SoulCalibur II (PS2)

The graphics are superb and the gameplay is easy to get the grips with. But ofcourse it takes practice to master some of the really good moves. One of the best things about this game is the Weapon master mode which is basically a story mode. Through this you earn gold which can be spent on purchasing new costumes, weapons and levels..as well as character weapon exhibitions.

I love this game, but if I had to make one complaint, it would be that a few of the Weapon master missions can get really frustrating..but those are few and far between. All in all, this game is worth every penny and I strongly recommend it!!

If you have not played any of the previous games in the SoulBlade and SoulCalibur series then you will probably need a little while to make sense of the story line, but that is not really a problem, after all the game is about action after all. Oh, and what action! When you first approach the game it appears to be really fast paced, and you can continue to play it that way if you wish. After a while though you find that you can take a bit longer in battles to set up moves and dodge and weave through your opponent's guard before delivering your swift and sweet strikes.

The graphics are truly beautiful for a game of this type. The characters are all excellently modeled and the backgrounds look gorgeous. The effects when you strike a blow are bright and eye catching, but the 'sparks' that you raise when your blade clashes with that of your opponent are the what really makes this stand out visually as the most classy beat 'em up on the PS2. When you add to this the impressive effort that has obviously been put into the sound effects and voices in the game and the neat little touches like taunting your opponent between matches the whole package just shines with quality.

This is a game that you will enjoy for a long time. You can come back to it time and again and it draws you in, comfortably letting you progress at your own pace through the Weapon master mode, and giving instant thrills and delights in the arcade and extra arcade modes. In all then, this is excellent value and maximum fun, bringing a big smile to your face right from the start. It looks and sounds lovely, and you can play at whatever pace you like. Total beat 'em up class!

So after being a fan of beat-‘em-ups for quite a while, when I heard about the most hyped beat-‘em-up of all time; Soul Calibur 2; I simply had to get myself a copy. So I pre-ordered it. And I am not in the slightest disappointed with the game.

The game has an array of characters, each with their own personality and feel to the fighting. Some are easier for newbie’s to master, whilst some are increasingly difficult to master but are doubly rewarding. For instance, Voldo has lots of stances and different moves that HAVE to be learnt. If you were to choose him and press any button then you would get hammered. This variety between characters increases the game’s shelf life. For instance, you may opt to master one character one week and a different one the next.

The gameplay and graphics are solid. I haven’t seen prettier graphics anywhere on the PS2, they are simply gorgeous. The gameplay is very very fluid, and could be mistaken for real-life fighting. Where Tekken is like a phrase, in that it ends once the combo ends; Soul Calibur is like a descriptive sentence with commas that flows on and on, maybe with a pause here and there. The gameplay is adrenaline-filled and fun to play.

There is also the “Weapon Master” mode that gives you a goal when playing on your own. You can work through it to get better weapons and costumes etc. Sure Arcade mode is fun, but the “Weapon Master” gives it a little bit of purpose, a little bit of finesse.

Overall it’s a lovely game and one which I would encourage you to buy. If I could only keep one game for the PS2 this would be it!!!