Game Review: Soul Calibur 2

The sequel to the Dreamcast’s finest fighting game has arrived on all three major platforms. Soul Calibur 2 takes the great things of its predecessor and adds more to the formula. Novices and experts will appreciate the playability and depth of Namco’s excellent weapons-based 3D fighting game.

Soul Calibur 2’s fighting system is a refinement of the nearly perfect formula used for its predecessor. The mechanics for the first game were already revolutionary and still compare favorably to today’s modern 3D fighters, so only a few adjustments in the gameplay were made. The Oguard impact’ system of parrying and repelling attacks has been simplified, but it still requires precise timing to use effectively. The eight-way directional movement system is still there, with the welcome addition of being able to inch forward and backward during the guard stance. The flashy vertical attacks are easier to side-step, but horizontal attacks are now deadly against side-step happy opponents. These adjustments make the gameplay more balanced than the first game, but it seems that Namco overcompensated for the vertical attacks: they are nearly useless in high-level play thanks to the ease of sidestepping. Soul Calibur is no longer an exercise of extravagant moves, but rather a balance of science and finesse. The computer player intelligence is far superior in the sequel, compared to the relatively easy difficulty of the first game’s A.I. However, it does not come nearly as close to human behavior as Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution’s. The ultra-hard and super-hard computer opponents are upgraded versions of the lower difficulties, tending to use better reaction times and insane amounts of guard impacts rather than cunning strategies and tricks.

The single player portion of Soul Calibur 2 is the Weapon Master mode, where you travel the countryside to challenge opponents, roam dungeons and collect weapons and costumes for all of the characters. Conquering missions in this mode earns you gold and experience, which you use to gain levels and buy new items. Additionally, new stages, characters and modes are unlocked by completing certain challenges. The weapon master mode is not as innovative or deep as Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution’s Quest Mode, but it is a fun experience with many interesting, unusual objectives and winning conditions.

The training mode of Soul Calibur 2, sadly, is extremely limited compared to contemporary 3D fighting games. The layout is extremely basic, with few options. Worst of all, you cannot program the dummy character to do a specific attack, making it difficult to train against moves that are giving you trouble. Compared to Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution’s extensive guides, Soul Calibur 2’s training mode is barely passable, but do not expect to become an expert without outside references.

Soul Calibur 2’s graphics, while as significant as the leap between Soul Edge and Soul Calibur 1 for Dreamcast, are still beautiful in every sense. Character models have been upgraded with elaborate, detailed textures and a few extra polygons. The fighting arenas are firmly fleshed out with modeled terrain and walls, not just flat surfaces with fall-off boundaries like in the first game. The color rendering is the most brilliant aspect of the graphics in Soul Calibur 2. The reds, blues, greens, yellows and the colors between are strikingly vibrant and powerful, making Soul Calibur 2 one of the most gorgeous games ever designed. The character animations are unbelievably smooth and flowing with unmatched grace and elegance, even more so than the game’s predecessor.

The audio of Soul Calibur 2 is strong, even if it is more subdued than the sounds of the first two games. The classical/Asian score is dynamic and suits each environment perfectly. The music invigorates the sense of tension mounted between the opponents in every battle, with dramatic openings and rapid paced combat themes. The dialog fits remarkably well into the game, whether you choose English or Japanese voices. Characters shout at each other with taunts as they swing blades, giving the game an intense feeling of rivalry and conflict.

Soul Calibur 2 is a solid fighting game and a great multiplayer experience. It is packed with a variety of gameplay modes, hidden features, characters, stages and weapons. While Virtua Fighter 4 Evolution is ultimately a superior 3D fighting game, Soul Calibur 2 is more accessible, gratifying, and its appeal is universal.

Which version to buy?
Soul Calibur 2 is available on Playstation 2, GameCube and Xbox. Here are the differences between the versions:

PS2: Slowest loading times, worst graphics. Best controls. Exclusive character: Heihachi from Tekken.

GC: Middle range in technical features. Worst controls. Exclusive character: Link from Legend of Zelda.

XB: Fastest loading times, best graphics. 720p progressive scan. 5.1 sound. Exclusive character: Spawn.