Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Soul Calibur II

Written by Tony Kennetz on September 26, 2003

Full Review: What the predecessor held in spades, the new incarnation holds in a slightly lesser suit.

Dreamcast'ers everywhere certainly remember all the glory of what the easily the best fighting game to ever grace the ill-fated system, and arguably the best fighting game of all time, Soul Calibur. Namco's weapons-based fighter made a splash on the system like few games in the history of gaming, unfortunately the game was on the one system that would die after only two years, leaving many to go without experiencing its brilliance. Luckily, the folks over at Namco decided to give everyone who missed a bit of a second chance, taking the series to the next generation of platforms, including the PlayStation 2. And Soul Calibur 2 is just that, more of the same great gameplay. More of the same in terms of just about everything when you think about it. So while gamers new to the series will be thoroughly impressed and engrossed in the game, the experienced SC player may feel more than a little left out in the cold.

The entire Soul Edge series (which consists of Soul Edge, Soul Calibur and now Soul Calibur 2) centers around several warrior's journeys to obtain the fabled sword, the Soul Edge. Each fighter has their own motivation to track the glimmering blade down, but each must take a similar path to get there. Actually, they all take the exact same path to get it, which is the first downfall of the Weapon Master mode. Players are free to change characters at any point during their trip, which takes away quite a lot from the story because everything has to be generalized. Fighting games shouldn't be cluttered with story lines and plot twists, I understand that, but what Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance did with its story mode was more entertaining in that regard. This is a misstep that can be forgiven, but its still disappointing considering how much could be done with this cast of characters. The ending for the mode is especially disappointing.

After that, however, Soul Calibur 2's main single player mode can really start to shine. Moving around the world, unlocking new locales, characters and weapons along the way is only half the fun. The rest is just being able to play. Let's stick to the unlockables for now. For the most part, if you're going to unlock something in SC2, it is going to be in the Weapons Master mode. One of the coolest parts about all of this is the fact that most of the weapons you unlock have more than just a unique look, they each genuinely effect the way you look at and play the game. Step out of the traveling arena fighter suit for a second and take it outside, using all your unlocked bonuses to blast through all the other modes SC2 has to offer. Truly, this game is a collector's paradise.

To count all the returning and fresh faces that this game has to offer would be quite a difficult task, the roster is just that large. Gamers will recognize the likes of Ivy, Voldo and others, while the PS2 also sports the weakest special character in existence, Heihachi. Don't get me wrong, I loved Tekken when it was still in its prime (see: Tekken 2), but Heihachi is simply out of his league in a weapons-based fighter. Not only did Namco elect to leave him with no weapons, he plays exactly like he does in Tekken, which just don't fit in this series. Otherwise, SC2 has an impressive list of fighters that can rival just about any other game in the world.

There are also other modes of play to touch on, the standard fare - arcade, versus, survival, ect - nothing out of the ordinary. Each mode does have a cousin that allows you to use items that have been busted out of the Weapons Master mode, but that's just plain old think thinking marketing. Honestly, it doesn't take much to realize that was just a ploy to bulk up the features list. That's all right though, the basics of the game can and do stand on their own.

In terms of gameplay and control, few aside from taking punches in real life can match the fluidity of Soul Calibur 2's gameplay engine. The eight-way movement system is pure genius, allowing the player to move in ways that the opposition isn't the focal point of the movement. This opens up a world of new opportunities. Another absolutely key feature of SC2 is the ability to break up an enemy's juggle by shifting your weight to land in a different position, causing your opponent to miss and allow you to get back to your feet. Novice players will likely not use this every well, but veterans will very quickly learn the best ways to work their magic. Let's also try not to forget that all this is occurring on the Dual Shock 2, the control pad that for most is by far considered the most fighter-friendly pad on the market.

Arena design will play a more critical role in this sequel than it did in the original, namely in regards to ring outs and other strategy orientated pieces. Having a good knowledge of the throw system can win you matches, and knowing where you are in relation to the arena end points can save you from a potential defeat. Sometimes, however, the arenas just feel too small, period. And in this day and age, there is really no excuse for that. Dead or Alive 2 had layered levels, tell me why this game can't do that now so many years later. Knocking an opponent off the mat is okay once in awhile, but after too long it gets redundant.

Graphically, this game really manages to push the PlayStation 2 to its outer most limits. Truly it is a sight to see, although it is certainly not the impact player the original was on the Dreamcast. That said, the original didn't have the type of competition this game does, with games like Final Fantasy X and Metal Gear Solid 2 to face. At any rate, artistically SC2 knocks the ball right out of the park. Featuring loads of innovative and well executed character designs and levels, this one really shows the gaming community what it means to be imaginative. However, there are some small blemishes on the animation side of things that hold the other side of the package back just a slight bit. Namely, there seems to be a bit of slowdown when things get hectic, which shouldn't happen with only two characters on screen. Secondly, and far less pressing and important, would be some of the downright strange and stiff animations. Some look to come straight out of the original game. Now, most wouldn't notice this, but as a player who drove the original into the ground before moving on from my Dreamcast, I feel a strange sense of nostalgia every time certain things occur in this game, and I don't think its just the character design.

Featuring an epic soundtrack, well played sound effects and the infamous УSoul Calibur voice,Ф the audio in this game is second to none in the fighting genre. The orchestrated music in here is amazing, I like to listen to this stuff even when I'm not playing the game or even doing anything gaming related, it really is that good. The urgency it provides is astounding, I'm amazed every time I hear it in game. Effects wise, everything sound just as you would think it should, from punches landing to characters moaning in pain, the right sounds always find their way to the speakers at just the right time. If I were to simply look at this game from the superficial perspective of audio and graphics, this game's overall score might be just a bit higher.

Getting a bang for your buck isn't all that hard here, there are all sorts of things to collect and do in Soul Calibur 2, it's really quite incredible. Finding every weapon for every character is a mission in and of itself, and its not something you can do in one day. There are plenty of characters to unlock as well, but there what will keep you coming back is the multiplayer mode. This game is the definition of competitive sport. Your friends will have a want, a need to come over and play you at this game just to prove their dominance. Again and again. That's what gives this game real longevity.