Soul Calibur 2 impressions

FeelGood · Mar 31, 2003

So far, this game looks a lot like ...
Soul Calibur.

I mean, looks and sounds the same. There's more new moves. More characters... A good update.

I did buy the Hori SCII stick, which kicks some ass, and will make CvS2 actually playable on the gamecube (not like I'm itching to play it with SCII right now).

::GRAPHICS::
I'm under the impression that all the 3D technology that was used to make SCII has been around since SC1 and Tekken 3. Really noting mindblowing here.

Some of the character costumes are great, while their counterparts are not. For example, Ivy's second costume is very ... blah, while Nightmare's second costume is that of Sigfried in half of the nightmare armor, looking slightly possessed (from the Soul Blade).

Backgrounds are actually pretty cool. Sure, we're still in "rings" but now they feel a little more built out.

::MUSIC::
The music is pretty much just like last time, but the announcer gives these blurbs about the character you're about to fight, each one specific to the opponent. This is pretty cool in my opinion. Even better that it's in english.

::GAME MECHANICS::
Load times are non-existent. As expected from Namco I guess. It really helps things out.

There are multiple modes, like a weapon master mode, arcade mode, team battle, practice. Some modes are unlocked.

Practics mode will show you how the move you select is to look when performed correctly. No more guessing if you did it right...

Controls are basically the same. weak slash, hard slash, kick, guard. So far, the moves seem to be intact as well. Like Ivy, has a lot more moves, stances, etc, but the old good stuff still works.

::LINK::
I only played as him for a little bit, but he has bombs (hold kick), bow and arrow (hold B slash), and all his moves from OoT. He's using the master sword, in case you didn't motice.

Makes me wonder if he can bounce back projectiles then... Should try it against another Link player.

::CONCLUSION::
I need an extension cord for my gamecube stick now, as I've been spoiled by the wave bird.

Lastblade · Mar 31, 2003

Thanks for the impressions! Sounds like more of the same (of the good stuff)! I will wait till the stateside release on the box!

EMAGDNIM · Mar 31, 2003

Oh man...thanks for the mini review...I can't wait for my stick and gameto arrive this week drool_2

Bishamon · Mar 31, 2003

I'm disappointed that there isn't an obvious graphical improvement over the original.

I am hopeful that the XBox version will be more impressive.

FeelGood · Mar 31, 2003

Bishamon:
I'm disappointed that there isn't an obvious graphical improvement over the original.

I am hopeful that the XBox version will be more impressive.

The funny thing is that the X-Box version was expected to be the worst of the three. Something I guess about Namco not experienced with X-Box hardware. But then, the reality is that all three look the same. According to NCS.

All of the following items are in stock and shipping to preorders today. We tested XBX Soul Calibur 2 on a chip-modified Xbox console and the game boots, loads, plays fine. We had some fears that the Xbox port would suffer somewhat in the conversion but Namco did an excellent job on all three ports.

[ March 31, 2003, 03:50 PM: Message edited by: EvilWasabi ]

Kid Aphex · Mar 31, 2003

If you use Xbox's progressive scan, it actually looks a bit better. but now we're seriously getting into an area of home-theater I like to call "the fat ass zone"

most guys who get this anal have never had sex and are extremely overweight. expect chimp to chime in on the xbox's superiority due to this feature soon enough. but they all are =

anyways, this game is amazing. i've completed the weapons master mode entirely and have everone's weapons...and they're bad ass. specifically, ivy. its amazing to think that the designers actually put forth he effort into modeling each separate, extra, weapon.

when you play through weapons master mode, you'll also notice the amount of levels there are in the game. a lot of them are simply variations on a "theme" but there's at least 20.

great game.
link rules.
yungsung is the pimp of the day.
you can't play as berserker, assassin, or lizard man. frown

[ March 31, 2003, 05:15 PM: Message edited by: Kid Aphex ]

FeelGood · Mar 31, 2003

Is SCII as polished as SCI? Basically the interface I mean. Does it have that really amazing story mode where to travel the globe fighting people with like a paragraph to read before each match? Do you unlock stuff the further you go?

Sounds like SCI ownz SCII free of charge, on old hardware, years ago. buttrock

FeelGood · Mar 31, 2003

FeelGood:
Is SCII as polished as SCI? Basically the interface I mean. Does it have that really amazing story mode where to travel the globe fighting people with like a paragraph to read before each match? Do you unlock stuff the further you go?

Sounds like SCI ownz SCII free of charge, on old hardware, years ago. buttrock

There is a weapon master mode, which really kicks ass - basically you get to collect weapons for each character, which you cna then select in gameplay later on.

Each chapter of the weapon master mode has a dumb story. You play it for the challenges and dungeons. Incidentally, Link can buy all kinds of different weapons - not just swords, but a hammer, staff, etc.

This is better than the last soul calibur, but you know, Soul Calibur 1 looked really good on the dreamcast - the dreamcast that was 128 bits.

The three consoles out today are also 128 bit.

Go figure. Perhaps the dreamcast was good enough as it was.

SSS · Mar 31, 2003

EvilWasabi

The three consoles out today are also 128 bit.

Actually, the PS2 is the only 128 bit out. I think GC is like 64, and xbox is 32bit. But the consoles are so powerful now, "bit" doesn't really apply anymore.

FeelGood · Mar 31, 2003

SC1 on the DC looks better than 95% of the PS2 games out there.

Damn right it was good enough as it was. buttrock

Weapon master mode sounds cool. Is there a special character exclusive to each system? Did PS2 get Spawn or something?

I hope Xbox gets Bill Gates.

FeelGood · Mar 31, 2003

FeelGood:
SC1 on the DC looks better than 95% of the PS2 games out there.

Damn right it was good enough as it was. buttrock

Weapon master mode sounds cool. Is there a special character exclusive to each system? Did PS2 get Spawn or something?

I hope Xbox gets Bill Gates.

The X-Box got Spawn.

Which is a lot better than Heihachi for the PS2...

There are a lot of hidden characters, hidden stages, hidden modes, and unlockable movies, exhibitions, etc. Not bad for a 1 player game, though I really can't wait to invite friends over to play versus.

FeelGood · Mar 31, 2003

Aww shit didn't know it came out for the Box yet. No wonder Chimp was defending Spawn. tickled

Who the hell is Heihachi though?

FeelGood · Mar 31, 2003

FeelGood:
Aww shit didn't know it came out for the Box yet. No wonder Chimp was defending Spawn. tickled

Who the hell is Heihachi though?

It's only out in Japan right now. I guess that's why so many people here bought it for the cube - the cube is the easiest system to mod of the three - and cheapest to mod since it's a physical alteration, instead of a chip installation.

toy_brain · Mar 31, 2003

Hmm, well I was excited about this game, but I think I'll hold off buying it untill it comes out in the US if it just feels the same as SC1.
Then again, if EA are handling the US and Europe distribution, I wouldn't be supprised to see it come out symoultaniously (spelling??) in both the US and Europe (or at most a few weeks apart).

Might as well wait for the Euro version so I can play it through a nicer SCART signal.

Almsot forgot to ask, how much jappanese text is there in the game?

Kid Aphex · Mar 31, 2003

Here's something else.

There are three characters in the game that you cannot unlock. Assassin, Berserker, and Lizard man. Now, entire movesets ,and multiple costumes are in the game for these characters...and during weapon master mode, you can even play as them sometimes...but you cannot unlock them for main play.

so far, thats the general consensus on the net...and people have ran loops through this game twice over already.

namco mentioned, "If indeed you cant unlock those characters, we might change that for the US release"

still, since three versions of this game are coming out, getting one right now wouldn't hurt

especially since its so fucking good.

naitram · Mar 31, 2003

FeelGood:
Aww shit didn't know it came out for the Box yet. No wonder Chimp was defending Spawn. tickled

Who the hell is Heihachi though?

On the off chance that you're not kidding, he was in Tekken (can someone really not know that?) wink

FeelGood · Mar 31, 2003

toy_brain:
Hmm, well I was excited about this game, but I think I'll hold off buying it untill it comes out in the US if it just feels the same as SC1.
Then again, if EA are handling the US and Europe distribution, I wouldn't be supprised to see it come out symoultaniously (spelling??) in both the US and Europe (or at most a few weeks apart).

Might as well wait for the Euro version so I can play it through a nicer SCART signal.

Almsot forgot to ask, how much jappanese text is there in the game?

weapon master mode is entirely in japanese.

Which is a bitch when your comprehension can't explain how to get past Kilik in the chapter 8 cage match where normal moves do no damage against him.

menus are all in English, as is the announcer's story telling.

Lagduf · Mar 31, 2003

Kid Aphex:
you can't play as berserker, assassin, or lizard man.

When i read that i almost cried. In fact i thought about not purchasing SC2 when it is released stateside.

Why the hell did they take Lizard Man out? Lizard Man is my fucking favorite. You don't get better then the lizard. Oh well. I guess all the cool modes and extras will make up for Lizard Mans dissapearance.

I hope Lizard man becomes playable in the US version of the game...

[ March 31, 2003, 10:52 PM: Message edited by: Lagduf ]

Kid Aphex · Mar 31, 2003

at first I was really nervous that i wasnt going to be able to beat weapon master mode because of the extensive japanese, but it all comes out easy.

when normal damage doesnt work, you just have to hit them into the wall to cause the damage. or hit him in the air then attack him while he's falling.

Kid Aphex · Mar 31, 2003

Its funny, cause you do get to play as them durin weapon master mode. but its random.

as for selecting them whenever you wish? lizard man is unavailable. pretty stupid, considering he's a FULLY developed character.

FeelGood · Mar 31, 2003

Lagduf:

Kid Aphex:
you can't play as berserker, assassin, or lizard man.

Click to expand...

When i read that i almost cried. In fact i thought about not purchasing SC2 when it is released stateside.

Why the hell did they take Lizard Man out? Lizard Man is my fucking favorite. You don't get better then the lizard. Oh well. I guess all the cool modes and extras will make up for Lizard Mans dissapearance.

I hope Lizard man becomes playable in the US version of the game...

ThePro Action Replay was released this week. I'm sure you cna find a code within the week to let you play as the 3 unplayables.

Orpheus · Mar 31, 2003

SamuraiShodownSensei:

EvilWasabi

The three consoles out today are also 128 bit.

Click to expand...

Actually, the PS2 is the only 128 bit out. I think GC is like 64, and xbox is 32bit. But the consoles are so powerful now, "bit" doesn't really apply anymore.

all I know is that while the dreamcast was labled A 128 bit system it is TRULY a 64 bit system on a shit load of juice.....whicg makes it follow in the same footsteps of the neo (true 16 biter on roids) buttrock

Zeekade Zarathos · Mar 31, 2003

Kid Aphex:
Its funny, cause you do get to play as them durin weapon master mode. but its random.

as for selecting them whenever you wish? lizard man is unavailable. pretty stupid, considering he's a FULLY developed character.

That's ridiculous. I loved Lizard Man in SC1.

Lagduf · Mar 31, 2003

EvilWasabi:
ThePro Action Replay was released this week. I'm sure you cna find a code within the week to let you play as the 3 unplayables.

Well as long as i can play as Lizard Man somehow, someway...

But seriously all these Soul Calibur two impressions are getting me really hyped for the US release. I can't wait.

Anyone think there is even a slight chance of the Hori stick being released stateside?

FeelGood · Mar 31, 2003

Lagduf:

EvilWasabi:
ThePro Action Replay was released this week. I'm sure you cna find a code within the week to let you play as the 3 unplayables.

Click to expand...

Well as long as i can play as Lizard Man somehow, someway...

But seriously all these Soul Calibur two impressions are getting me really hyped for the US release. I can't wait.

Anyone think there is even a slight chance of the Hori stick being released stateside?

Does hori release anything stateside anymore?

The jp one will work with your US games. BUT - I'd seriously wait for a Ascii stick if one ever gets released. Honestly, between ascii and Hori, Ascii wins. The Hori stick doesn't use the same grade plastic. It's lighter, and feels less like a candy cab.

Soul Calibur 2 impressions

So Many PostsNo TimeFor Games.

Friend me on Facebook!,

Vice's Love Slave

Azu Bla, ,

So Many PostsNo TimeFor Games.

samus' love slave,

So Many PostsNo TimeFor Games.

So Many PostsNo TimeFor Games.

neo retired

So Many PostsNo TimeFor Games.

So Many PostsNo TimeFor Games.

So Many PostsNo TimeFor Games.

So Many PostsNo TimeFor Games.

Amano's Drinking Buddy

samus' love slave,

The Old Man

So Many PostsNo TimeFor Games.

2>X

samus' love slave,

samus' love slave,

So Many PostsNo TimeFor Games.

One Nut,

Krizalids Fashion Designer

2>X

So Many PostsNo TimeFor Games.

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.

So Many Posts
No Time
For Games.