At the end of each level, you encounter a nigh-on unbeatable boss who you must brawl with until the bitter end with just your trusty limbs and any weapons that you may have picked up on your journey. Considering that they're armed heavily (the first boss wields a particularly daunting club) and have a massive range, they are the only challenge that the game brings.

Now, you may think, "Ah, a beat-'em-up with loads of action", but you'd be very much mistaken. Combined with one of the most useless in-game camera systems (even Castlevania 64 wasn't this bad) and a load of single-button pushing 'action', this game is almost a chore to play. It's certainly at the opposite extreme to Soul Calibur.

There are a few features to the game that do keep your interest long enough to actually make you progress through each level of the game, however - despite the gameplay. These come in the forms of crossbows, grenades and even magic. As you progress through the game, you encounter chests that you can destroy to collect the power-ups hidden within.

When you employ magic, you get a little flash and sparkle added to your rampaging button-smashing attack. The grenades are quite comical as they burn your enemy to death before your eyes instead of the standard puff, bang affair.

However, these minor additions to the formula just aren't enough to pull it's head up from the mud, so to speak. If you want a good beat-em-up on Dreamcast, get Soul Calibur, and if you want a good adventure/beat-em-up, get yourself a second-hand MegaDrive with a copy of Golden Axe. You'll be saving yourself a lot of time and effort from trying to get anything out of Soul Fighter.