Is it just me, or do many Japanese game companies have groups of attractive ladies that have become signature characters? Capcom's got its fair share, Tecmo's made a killing with its DOA girls, and now Konami's decided to represent with its wrestling game, Rumble Roses, a quality sports entertainment title that's chock full of rough-and-tough but ridiculously hot females looking to put some hurt on one another. The game's definitely a lot of fun to watch as well as play, but it's unfortunately a one-trick pony that, while a lot more enjoyable than the gimmicky DOA Volleyball, can't compete with the competition.

To its credit, Rumble Roses features some of the most attractive women ever seen in a videogame. Each lady has been expertly crafted, given a distinct personality and move set, and been expertly animated so well that the game really blurs reality. You can tell that Konami spent a lot of time making sure each of the game's 11 ladies looked outstanding, and for all you "physics" majors, Rumble Roses puts DOA to shame. Trust me when I say that we've reached new heights in the animation of the female anatomy.

While still on the subject of the women, there are 11 (each has an alter ego so the final character count is 22), and they all have their own look, moves, and ring entrances. Most of the characters are based off familiar stereotypes. For example, Miss Spencer is a history teacher, Aisha is a pop star who's got all the right moves, Evil Rose wears some sort of dominatrix get-up, and Anesthesia is a scantily-clad nurse. Of course there are some exceptions, such as Bloody Shadow (the ninja wrestler) and Makoto (the judo student). However, despite their different occupations, at some point they'll all be wearing some revealing form of clothing, so to those of you who enjoy watching fictitious polygonal women beating the crap out of one another, your prayers have been answered.

Beyond the animation, glitz and glamour (taken as a whole, Rumble Roses is just a great-looking game filled with high production value), there lies an enjoyable wrestling game. Though it's been taken down a notch, the game uses Yukes' Smackdown engine so you'll already know what to expect. Frantic and fun as hell, Rumble Roses is a joy to play. All of the girls possess cool arsenals of bone-crushing maneuvers (some of them way over the top) that are a joy to execute, especially Humiliation finishers, where opponents are put in embarrassing positions and then brutally punished. You can take the action outside of the ring (you can even grab weapons from the crowd), or to the beach, where you'll be able to mud wrestle. The mud doesn't look real (there's no splashing about), but it does stick to their bodies for a while, and is a nice diversion from the one-on-one wrestling matches.

Unfortunately, mud wrestling (and an interesting Vow system where you do your best or worst to honor promises) is about the only diversion you have, because Rumble Roses doesn't have other match types. The Story Mode is all right but it's not very compelling. Actually, it's more frustrating than anything else because you can't save in between matches. Beyond that (there's a gallery mode), there are no cage, hardcore, tag team, or battle royal matches, so unless you want to complete the Story Mode with all of the women, there isn't much to see. This deficiency wouldn't be so bad if Rumble Roses was the only wrestling game on the market, but since THQ's Smackdown Vs Raw runs off the same engine, has tons of different match types, as well as hot women wrestlers of its own (who are polygonal versions of real women), Konami's game looks skimpier than some of its characters' outfits.

Rumble Roses features some of the best looking women in videogames, but it's also a solid wrestling title that's fun and easy to play. If you're looking for something more than eye candy and simple one-on-one match-ups you'll be greatly disappointed, but taken for what it is, the game's worth picking up just to say that you own it. Tecmo's DOA girls definitely have some competition, but I encourage both companies to pull a Capcom Vs. SNK and deliver unto us the ultimate smash-mouth female beat-em-up. DOA Vs. Rumble Roses basketball, anyone?