children and street scamps, his street cred grows in stature. The stare may also be used to knock down civilians and burn the panties of girls to make them jump 'n squeal. Staring contests against rival gang leaders are also possible where the winner owns the loser and subsequently gains even more status. When a staring contest begins, a sequence of Japanese words appear on the screen and the objective is to match the words from the selections on screen. The stare power meter drops precipitously when the power is being used but to recharge, it's okay to sit down in the middle of the street and meditate to replenish the energy.    While Yasuo is supposed to be a stone cold bad ass, he's not above rescuing old codgers from danger and performing other acts of kindness when the conditions call for them. Kenka Banchou cannot be taken seriously. Its tongue in cheek antics, comical situations, and highly endearing characters are meant to be laughed at. It's rare that a game like this gets green-lighted since publishers have more confidence in "serious" action heroes rather than a bunch of ne'er do wells. Nearly 100,000 units of the game has sold in Japan since it was released on June 9 which should give Spike the confidence to work on a sequel.