Customer Reviews

Soul Calibur 2

5 star:		(140)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The original Soul Calibur was the best game made for the Dreamcast, and since that platform's demise, fans have waited four years for a follow up. It was well worth the wait. The game is premiering on all three major game systems at once, and although each version is essentially the same, each game has one distinct quality: They feature different lead characters. For the Playstation, it's Heihachi. For the XBox, it's Spawn. But the Gamecube got the best one: Link. He's joined by many of the classic characters from the original game, plus some great new ones. The biggest question, however, is this: What prevents this from just being another run-of-the-mill fighting game, another Kakuto Chojin or another Mortal Kombat clone? One needn't worry.

Although similar in style to other combat games, this one rises above them with extraordinary gameplay, first-rate graphics (esp. on the Cube and XBox) and surprisingly easy controls and fighting techniques. The attacks are pretty straightforward: kick, horizontal weapon, and vertical weapon. But there are some good combination moves available, as well. Like all other combat games, this requires button/control combinations and some tricky maneuvering. Unfortunately, the Gamecube's basic controller is not well-suited for these moves; the buttons aren't aligned very well for some of the trickier moves. (Of the 3 systems, only the PS2's basic controller was the most user-friendly). But Gamecube fans have a good alternative: the wireless Wavebird controller works really well with this game. Another advantage for Cube fans: The Cube's excellent graphics engine make this game a real treat visually; the player is surrounded by beautifully detailed scenery and environments. Truthfully, it's not that much different from the first version. (But if it ain't broke...) For those who never played the first version, here's a chance to enjoy one of the best combat games ever devised. For those who loved (and miss) the original, it's just like experiencing this fabulous title all over again.

To get to basics here of how i know how this game works is simply because i've played it. This review is based on the actually game and not judgment or by looking at pictures. Now to the review. I've played this game at my local toys r us store because they had it on display. The gameplay is excellent for a fighting game. The controls are semi-hard to get used to but after your second day of playing you'll feel right at home. The graphics are amazing. They're very detailed even to the last tip of a characters blade. The actually fighting system of the game is one of the best systems in any fighting game i played. Each Soul Calibur II game is unique for each system(gamecube,Xbox,ps2). In the ps2 a hidden character is Heishi from the tekken series. In the xbox the character is Spawn. In the gamecube version it's our favorite nintendo hero LINK!! Link makes his 2nd non-zelda debut on another game. Super Smash Bros. Melee being the first. But link actually speaks. A real treat for zelda fans. So the basic line is that if you enjoyed the zelda games, the namco games, the fighting games, and nintendo games, this game is perfect for you. You can rent it if you'd like if you don't find the review helpful. please click this review was helpful if you actually thought it was so i know i helped.

Be warned, from the first boot of this sublime title, you will forget to pay your bills, feed you dog, and quite possibly even sleep. Soul Calibur II is the greatest fighting game on the market, hands down. I know a lot of diehard fighting fans lament the fact that this is a weapons based fighter, but the depth of this title is unmatched. Given that Virtua Fighter 4 has become the litmus strip against which all fighting games are measured, Namco has shattered that bar and created a game that is quite possibly the smoothest playing title available today. With a disparate and diverse cast of characters there is someone here for everyone to master. Be prepared to invest countless hours with your fighter of choice if you indeed want to become an elite player. However, part of the charm of Soul Calibur II is the fact that even new players (button mashers to the core) can pick up a controller and enjoy the game. With such depth, an outstanding score, and stellar graphics and gameplay this is a completely justified purchase. Grab some friends and enjoy.

Intro:
Four Years ago, Soul Calibur for the Sega Dreamcast came upon us. Soul Calibur showed us wonders, it was technologically ahead of its time, luscious smooth graphics, beautiful sounds and over all of that, a perfect gameplay. Perfection, is there really such a thing? If there is how could you improve on it? Critically acclaimed, the sequel is finally here, but is it really what it's hyped up to be?

Graphics:
SCII's graphics are beautiful to say the least. The stages are done remarkably well, with beautiful settings and buildings. Special effects are at its best, from fire trails to lightning it's all gorgeous. Though it's by far a great looking game, it doesn't have the same impact it had when we saw SC1 four years ago. SC1 completely pushed the Dreamcast's capabilities and still out looks some of today's PS2 titles. Perhaps it's a multi-platform problem because the PS2 isn't nearly as powerful as the GC and Xbox. Nevertheless, it still stands up there as above average graphics, it should be better knowing that Namco can push a console's performance to the limits, but you can't complain if it still looks good.

Sound:
Music is still at it's best with catchy tunes that get stuck in your head. It's reminiscent of SC1's music, which is good, medieval tunes match well with its surroundings and never gets repetitive. With English and Japanese as two whole different voice tracks to choose from, you'll never get old hearing the characters. The Japanese voices are clearly better, but different voice actors make it kind of awkward when characters say a line that was in the first game. Nevertheless, the refreshing music adds to great presentation.

Gameplay:
Alright, this is what matters the most in every game. The new characters alone is good enough reason for veterans to buy this game. The greatness of Soul Calibur II is that each character is equally balanced. There is no best or worst character, only good and bad players. Of course the real challenge in the game is mastering every character. Soul Calibur II is a masterpiece of fighting engines, newcomers can jump in and learn quickly, but there is nothing that can explain the level of depth that you can master the game. There is a move for every situation, the flow of executing the moves is smooth and it's as if your instinct just tells you what to do after each move. The strategy of the gameplay is not memorizing a combo that will KO someone in the least moves, instead it is in timing. Timing is everything in Soul Calibur, button mashers don't realize that and get beaten to a pulp, the basic is that you need to know when to block, when to attack, and when to counter. Then it gets deeper when you learn repel and parry Guard Impacts, the 3lvls of Soul Charge, and to an extent, offense that dodges the opponent's attack at the same time.

I can safely say that Soul Calibur II lives up to the perfection that the first one had, but maybe it is a little bit too much like the first one. The only significant changes besides new moves are Guard Breaks and Wall Combos. Guard Breaks stagger a guarding opponent so they let their guard down and you can come in for a nice combo, a very nice alternative to unblockables. Though it's hard to connect the opponent with the wall, wall combos do massive damage and should be used whenever the chance comes. There are other small changes such as walking or running while Soul Charging so that you're not vulnerable when doing so. Also, the depletion of upper and lower Guard Impact is neither good nor bad; it encourages newcomers to use it because it's easier, but for veterans this could lead to minute-long moments where each just counters the Guard Impact until someone messes up.

Weapon Master Mode, the main 1P mode, has been done quite nicely, presentation wise it gives players a good impression that you really are a warrior in the 16th century searching to destroy Soul Edge. Veterans might not find much challenge in the missions except touching up their skills, but it's nice going through a new set of missions. The missions range from a variety of conditions to fight in, from poison to earthquakes to timed ringouts, to a series of battles in a dungeon. The main aim in Weapon Master Mode is collecting all the different weapons for each character. With over 200 weapons, each weapon affects the character's stats such as offense, speed and health to suit how you play. The weapons can be used in other modes, which is a nice addition for a bit of variety in your matches.

Of course the beauty of a fighting game comes out when you play against a friend. When you and your friend are equally skilled in mastering SCII, versus mode becomes a blast to see who can beat the other more times. The CPU though has been greatly improved and can be as tough as diamond if you want a challenge.

To some veterans SCII might feel like a complete rehash, but it actually packs in quite a lot of new features. The reason that SCII feels like a slightly updated SC1 is that, as much as I hate to admit it, not many people owned a Dreamcast and has experienced SC1, so Namco is giving the rest of the world a taste of SC1 but improved for the benefit of veterans.

Conclusion:
While it doesn't have the same jaw dropping impression that the first one had, Soul Calibur II is an awesome game, definitely a worthy sequel of the first. It offers a great fighting engine that's fun to play alone and even more with a friend, while it's depth is simply amazing. Soul Calibur II is definitely a must-have.

Graphics: 9.3
Sound: 9.7
Gameplay: 9.9
Overall (not the average): 9.8

The first Soul Calibur wowed gamers back in '99 when it was released on Dreamcast and has kept them hooked with a sequel that nobody should miss. I have been playing SC2 since it's arcade release last summer and I still haven't experienecd all this game has to offer. With a simutanious console release on all major platforms this August, gamers are in for a lot of sleepless nights. The console version adds more characters to the line-up,more arenas and game modes including the new Weapon Master mode. Also, the console ports have tons of things to unlock which include character profiles, new costumes and hi-res artworks. One thing fans of Link from The Legend of Zelda series should take note of is his exclusivity to the Nintendo Gamecube. For those who have wondered what Link might sound like if he spoke get to hear Namco's shot at it. This will mark the first time Link has spoken in a video game. So in closing this game rocks and is going to rock harder when it's released. For this Virgo an August release date is just in time for my birthday!!! (^_^)

Firstly let me say that I never played the original Soul Calibur. I'm not even usually a fighting game fan, but I picked up Soul Calibur II after playing some rounds at a friends place and I have not been disappointed so far. The game itself is very solid, with only a few flaws that prevent it from reaching the coveted five stars.

Graphics - 8/10: While I've seen better graphics on the gamecube, the graphics are still very good. The wind blows and you can see the characters robes move and each level typically has lush colors and stuff happening in the background. The character models are all nice and wonderfully done, albeit some of the costumes are either disturbing or just plain stupid. Good thing most characters have 2-3 costumes. In addition the framerate never even stutters despite the action going on. Both characters can pull off powerful moves with lots of on-screen effects and you'll never see slowdown.

Sound - 8/10: The sound is actually quite nice. The music playing gets you in the mood to beat down your opponent and at the same time is usually very in-tune with which ring you are playing at. The grunts, taunts, and weapon sounds are varied enough that while you will hear duplicate noises, it's not the same 3 or 4 sounds the whole time.

Gameplay - 8/10: I'd say the gameplay is overall very good. However it is the only category that also shows distinct flaws as well. The computer AI is at the same time very capable and very, very underhanded. On harder levels the computer has no problem executing moves so fast that you never even have a chance to get up off the ground before you lose the match. Sometimes you have to be just as underhanded as the computer to win. I guess there is no honor in Soul Calibur, but then this isn't Bushido Blade.

The controls are intuitive enough, although I think the manual should refer to the buttons as A, B, X, Y, Z, etc instead of A, B, K, etc. This avoids confusion for people who don't read the manual in depth or check out guides online. You have vertical and horizontal attacks, kicks, grabs, and a variety of different blocks. Each of them are good in given situations and you can combine them into devastating attacks. You can also soul charge for even more brutal damage dealing potential.

In the gamecube version there are 88 items to unlock, most of which you unlock through the weapons master mode which is like a story mode. Each area provides new challenges and you never really know what to expect next. Some of the arenas are challenging, others are a joke. In addition to the standard arcade mode and weapons master mode, you can test your skill in two other areas, survival mode and time-match mode.

Overall Soul Calibur II is a great game where the AI can sometimes get out of hand. Any fan of fighting games would most likely enjoy this game and get their money's worth out of it. Even if you hate fighting games though you may find the interesting characters and back stories fascinating enough. If you are wary, rent it first and I doubt you will be disappointed. I've beat the game and unlocked all 88 items and I still find myself playing this game all the time.

Soul Caliber 2 - Circa 2004

GOOD:
- Good/Tight controls
- Really balanced gameplay
- Lots of different and unique fighters
- Minutes to learn years to master gameplay
- Lots of Fighters, costumes, stages, and extras to unlock
- A 3D fighting game that really uses the 3D space (with eight way run)
- A total upgrade over the original Soul Caliber, which to many gamers is considered classic
- Considered an Instant classic to many fans and many hardcore fighting fanatics

BAD:
- Not much has changed (gameplay wise) since original
- Have to unlock most of the game through the story/quest mode

IF IT FITS YOUR TASTE:
- Has medieval theme, both European and Chinese/Japanese
- Not traditional fighting game in the sense that there is no real combos and supers, or even projectile moves
- Game has built in quest mode, where you pick a fighter and complete a number of challenges, the end result is you unlock more content and are a better player
- Fight with weapons, like a 3D Samurai Showdown

GAME ITS MOST ASSOCATED TOO:
- Soul Caliber
- Tekken 5
- Samurai Showdown

ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- This game is not only for Nintendo's Game Cube it's also for Microsoft's Xbox, and Sony's Playstation 2
- All three versions of this game on (different systems, see above) have one unique character Microsoft's Xbox has Spawn from the popular 90's comic book of the same name, Sony's Playstation 2 has Heihachi from Namco's popular Tekken series, and Nintendo's Game Cube has Link from Nintendo's popular Legend of Zelda Franchise.

Tied to Super Smash bros. Melee, this is the greatest fighting game ever created. This is one of my all time favorite games. It's a arcade-style fighting game made right, unlike cheaply made games like Mortal Kombat. Those games are perverted and suck. Soul Calibur II is a fighting-game lovers dream. Gamers say it's better or worse than the original Soul Calibur game for the Sega Dreamcast. Personely, I like this better than Soul Calibur 1 & 3. Though, I do like the Tekken series a lot, but Soul Calibur games suit me better. Out of all 3 versions (Xbox, PS2, and Gamecube), I liked the Gamecube version the best because..... DA DA DA DUM, Link (from The Legend of Zelda series) is in it. Smart move Namco! Though, I did like Spawn in the Xbox version, he has machine gun that shoots souls! Now that's cool. The graphics were pretty sweet, but what really impressed me, were the stage designs. They are so beautiful! The sound was superb, especially the charactor voices and weapon effects. The music was all classical style, but since I'm a pianist, and cellist, I don't really give a damn. The control hit me so hard, I was unconscious for a mounth. That was what made the game so damn awesome. Weapon master mode is great for gamers new to arcade-style fighting games. Weapon master mode is basicly a mode where you can play as any charactor you want, and complete various missions. You can cream your friends and know all the moves if you beat it. Plus you can unlock new characters, stages, and extra modes. There are 13 historic fighters plus all new combatants, including Necrid, who was specially designed by Todd McFarlane Productions, Inc. There are 6 other modes to play, such as Arcade, Versus, Time Attack, Survival, Team Battle, and Practice. You can collect 200 different weapons. They all have different styles and are very unique. Overall, this game should definately be in your Nintendo Gamecube collection.

By definition, one cannot improve upon perfection. So, considering that 1999's Soul Calibur for the Dreamcast is widely considered to be a flawless fighting game, maybe that explains why Namco didn't take many risks with the sequel, which has finally hit the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. If you played and enjoyed the original Soul Calibur, chances are good that you'll also enjoy the sequel since it's so much like the first game. That also means Soul Calibur II won't impress you as much as its predecessor, since you've seen most of these characters, their weapons, and their moves before, and the available gameplay modes are nothing out of the ordinary. Nevertheless, on its own terms, Soul Calibur II is by all means a great fighting game, and Namco has done a fine job of making each respective console version equally enticing.

Soul Calibur II is the long-awaited sequel to one of the all-time greatest fighting games. For the majority of players, the most significant difference between Soul Calibur II and its predecessor will be cosmetic, though the visuals haven't been overhauled completely. The returning characters all look different and the stages are all new, but many of the animations (even for some of the new characters) are recycled from the previous game, as is the flow and feel of a typical match. As before, gameplay involves four buttons, corresponding to your character's horizontal slash, vertical slash, kick, and guard. Using various combinations of these and the directional pad, you can make your characters unleash dozens of different moves. A number of the characters even have alternate fighting stances, which they can readily switch between to vary up their attacks.

There's a two-tiered rock-paper-scissors system here that's more or less identical to the system that worked so well in Soul Calibur: Low attacks hit high-blocking opponents, mid attacks hit low-blocking opponents, and high attacks tend to beat out mid attacks. Additionally, vertical slashes tend to have priority over horizontal slashes but can be dodged laterally, while horizontal slashes can counter an opponent who's sidestepping too often. Add in guard impact moves, which all characters can use to deflect their foes' attacks, and soul charge moves, which all characters can use to power up their attacks, and you've got a deep, tried-and-true combat system. The gameplay has been tweaked since Soul Calibur, to account for some of the issues that highly experienced players of the previous game picked up on. However, most players won't really notice the different properties of crouching or of lateral movement or things like that. Of further note, the game controls well using the default PS2, Xbox, and GameCube controllers. The PS2 controller is best suited, and the GameCube's directional pad is a little small, but all of these are responsive and more than serviceable with the game.

All of the Soul Calibur cast returns either in form or in spirit. From the samurai Mitsurugi to the undead pirate Cervantes, from the nunchaku-wielding Maxi to the female ninja Taki, from the bizarre Voldo to the aptly named Nightmare, most all the old favorites are intact, each with a smattering of new moves. Some have changed more than others, but for the most part, tactics and combos that worked well in Soul Calibur still work well here. There are a number of new characters in the game, though aside from the exclusive character in each console version of the game, only two characters are completely new: Raphael, a fencer whose feints and ripostes suitably capture the elegance and effectiveness of this fighting style, and Talim, a young girl whose speed and expertise with her twin blades make up for her small stature.

The special-guest characters in each version of the game are well done in their own right and are about as fully realized as the rest of the cast. The PlayStation 2 version gets the Tekken series' grizzled old karate master, Heihachi Mishima. The Xbox version gets Spawn, Todd McFarlane's muscle-bound comic book antihero. And the GameCube version gets none other than Link from The Legend of Zelda. These characters have been heavily promoted and talked about, and though none of them fits in very well with the rest of Soul Calibur II's characters, they each look good, are competitive, and have their own unique fighting styles. Heihachi has all the ferocious kicks and punches that make him a powerhouse in Tekken and looks better than ever before. Spawn has a limited ability to fly and can inflict massive damage with his ax. And Link's got all his classic moves and all his classic weapons, including the boomerang, the bow, and the bombs.

Link is exclusively present in the GameCube version of the game. Another character is new to the home versions of Soul Calibur II and is not in the arcade original: Necrid, a Todd McFarlane creation specifically designed for this game. Necrid is surprisingly fast and powerful and fights with a ghostly weapon that mimics the other fighters' techniques. But this hunched-over, bloated action figure of a fighting game character seems like he was ripped out of some other game and thrown in here. Surely, it's great to have as many characters as possible in a fighting game. But there's also something to be said for having a cohesive look and style across all the characters. Each fighter in Soul Calibur for the Dreamcast, though remarkably different, at least looked like he or she belonged in the same game as all the other fighters in the lineup.

At any rate, the exclusive characters represent the biggest difference between the three console versions of Soul Calibur II, and if you're trying to decide on which version to get, you should probably go for the one with the character you'd most like to play as or against. Or if you have a home theater system and an Xbox, then the Xbox version is the way to go, since it features 720p HDTV support and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. The other two versions are no slouches either, though, and natively support surround sound and widescreen progressive scan displays.

Another even more fortunate technical feature available in all three versions of the game is the option to switch from the default English language voice-over to the original Japanese. The game's announcer speaks fluent English no matter what and has some embarrassingly melodramatic lines to describe the fighters. However, many of the character voices, such as for Mitsurugi and Raphael, are much better in the Japanese language track, especially since some of the English translations are nonsensical. For example, Nightmare, a ferocious half-man possessed by the evil spirit contained in the sword known as Soul Edge, might viciously defeat his foe, only to declare: "Go away!".

Weapon master mode adds some single-player variety but won't last you more than a few sittings.
Another aspect of Soul Calibur II that doesn't make much sense is the weapon master mode, which is sort of a half-glorified mission mode. The missions themselves are pretty good--you'll need to defeat your opponents while taking heed of certain conditions, such as maybe a dwindling health meter (you've been poisoned!) or gale-force winds that threaten to send either you or your opponent flying off the edge of the ring. In between missions, though, you'll get lots of long-winded text that details the mission mode's storyline. Something about a lengthy text-based story in a fighting game just doesn't feel right, especially in this day and age, and you'll probably end up skipping over the text just to get to (and through) the missions as quickly as possible. As you pass missions, you unlock some new modes of play and some not-so-hidden characters, and you also earn "gold" that can be used to "buy" new weapons for all the various fighters and some other unlockables.

The ability to acquire and use different weapons for each character is actually a throwback to the home version of Soul Calibur's predecessor, Soul Blade (also known as Soul Edge). The various weapons have special properties, perhaps having greater offensive power at the cost of some defensive power, or allowing the wielder to perform soul charges faster than normal. But these don't change the character's fighting style or anything, and, in keeping with the design theme of Soul Calibur II, they are mostly just graphical replacements. Still, having a variety of different weapons for each character along with unlockable art galleries, character profiles, alternate outfits, and other such things does give Soul Calibur II some good single-player lasting value. Too bad there's no online play, which quite possibly would have been the revolutionary step that Soul Calibur II needed to truly live up to its predecessor's legendary reputation.

Soul Calibur II's artificial intelligence is pretty good. At higher levels of difficulty, the computer delivers relentless competition, and it knows how to turn the tables in situations where it's getting close to being knocked out of the ring--though, in time, you'll probably pick up on some moves and patterns that the AI can't effectively contend with. Of course, fighting games are best when played against other human players of equivalent skill, and in these situations, Soul Calibur II can be just as entertaining as the previous installment in the series. The gameplay is as accessible as ever--just pick a fighter like Maxi or Kilik, and jam on the slash buttons to witness their impressive combat styles. Alternatively, you can hunker down and learn all the moves in a character's arsenal by going through the practice mode, which doesn't really teach you anything about how to play the game but at least lets you work on your moves.

Soul Calibur II is the fast-paced, great-looking, complex fighting game you'd expect it to be.
This is a highly impressive game from a visual standpoint, no matter which version you get. Every once in a while, you might detect a very slight hitch in the frame rate (regardless of which version you're playing), but for the most part the game runs at a perfectly smooth 60 frames per second and features lifelike character models that have all been expertly motion captured. Of further note, though this is a weapon fighting game, don't expect to see any blood or dismemberment or anything, not that you would if you played Soul Calibur or its predecessor. At any rate, the Xbox version edges out the other two in terms of overall visual quality, but you might not notice except on a high-definition TV. The Xbox version also loads a bit faster in between matches, though the loading times are easily ignored in any of the versions. As mentioned, Soul Calibur II's English voice-over, enabled by default, is pretty spotty, though the Japanese is better. A grandiose soundtrack adds plenty of epic flair to the proceedings and is probably the strongest aspect of the audio. Most of the game's actual sound effects--sword slashes and such--are recycled from Soul Calibur, which were in turn recycled from Soul Blade.

If nothing else, Soul Calibur II is proof of how outstanding 1999's Soul Calibur really was. Like its predecessor, this sequel can provide countless hours of fast-paced, great looking battles--though if you played a lot of the previous Soul Calibur game, you'll be hard-pressed to sustain or even muster up the same level of enthusiasm over this update. That's not to say Soul Calibur II doesn't pack in any thrills of its own. It's certainly one of the most refined, most accessible, and best-looking 3D fighting games to date, and it's squarely the best game in its class for the Xbox and GameCube.

Having played the arcade version and the demo versions of the Xbox and Gamecube ports I can tell you you won't be disappointed. The controls on Gamecube work very well, much like the controls on the first Soul Calibur did on the Dreamcast. The character models and backgrounds have been improved over the arcade version's. There are various game modes in addition to the arcade style of play, including VS., time attack, and the new weapon master mode. The game features all 15 characters from the arcade plus hidden characters, PLUS the inclusion of 2 new characters on each system: Necrid for all of them, Spawn on Xbox, Heichi (sp?) on PS2 and my favorite, Link on the GC version.