Review by: Jason Purdy
Published: May 26, 1999

Ehrgeiz is a title that has been a long time in the making. It spent several years rampaging in arcades in Japan before making the trip overseas to find a slightly cooler reception in arcades on this side of the ocean. Regardless, Square and Dream Factory were undaunted and took on the task of bringing Ehrgeiz to the PlayStation. Now that it’s finally arrived we have to ask, “Was it worth the wait?” The answer is yes … and no.

Ehrgeiz is really two games in one. Actually, it’s more like two and a half. First is the Arcade Mode, which is a direct translation of the title that thrilled people in arcades. While it bears many similarities to a number of Tekken-style titles on the market, it constantly innovates and has many features that have never before been seen. Most exciting are the interactive, dynamic fighting arenas. They are large, complex areas filled with ledges, obstacles and hiding places. I have never played a 3D fighting title where full 3D movement was as large of a factor as here.

In addition to the Arcade Mode, they tossed in an RPG Mode to add replayability and longevity. This tells the story of two archaeologists who are trying to unlock the secret of the Ehrgeiz, a magical sword that fell from the heavens and could hold the answer to the question of immortality. They descend into a large, randomly created dungeon filled with twisted evils, mystical weapons and diabolical bosses.

The “half” part of the two and a half games in one is a series of mini-games. These competitions range from foot races on the beach to obstacle courses to violent versions of classic board games. While none of these contain a great deal of depth, they do offer an occasional light-hearted break from the frenzied action of the arcade sequences.