As you probably know the major difference between the three versions comes in which platform specific character you receive. Without a doubt the most popular of the three is Zelda’s Link and apparently this is backed up by the fact that the GameCube version is outselling the competition by 30%. The Xbox version has Todd MacFarlane’s Spawn as the little freebie but he’s not really my cup of tea. He’s the slow hulking type that has a fighting style very similar to Nightmare. Then there’s the PS2’s Heihachi, the Tekken vet is a little out of place in this weapons-based combat game but veteran players will be more than capable of holding their own with him. As a nice little bit of continuity all of his combos still work. In terms of control I’d say I feel most comfortable with the PS2 version, mainly because I’m a big fan of using the d-pad. The Xbox S’s d-pad is still a bit sluggish and won't let me pull off some of the more precise moves when I want to. Don't even think about playing with the standard Xbox controller as that's just hell to deal with. Speaking of unplayable, the GameCube controller is about as bad as it gets for this time of gaming. The small GBA-sized d-pad is too difficult to use precisely, especially when you're near a precarious ledge. While I enjoy the GameCube version of the game, if you’re planning on it I’d say you should plan on getting one of those PS2 to GC adaptors that allow you to use a PS2 controller with your GameCube.
Then there’s that issue with button-mashing again. It’s just simply far too easy to win a match by pushing buttons at random. Not that I can’t beat the AI or my friends with precise shots, but why should I bother when I can just continuously mash the horizontal slash button until they fall out of the ring? I know a whole onslaught of people who refuse to play the game simply because they feel it's cheap, and while that's far from the truth, cheap players can still win by going back to the well over and over again.
There’s much to like about Soul Calibur 2 but just don’t leap in to expecting to see another revolution. The first SC for the DC completely blew away the fighting game crowd with its intense visuals and ground-breaking gameplay. A few years later and it’s really starting to show signs of aging. It’s just not quite the revolutionary leap forward that the original SC was. Don’t get me wrong, SC2 is an excellent fighter that is a worthy pickup for anyone who is even mildly interested in 3D fighters.
Does your soul still burn? Want your wallet to burn too? Then why not pick up BradyGames' excellent Soul Calibur 2 strategy guide? It features movesets, combinations and strategies for all of the game's fighters. Real fighting fans shouldn't be without it, you don't want to be labeled as a "wannabe," do you?
A-
Soul Calibur 2 is the definitive 3D-Fighter. With smooth gameplay, beautiful graphics and deep play modes, Namco’s fighter is one of the best games that money can buy.
Page 3 of 3
