Gaming Geezer 78
08-27-2003, 06:25 PM
Greetings...I'm back!!!
Anyway, I picked up Soul Calibur 2 for both PS2 and Xbox late last night and have had quite a bit of playtime with both. For those who don't know, I currently game on a 27" Phillips with S-Video inputs so that is how I will be comparing the two titles.
Graphics: On my television, both versions look nearly identical. The PS2 version has a itty-bitty bit more aliasing, but the Xbox version is not free from this either. During gameplay, I have yet to see any of the slow-down that the PS2 version is "suposedly" plagued with. I've pulled off a great deal of special moves for all of the characters and none have slowed the game down noticably. Smooth framerate for both versions.
Load Times: During the "Vs." screen, the Xbox version loads the arena about 1-2 seconds after the announcer finished saying the names of the opponents. On the PS2 version, it takes 3-4 seconds after the announcer finished speaking. Hardly a grating matter.
Sound: Since I am only using Dolby Surround and not DD5.1, both games sound identical.
Control: Both the PS2 and Xbox versions control admirably. While I have no troubles at all with the DS2 PS2 pad, the Xbox controller S is much more similar to the Dreamcast controller which I played the original SC on relentlesly. Though, after extended periods of playtime, the Xbox buttons did make my thumb sore while the PS2 controller buttons did not.
Exclusive Character: I had a great many reservations about playing with an "unarmed" Heihachi in the PS2 version, but after just a few minutes, I found him to be a blast to play. He is fast as lightning and has some awesome moves. I took great pleasure in kicking or uppercutting my oponent into the air, then jugling him/her with a sting of punches. Spawn is also great with some really strong moves. A little too strong IMO compared to other characters. My fastest win time was with Spawn. My only complaint about Spawn is that at the end of the rounds, you usually get a close up of his crotch as he leans backward. Like I need to see Al Simmons "package."
This isn't to say either version is bad nor is the Gamecube version bad. Owners of any or all of the systems can take solace in the fact that they can buy any and not get burned. I'm also not taking into account Xbox's superior HDTV & DD5.1 support so bear in mind that with the proper setup, the Xbox version does shine more. But for the average gamers out there who take more joy in actually playing games instead of basking in the fact that they have the "coolest" setup and uses average/above average equipment-you won't find much difference at all between the three aside from the exclusive character. And that all boils down to preference.
Anyway, I picked up Soul Calibur 2 for both PS2 and Xbox late last night and have had quite a bit of playtime with both. For those who don't know, I currently game on a 27" Phillips with S-Video inputs so that is how I will be comparing the two titles.
Graphics: On my television, both versions look nearly identical. The PS2 version has a itty-bitty bit more aliasing, but the Xbox version is not free from this either. During gameplay, I have yet to see any of the slow-down that the PS2 version is "suposedly" plagued with. I've pulled off a great deal of special moves for all of the characters and none have slowed the game down noticably. Smooth framerate for both versions.
Load Times: During the "Vs." screen, the Xbox version loads the arena about 1-2 seconds after the announcer finished saying the names of the opponents. On the PS2 version, it takes 3-4 seconds after the announcer finished speaking. Hardly a grating matter.
Sound: Since I am only using Dolby Surround and not DD5.1, both games sound identical.
Control: Both the PS2 and Xbox versions control admirably. While I have no troubles at all with the DS2 PS2 pad, the Xbox controller S is much more similar to the Dreamcast controller which I played the original SC on relentlesly. Though, after extended periods of playtime, the Xbox buttons did make my thumb sore while the PS2 controller buttons did not.
Exclusive Character: I had a great many reservations about playing with an "unarmed" Heihachi in the PS2 version, but after just a few minutes, I found him to be a blast to play. He is fast as lightning and has some awesome moves. I took great pleasure in kicking or uppercutting my oponent into the air, then jugling him/her with a sting of punches. Spawn is also great with some really strong moves. A little too strong IMO compared to other characters. My fastest win time was with Spawn. My only complaint about Spawn is that at the end of the rounds, you usually get a close up of his crotch as he leans backward. Like I need to see Al Simmons "package."
This isn't to say either version is bad nor is the Gamecube version bad. Owners of any or all of the systems can take solace in the fact that they can buy any and not get burned. I'm also not taking into account Xbox's superior HDTV & DD5.1 support so bear in mind that with the proper setup, the Xbox version does shine more. But for the average gamers out there who take more joy in actually playing games instead of basking in the fact that they have the "coolest" setup and uses average/above average equipment-you won't find much difference at all between the three aside from the exclusive character. And that all boils down to preference.