Video Games : SoulCalibur II (GameCube)

Rating: - The retern of a true king
Although there are some gamers out there who refuse to stop playing till they've finished a game, I'm not one of them. So when I do play I wont a game to be in short sweet sections and to have depth at the same time. This game is eye candy; smooth and addictive to the extreme, if you enjoyed this game on the dreamcast get it for the Gamecube, X-box or Playastation.
It beats Tekken any day, so you really should treat yourself.

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Rating: - soul calibur II
Soul calibur II is a great game and i like the idea of link being on the game cube version, spawn on the x box version and hihachi on ps2 version. There is lots of different modes e.g tag team mode most of the charecters use wepons and do amazing combos i highly recomend this game.

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Rating: - the best just got better
For those of you who are still blissfully unaware soul calibur originally found on the ill fated dreamcast. to many beat'em up fans and other gamers this game was heralded as THE best beat'em up ever. and an entire computer game generation later comes it's successor.... unsurprisingly title, wait for it... Soul Calibur 2.

Initial impressions of SC2 from it's intro movie is that this is going to be an intricvately made a beautiful game, however upon playing you find that it is better. The graphics in this game remain consistantly high not even suffering in the slightest from any drops in frame rate. the characters included retain numerous from the previous title aswell as several new ones, the most heart warming of which is the legendary and world renowned Link (legend of zelda), however not all characters are as pleasant. it becomes my undesirable duty to inform you that some characters, well one really, seems to have just been 'slapped' together, Berserker, though his name is promising is in reality rediculasly powerful juggernaut of a seemingly greek fighter. The only other character based annoyance is that the new Todd McFarlan character necrid has been horribly westernised and seems unbalanced aswell as out of place, a monster as an ancient fighter?

As in it's predicessor the music whilst beatifully conducted and well suited is nothing breath taking or revolutionary, but then anything too complex would distract, wouldn't it.

There are only limited modes of play available at first with others unlocked as you progress, the overal list including a mission mode where you can buy new weapons, an arcade mode , a survival mode and team battles(no tag though) aswell as with the option to use new weapons to amazing affect.

this game is the new king and an absolute must for all who do not hate beat'em ups.

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Rating: - Soul Calibur II =||)===> SLASH!
þ When you switch on your GameCube, you witness a well-rounded intro movie, which tells a short story of "Swords & Souls", and then move onto the Start screen where a generic American movie voice bellows out 'Soul Calibur...2'. You will initially be quite dissapointed with the selection, or lack thereof. The regular Arcade Mode and a mysterious 'Weapons mater Mode'.

þ You initially choose the arcade mode, again dissapointed that your character (probably link if you have any sense) only has one weapon to choose from, and two costumes, but as soon as you see the camera pan around the fighters, the game reveals its beautiful (and detailed) settings. Very well consrtucted level design and exquisite facial expressions slap you in your game doubting face.
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þ The battle begins - You start smashing (A), )x) and rapidly, carving your way through a surprisingly easy first round. You beat another 8 or so fighters (including some sort of fire monster finalé) and Triumphantly watch a new mode (Extra arcade mode) being unlocked.

þ The weapons master mode is a real breath of air for an experienced gamer (you) as it includes a layout where you move along a map of 'Europe' searching for the elusive pieces of the 'Soul Edge', an evil sword which has come back after being defeated by the (you guessed it, or maybe not) Soul Calibur, the Richard Madely to Soul Edge's Judy Finnigan. You should now begin to use the practice mode to learn more powerful moves (although you can view them in battles) to defeat the more challenging weapons master enemies. Other good points within this mode are Shop (you can buy costumes and weapons here with gold you gain quite easily) and the different styles of battle e.g. hit the opponent 20 times/a take the gold now, r double it by winning the next battle.

þ Overall, if you like...games you should buy this.

Links to Screenshots (I am not in any way affilated with any of the following, and do not condone their content);

þ GameSpot

þ Rotten Tomatoes

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Rating: - Well done Namco
Namco have bettered this game from its predeccesors. In my view they have made the best fighting game so far, and the fact that weapons are involeved makes this game even better. The controls on the cube suit the game great and the graphics are amazing. What makes the gamecube version better thatn the others is the inclusion of Link from the Legend of Zelda, he is my fave character, but there are so many others that are good too: the mighty Nightmare and the just plain weird Voldo are some stars. buy this game now, esspecially from amazon.