As part of its E3 2004 showcase, Bandai has Digimon Rumble Arena 2 on display. Though the game will be released on both the GameCube and Xbox, only the GameCube version was available for play--though both games will essentially be the same. We took the time to check out some four-player action and are happy to report that the game is just as frenetic and crazy as ever.

　　The easiest comparison one could make to Digimon Rumble Arena 2 is Super Smash Bros., in that up to four characters can battle it out on a 2D plane within a 3D environment and simplistically bash the heck out of one another until time in the match runs out and a winner is determined. Each Digimon monster will have a few basic, but unique, maneuvers, as well as specialized attacks that come when a monster digivolves.

　　Digivolving is a leveling-up process that comes after you collect a specific number of digipoints, which can be gained by simply knocking your opponent silly. Digipoints come in the form of blue orbs that are spat about the level, and collecting them fills up a meter, which then allows you to digivolve. You can actually digivolve your character up two levels, and once you've hit the top level, you'll be near unstoppable to any lesser-leveled opponents. Each stage also featured a few different environmental attacks, including barrels of TNT and the like. The action itself was nicely fast paced, and when you've got four different Digimon onscreen at once, things can get pretty insane.

　　Digimon Rumble Arena 2 will ship this August for the Xbox and GameCube. We'll have more on the game in the near future.