Score
Gameplay:	9
Graphics:	9
Sound:	7
FunFactor:	10
PlasmaFactor:	10
Overall:	9

Soul Calibur 2 Review
October 16, 2003 by Brian

by Brian - October 16, 2003

Soul Calibur has been thought to be one of the best 3D fighters since its appearance on the Sega Dreamcast. The only problem was that not everyone had a Dreamcast. A lot of people had gotten the PS2 instead and the game didn�t get the wide range of fans that it could have gotten. Now, however, the long awaited sequel is available on all three consoles. Although there isn�t much new content for the sequel, the developers threw in a few new characters and fun game play modes.

If you liked it before, you will like it again.

Soul Calibur 2 isn�t so much of a sequel as it is an enhanced update. New content is pretty lacking, but if you can overlook that fact, it�s still a superb game. Sure, there are new stages, and the graphics are up to date, but aside from the console exclusive characters, there are only two new characters: Raphael, a fencer with an elegant fighting stance, and Talim, a stereotypical small - but - fast woman. Not too exciting in my opinion. On the other hand, exclusive to the GameCube is Link from the extremely popular Legend of Zelda series. It is my opinion that Link fits the style of the Soul Calibur series very well. Better than Spawn (Xbox) or Heihachi (PS2) because neither Spawn nor Heihachi use weapons, and Soul Calibur is a weapon focused fighter. However, Link has a wide range of weapons, ranging from his trusted Master Sword, to the Megaton Hammer, the Biggoron�s sword to the Bug Catching net from A Link to the Past. On top of that, he also has the Fairy Bow, Bombs, and Boomerang in his arsenal no matter what main weapon you wield. Though, regardless of new material, all the characters from the original are back, and ready for action with brand new moves and combinations. Fans of the series will most likely not be disappointed with new iteration.

Improvement.

The graphics are definitely an improvement over the original, but not a vast change. After all, Soul Calibur is by no means obsolete as far as graphics go by any means. The new version does have great graphics though. The character models are top notch, some of the most detailed I have ever seen in a fighter. The levels are also superb, bringing the world of Soul Calibur to life. One thing I didn�t like about the Character models is the alternate costumes. None of them really fit the characters very well in my opinion, especially Ivy�s alternate. That is my only gripe about the graphics in this game.

Not impressed, but not bad.

The musical score as well as sound in Soul Calibur 2 is acceptable, but nothing special. When I play a game, I expect the music to set the mood of the game, and it does that, but not well enough. The music isn�t catchy, nor is it that extravagant. It�s just typical fighting game music in my opinion, and I wasn�t impressed. The sounds are better, but again, not something that stands out. They did a good job on the sounds of weapons clashing, and the voice acting is pretty good. Better than any fighter I have seen. The few phrases that the announcer says before each round are extremely annoying after the first hour of play, and that�s a big put down.

Extremely fun.

If you like fighting games, you will love Soul Calibur 2. It is probably the most fun fighter I have played since Mortal Kombat 2 on the SNES. It combines a great single player with good AI, with an outstanding multiplayer experience. With the 10 different modes to play with, the game will hold its appeal for a lengthy time after you beat the Weapons Master mode, which is the main story mode. This game is also destined to be a party favorite. Its quick learning curve allows anyone to pick up a controller and be a contender, although the veterans will have an advantage obviously.

Just what the GameCube needed.

The GameCube is severely lacking in good fighters compared to the PS2 and Xbox. Soul Calibur 2 is just what it needed. If you are a social gamer, meaning you like to play with friends, this game is a must have. Even for those who enjoy solo games, but complain about lack of depth in fighting games, this title will most likely surprise you. The single player Weapons Master mode hooked me for hours until I finally beat it, and then I went through it for a second time. You can unlock weapons and costumes to keep the game fresh for a long time as well. This is by far the most engaging single player fighter I have ever played.

 

A Solid Fighter

If you are trying to decide whether or not to buy this game, buy it. Unless you hate fighters, you will love Soul Calibur 2. If you are trying to figure out which system to get it on, the GameCube is the best bet. It has the best exclusive character, and is on par with the X-box version in Graphics. I highly recommend to anyone to at least try Soul Calibur 2, even if you aren�t a fighter fan. This is one of those games that could change your perspective on the genre.