Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO Review

Online Play

One standout feature of Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO is that in addition to the standard arcade, practice, and versus modes you’d expect, you can also play it online via Xbox Live. It is a bit bare bones as far as Live features go, but you can quickly and easily have rematch after rematch with the same person which is always important in a good online fighter. The game isn’t terribly smooth online, but getting used to the split second of lag and the other nuances of online play are just part of the experience. Once you figure everything out and find decent people to play with it is very, very enjoyable. Also worth noting is that you can select an option so you won’t ever have to face EO-mode players which is very important for fight fans that want to keep their experience pure.

Graphics and Sound

Graphically, Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO is a nice looking game but it isn’t quite on the same level as Street Fighter III or Guilty Gear X2. Some of the character models are almost a decade old, which makes them look really bad compared to the newer models. The animation is also not as smooth as some newer fighters, but it is by no means bad. One nice aspect of the graphics is that the backgrounds are a mix of 3D scenery and 2D hand drawn artwork and they look really nice.

The sound doesn’t really stand out either. Sound effects for the fighting and special moves are the same that we have been hearing for long time now, but they get the job done. As far as the music goes, it is a bit hit or miss. Some tracks are catchy but most are just annoying.

Bottom Line

Xbox fighting fans need to add Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO to their collection. It features some of the best 2D fighting gameplay around and gives you a ton of options and styles to choose from in order to personalize your experience. You can also take the game online and duke it out which is worth the price of admission on its own. I would recommend staying away from the EO mode, however. I don’t understand the appeal of making a game like this super easy because the whole key to the enjoyment of the game is pulling off moves that your friends/opponents can’t. EO just sucks all of the competitive enjoyment out of it. Stick to the standard arcade mode and you’ll find a surprisingly deep, dramatic, strategic, and flat out fun game that is among the best 2D fighters ever. I highly recommend it for a purchase.