This Bandai Namco classic is the best fighting game for PlayStation 2

Key points

  • The Soulcalibur franchise is notable for its focus on swordplay and medieval fantasy themes, setting it apart from other 3D fighting games.
  • Soulcalibur II remains the most beloved installment, known for its spectacular graphics, diverse characters and unique gameplay mechanics.
  • While some titles in the series have been criticized, Soulcalibur II's legacy continues to shine with its immersive atmosphere and fantastic soundtrack.



Full of legacy series like Tekken, Street FighterAND Soul CaliburThe fighting game genre has entered a modern renaissance, as many developers have released stellar titles filled with fantastic characters and entertaining story modes. Not every fighting game title in recent memory has been a smash hit, but the genre has come a long way from its arcade roots in the early 1990s. While iconic franchises like Mortal Combat AND Fatal Fury have received or are about to receive new titles, the classics of the PlayStation 2 era Soul Calibur it has apparently been forgotten.

Soul Calibur is one of the oldest and most iconic 3D fighting game franchises to ever appear on arcade cabinets. Starting from Edge of the soul in December 1995, the series' focus on swordplay and a medieval fantasy theme helped it stand out. They gave it an identity distinct from modern 3D fighters like Tekken AND Virtua Fighter. Soulcalibur II It is the most recognizable entry in the franchiseas its crossover characters, phenomenal music, and excellent graphics have helped it stand the test of time.



Soul Calibur It is a landmark in the 3D fighting game genre.

Bandai Namco's Sword-Themed Franchise Breaks the Mould

The character selection menu of Soulcalibur 2.

Game number

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Title

Edge of the soul

Soul Calibur

Soulcalibur II

Soulcalibur III

Legends of Soulcalibur

Soulcalibur IV

Soulcalibur: Broken Fate

Soulcalibur V

Soulcalibur II: HD Online

Soulcalibur Lost Swords

Soulcalibur VI

Release Year

1995

1998

2002

2005

2007

2008

2009

2012

2013

2014

2018


THE Soul Calibur franchise has taken a winding road through 11 mainline games and two poorly received mobile spin-off games to get to where it is today. Starting in the arcades with Edge of the soul in 1995, Bandai Namco's iconic franchise has always stood out among its 3D counterparts, as it has steered clear of its realism to create a medieval fantasy aesthetic. Soul Calibur franchising used an 8-way directional input, which had yet to be implemented in the Tekken series. This gave players a whole new level of character control, as they could move into the foreground and background to dodge attacks.

While this mechanic became standard in later 3D games, Soul Calibur He was the first to innovate in this way and for this reason he remains an important figure for the genre. Unfortunately, as of 2024, the state of the Soul Calibur franchising is up in the air. While Tekken is doing better than ever and Bandai Namco continues to help other companies produce fighting games, no news on what's new Soul Calibur The content was revealed after the release of Soulcalibur VIthe latest DLC character, Hwang. Despite this, the series lives on in the hearts of fans as they patiently await any announcement of a new title in this legendary franchise.


Soulcalibur II It is the pinnacle of fencing in fighting games

An iconic clash of creative characters

Not all titles in the Soul Calibur The franchise has received good reception from critics and fans. Soulcalibur IV It's an inoffensive title that many fans forget, while Soulcalibur V was hated by fans because it replaced fan-favorite characters with new, less interesting ones. However, Soulcalibur II It remains the almost universally loved episode. The game was released in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube and was remastered over a decade later as Soulcalibur II: HD OnlineFor its time, Soulcalibur II was the most visually stunning fighting game on the market, from its stylish character models to its picturesque stage designs. Other fighting games have eclipsed it over the past two decades, but its graphics still hold up today and only add to the rich tradition of the Soul Calibur franchising.


The hallmark of Bandai Namco Soul Calibur experience featured 23 characters (22 main characters and one guest fighting game character depending on the console you were playing on). The three guest characters were Heihachi (PS2), Link (Gamecube), and Spawn (Xbox). The original plan for a guest character for the PlayStation 2 was Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VIIbut Heihachi replaced him after a deal between Square Enix and Bandai Namco fell through at the last minute. At the time, this was a larger-than-usual roster for a game that wasn't a tag fighter. Soulcalibur II features some of the most iconic characters in fighting game history. From sword master and villain Nightmare to the famous femme fatale Ivy Valentine, many of the characters in the game are recognizable to almost any fighting game fan. The game also perfectly blends traditional fighting game aspects with its own unique style, creating a rich and well-balanced experience that is a pleasure to play, regardless of skill level.


Unlike other fighting games, each character has the same HP value, so characters are balanced entirely around their broad move sets. Characters like Astaroth and Nightmare are slow, but their moves hit hard. Meanwhile, characters like Taki and Talim are fast, but their moves are weaker. This means that each character has their own strengths and weaknesses that must be worked around to achieve success. Unlike other later entries in the series, Soulcalibur II put a lot of focus into the design of the fencing game, deciding to prioritize blocks and single strikes over flashy combos and special moves. This, fortunately, doesn't oversimplify the characters, as they all fit into different and unique fighting game archetypes. Astaroth is Soulcalibur IIwhile Mitsurugi is his all-rounder and Taki is a rushdown character. This differentiation of characters makes each match different, as players must exploit their opponent's weaknesses to achieve victory.


Soulcalibur excels at creating an immersive atmosphere

In addition to its iconic fighting game characters, Soul Calibur has always been known for one gimmick in particular, and this gimmick is present on most stages in Soulcalibur II. Instead of reducing the opponent's HP to 0, players can use a powerful move and throw the opponent off the stage to win the round. This makes it important for players not to play too passively, as going back too far can have consequences and lead to defeat. In addition to the characters and gameplay, Soulcalibur II It also has phenomenal aesthetics and art design. Each of the 16 stages feels almost unique from the others, but they all draw inspiration from the intriguing medieval art style the game uses for its characters. From medieval castles to windmill towers, each background in Soulcalibur II It's phenomenally well rendered, with lots of little details that set it apart from levels seen in other 3D fighting games.


While the characters and gameplay are the most important parts of the game Soulcalibur II For most players, perhaps the best part of the game is its fantastic soundtrack. Composed by Junichi Nakatsuru, who also worked on the audio team for Time Crisis IIevery song in Soulcalibur II perfectly accompanies the tense battles on screen. From bombastic battle themes like “No Turning Back” to one of the most iconic character selection themes in fighting game history, “History Unfolds,” each of Soulcalibur IIThe tracks are a work of art that cements itself in the tradition of fighting video games. Soulcalibur II sold phenomenally well, with over a million copies sold across its three home consoles. It was incredible for a relatively niche fighting game, and helped boost the franchise's success while also funding subsequent entries in one of the most unique fighting game franchises of all time.


The Legacy of Soulcalibur II and the future of franchising

Fans' souls still burn but developers are uncertain

Mitsurugi and Geralt fight in Soulcalibur VI (6)

To date, Soulcalibur II It is the most critically acclaimed game in the franchiseas it consistently gets high scores in reviews from major critical websites like Metacritic. Unfortunately, not all titles can boast the same feat, as some of the games have flopped with fans and critics alike. The most recent title in the franchise, Soulcalibur VI, was released in 2018 and falls somewhere between these two points of view. While fans love the game for its phenomenal graphics and guest characters, such as Geralt of Rivia and Yorha 2B, others find the game too simplistic. The game's combat mechanics are fun in concept, but they turn the game into a rock-paper-scissors simulator too often to be an exciting gimmick.


Despite these drawbacks, Soulcalibur VI sold well for the franchise and was relatively popular. However, with the extraordinary success of Tekken 7Bandai Namco found it more profitable to work on a Tekken sequel instead of continuing to support the medieval-inspired fighting game. This leaves the status of the franchise up in the air, as there has been no news since the game stopped receiving support in 2020. Soulcalibur II is one of the most phenomenal fighting games of all time, and fans continue to enjoy it to this day. From stellar characters and unique gadgets to phenomenal art design and incredible music, every part of the game is packed with content. It is unlikely that the Soul Calibur The franchise will never be as beloved as it was when its second installment was released, but fans are hopeful for a sequel in the future.


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