The term “Arcade Perfect” is losing its effect these days as more and more consoles meet and exceed arcade standards. This situation is creeping over into the handheld world, and Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower is a perfect example of it. The 2D animations are bright and fluid, and there is no slowdown when the screen fills up with colorful effects from super moves. Everything the arcade had in terms of visuals has been done justice on the PSP.

The music reflects the setting of the game well: dark, over-the-top horror. Just as the graphics meet and exceed the standards of the original game, so too does the music. Sounds effects are both quality and creative, and if you like what you hear, everything audible can be unlocked and listened to until your ears explode.

Darkstalkers is a 10-year-old fighting game by Capcom, and as such, it bears striking resemblances with Street Fighter games. Instead of your gnarled, street-scarred pit fighters, Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower’s cast has more depth and seems a bit more sinister. The game is a lot like what would happen if every old horror monster got together to fight for an ultimate power in the universe. Of course, there is a strong Japanese influence, which is apparent with the over-the-top moves and top-heavy women.

The Chaos Tower is more of a compilation than a new game, as the three old Darkstalkers games are more or less mashed together to form a single entity. For good measure, some new characters and moves have been thrown in, broadening what otherwise would have been a simple rehash that few gamers would have seen little merit in. Before a fight you get to pick which style of game you want to play in. Unfortunately for those who haven’t been with the series since its inception, there is little description about the differences between the different games, and some moves change from one type of game to the next.

There are also new modes in The Chaos Tower. Besides the cut-and-dry Arcade mode where you battle eight random opponents and then a boss, there is the Dark Tower mode. This is where you pick any three fighters that you want and fight for as long as you can, unlocking extra content as you go. Before each fight, you get to pick which of the three fighters you want to use. Damage carries over from one fight to the next, so taking a beating early on cripples your efforts to reach the top of the tower. Another twist they throw in is stipulations for each fight, like not being able to jump or having to finish your opponent with a special attack.

The Chaos Tower not only lets you fight against the A.I. (which can be a bit predictable at times), but it is also Wi-Fi capable. Not only can players join one-on-one fights, but they can take part in four-player round robin tournaments with each other, as well as play fights like those in the Tower mode (only kicks, no jumps, etc.). This is where the real substance of the game emerges, and you’ll do well to associate yourself with other people who own The Chaos Tower.

Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower is a deep fighting game that can be learned to play in about a half hour. Without even looking at the instruction book, you can dive right in and figure a lot out based on your intuition. However, mastering each of the 18 characters is going to take serious effort, and your skills will be tested even more when playing human opponents. The A.I. is a bit of a pushover on the default setting, but bumping it all the way up is a job that only masters will be able to handle.

The same six-button punch/kick scheme is used in Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower as it is in Street Fighter. Some people may find the shoulder buttons difficult to utilize at first, but a little effort is all that is needed. The scheme is definitely usable, but if it turns out to be too much for any one person, the controls can be switched to an “easy” mode where the shoulder buttons perform combinations instead of single kicks or punches.

Other elements of Street Fighter games can be seen here as well. A power meter at the bottom of the screen fills up as you perform moves and do damage. As the bar fills, you can unleash special attacks that use a number of your stored power bars. The hit system has an easy combination setup that lets you link up to five hits in a row if you’re good enough. There are subtle changes in both of these systems between the three styles of games you can choose from, but again, there is no good indication as to what those changes are.

Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower is a great handheld fighter that is sure to please long-time fans of the series. It doesn’t cater to the newcomer as well as it should, but it certainly is playable by anyone. Darkstalkers was, and still is, a great series of fighting games, the latest of which can now be fully enjoyed on the PSP.