Review for "Soul Calibur II"

by m maldonado

System: GameCube, Xbox, Playstation 2

Favorite Aspect: Nifty Weapon System

!!KLANG!!

Now there's a sound you'll hear a lot of in this game. You'll hear it so much, in fact, that it'll eventually start sounding like church bells. It'll echo in your mind until you have to sit down and just think happy thoughts until your head stops ringing.

Soul Calibur II, sequel to the acclaimed Soul Calibur (which was, in turn, the sequel of Soul Edge), is a game of swords, skin-tight suits, slashing, and story. Lots of the first three, less of the last, but, you know, it's all well and good. It's something that fades into the background when you start playing ("Gah! I lost again! Lemme try one more time! Oooooh, I'm gonna beat that little-").

In SCII, you have fifteen characters to choose from (one of which is an exclusive character--Link for GameCube, Spawn for Xbox, and Heihachi for PS2). Each character has its own storyline to follow in Arcade mode, and, consequently, its own final boss and ending scenario. While the scenarios leave something to be desired, final bosses are tough. Somehow the anticlimax of defeating the final boss, only to be delivered a lackluster ending, equates in a satisfying experience. It may be the satisfaction of finally beating that boss overriding the disappointing conclusion, but that is really very circumspect.

Interesting gameplay features for SCII include the weapon system, which allows you to purchase weapons (and costumes, and...) for specific characters and equip them for battle, and the Weapon Master quest mode, where you complete missions and earn gold and levels across a large, expanding map. Gold can be used to purchase aforementioned weapons, among other things. The weapon system allows for varied gameplay: certain weapons can paralyze the enemy, or do more damage while doing some disservice to your own character, or being vulnerable to certain elements or forces. You have to weigh your options and equip the weapon that will do you the most good in the mission you're on.

On a graphics level, SCII is top-notch. The 3D character models are excellent in all aspects, from flexibility of movement to realism (a little too much realism, in some cases). Cloth moves as it should, as does hair. Characters exhale and inhale, shift posture (a little too much shifting, in some cases), and gesture realistically. Backgrounds, which are completely three-dimensional, are detailed to a lesser level, and leave a little to be desired. Character-to-background interaction--weapons cutting into the dirt and throwing up chunks of sod--however, is excellent. When a character's feet move, dust is kicked up. Water splashes. Sparks fly.

Sounds are equally excellent. You can hear the bones breaking, the thud of flesh on stone, and the cries of your character as they get the snot beat out of them. Lots of clanging steel, as mentioned before, but also the THWACK!s of wooden nunchakus and staves.

All in all, a good game. Not all-out GREAT, but good.

Rating: B+