The Bottom Line
Pros
- Lots of great characters with many fighting styles
- Fighting is smooth and fast
- Gorgeous to look at
Cons
- Not very different from the first game as far as fighting goes
- Console exclusive character Spawn kind of bites
Description
- More than 20 characters and each of them has a unique fighting style.
- Fighting is smooth and fast and the controls are intuitive.
- The game looks fantastic and the characters are very detailed.
- Lots of modes to play through.
- It has more characters and more stuff, bit it isn't all that different from the original.
- Xbox specific Spawn isn't that great. Better than PS2's Heihachi but not as cool as GC's Link.
Guide Review - Soul Calibur II
Soul Calibur II is a great game. It isn't all that different gameplay wise from the Dreamcast original, but it offers more characters, modes, levels, and other stuff that makes it worth checking out. A great game plus loads of extras equals a great game, and that is obviously the formula Namco used when developing Soul Calibur II.What makes Soul Calibur II stand out is just how accessible it is. Pretty much anyone can pick up a controller and pull off impressive moves, but the game also offers a ton of depth for people who want to invest a little more time into it and really become a SCII master. This "easy to learn, difficult to master" style gameplay allows everyone to enjoy the game, not just hardcore fighting fans.
Something else that really makes Soul Calibur II worth a purchase is the fact that the single player modes can take 25+ hours to beat. In most other fighting games, single player against the computer is little more than training so you'll be prepared for matches against human opponents. In Soul Calibur II, there is a lengthy Weapon Master mode where you have to have to fight through special conditions and win matches in order to unlock new weapons and characters. This isn't just a glorified training mode, this is a fun experience all on its own.
If you are a fighting game fan, Soul Calibur II is a must buy. You can find it for under $20 these days, and it offers not only a huge single player game but a great multiplayer experience as well. Check it out.
