I guess I did not miss much this weekend

[The Prince of Darkness]

First off let me get this straight. Soul Caliber 2 is really not all that. I did not buy the game because I am going to pick up a football game instead. It does surprise me that some of you guys are *****ing about the fighting game that was supposed to be bigger than the second coming of Christ. Tell me guys---should I buy it and which version is the best. What does not surprise me is that everyone is wasting their time comparing a two year old fighting game to the second coming of Christ. Give me a break people---SC2 better be better than DOA3. Give me some feedback---especially Geezer since he got suckered into buying all three versions(not really surprising at all).

How about football games guys? Should I wait and see how ESPN pans out or just get Madden? What about Fever? Did anyone buy that one?

[Gaming Geezer 78]

First off let me get this straight. Soul Caliber 2 is really not all that. I did not buy the game because I am going to pick up a football game instead. It does surprise me that some of you guys are *****ing about the fighting game that was supposed to be bigger than the second coming of Christ. Tell me guys---should I buy it and which version is the best. What does not surprise me is that everyone is wasting their time comparing a two year old fighting game to the second coming of Christ. Give me a break people---SC2 better be better than DOA3. Give me some feedback---especially Geezer since he got suckered into buying all three versions(not really surprising at all).

How about football games guys? Should I wait and see how ESPN pans out or just get Madden? What about Fever? Did anyone buy that one?

If graphics "sheen" is all you care about, than Soul Calibur II isn't as "polished" as DOA3. However, it has better architecture, better characters, better music...better well, everything. The graphics are improved quite a bit over SC on Dreamcast. 20 characters round out your fighting stable + 3 more available in multiplayer only. You start out with I believe 3 different game modes-Arcade, Vs. and Weapon Master. Playing through Weapon Master mode, you unlock hundred of weapons, new costumes, 5 hidden characters plus the 3 multiplayer fighters, 9 or more new modes of play, multiple new arenas and theatre modes. You can also unlock a high-res art gallery as well as an original pencil art gallery. Plus, there is tons more to this game.

I didn't get suckered into buying all three versions, I wanted all three for the three exclusive characters. If I had to pick and/or list the three in order from favorite to least favorite, it would go like this:

#1 PS2
#2 Gamecube
#3 Xbox

The Xbox Controller S started to really hurt my thumb after about 45 minutes of play. And surprisingly, the Gamecube controller is the most comfortable for me to play the game on and easy to use. The PS2 controller also works well and feels more like the Dreamcast controller layout surprisingly enough. As far as exclusive characters, Heihachi is my favorite followed by Link.

[Tappy_Tibbons]

eh....SC2 sucks. Don't waste your $ on that shallow, boring, STUPID AI fighter. I rented it, but why listen to me? I hate Japanese games and fighters so I guess I'm not the best judge here but read further the stupid criteria people like Geezer are using the say which version is best...

Everyone is acting like the PS2 version is all of the sudden superior because IT COMES WITH A FRIKKIN DEMO DISK. Yea, that's right, a DEMO DISK...forget the FACT that the PS2 version has choppy slowdown and load times(which neither Xbox nor GC version have and Geezer claim doesn't exist in the PS2 version...who are you gonna trust? Geezer or EGM? Even EGM, the sony loving bastards said that the XBox and GC versions are superior) I guess the fact that it comes with a DEMO DISK makes it all worthwhile eh? Riiiiiight...

Follow the pros...at least the have good logic...not some "fresh off the pipe" logic with fiber thrown in for good regularity.

[slade]

<div class=\"smallfont\">First off let me get this straight. Soul Caliber 2 is really not all that. I did not buy the game because I am going to pick up a football game instead. </div>

So, you're saying the game isn't big because you're not buying it.

Don't we have a big opinion of ourself.

<div class=\"smallfont\"> What does not surprise me is that everyone is wasting their time comparing a two year old fighting game to the second coming of Christ.</div>

Actually, the only people doing these comparisons are X-bots that don't want to acknowledge that the best fighter on their system is multiplat.

<div class=\"smallfont\">Give me a break people---SC2 better be better than DOA3. </div>

Oh don't worry, it is much better then DOA3. But then again, so was the original game which came out three years before DOA3.

[folken001]

<div class=\"smallfont\"> First off let me get this straight. Soul Caliber 2 is really not all that. I did not buy the game because I am going to pick up a football game instead. It does surprise me that some of you guys are *****ing about the fighting game that was supposed to be bigger than the second coming of Christ. Tell me guys---should I buy it and which version is the best. What does not surprise me is that everyone is wasting their time comparing a two year old fighting game to the second coming of Christ. Give me a break people---SC2 better be better than DOA3. Give me some feedback---especially Geezer since he got suckered into buying all three versions(not really surprising at all).</div>

Don't worry. Even Tekken 1 is better than DOA3, so SC2 is pretty much a sure bet if you wnat something better.

I think you should not bother to buy SC2, so I am not going to give you any suggestion.

<div class=\"smallfont\"> How about football games guys? Should I wait and see how ESPN pans out or just get Madden? What about Fever? Did anyone buy that one?</div>

ESPN is not bad, but Madden 2004 is better.

[The Prince of Darkness]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

"So, you're saying the game isn't big because you're not buying it."

nope, just looking for some opinions.

"Don't we have a big opinion of ourself."

certainly I do---finally you and I have something in common.

<div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

"Actually, the only people doing these comparisons are X-bots that don't want to acknowledge that the best fighter on their system is multiplat."

Is that so? I guess that means that your latest PS2 poster-boy is an Xbot then. My only question is this---do you think that the PS2 and GC fanboys have acknowledged that the best fighter on their respective system is multiplat? Have you Slade?

<div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

"Oh don't worry, it is much better then DOA3. But then again, so was the original game which came out three years before DOA3."<

Definately a matter of opinion. It really depends on what you want in a game.

/div>

[slade]

certainly I do---finally you and I have something in common.

Oh, I don't have that big an opinion of myself but it's nice to see that you have that big an opinion of me.

Is that so? I guess that means that your latest PS2 poster-boy is an Xbot then. My only question is this---do you think that the PS2 and GC fanboys have acknowledged that the best fighter on their respective system is multiplat? Have you Slade?

I'm sure GC fans know which is the better technical 3d fighter between SC2 and Bloody Roar Primal Fury. Unfortunately, PS2 has this little game called VF4 that actually presents somewhat of a challenge against SC2. Of course, X-bots are the only fanbase I know that actually seem to think that DOA3 is even worth mentioning in the same breath as VF or the Soul Series.

Definately a matter of opinion.

Yeah, just like the one or two people that think Superman 64 or Fantastic Four are actually good games.

It really depends on what you want in a game.

Exactly, if you want both style and substance, Soul Calibur 2. If you want style but no substance, DOA3.

[mass]

<div class=\"smallfont\">First off let me get this straight. Soul Caliber 2 is really not all that. I did not buy the game because I am going to pick up a football game instead. It does surprise me that some of you guys are *****ing about the fighting game that was supposed to be bigger than the second coming of Christ. Tell me guys---should I buy it and which version is the best. What does not surprise me is that everyone is wasting their time comparing a two year old fighting game to the second coming of Christ. Give me a break people---SC2 better be better than DOA3. Give me some feedback---especially Geezer since he got suckered into buying all three versions(not really surprising at all).

How about football games guys? Should I wait and see how ESPN pans out or just get Madden? What about Fever? Did anyone buy that one?</div>

I'd pass on Fever, this title was third-rate when it started out, and is still trailing the pack. I don't care for fever's graphics, the animations are nothing special and they're overused. Check out IGN's review of fever which is spot on, IMO. Fever's training mode is an absolute joke, it's so bad, it's embaressing, you just shake your head at the sheer inepititude. Haven't these guys even taken a look at Madden 2003, mini-camp mode and madden 101? If not, why not?

Madden is more of the same if you ask me, as far as the game engine goes. NCAA 2004 plays a more entertaining brand of football than madden. It's using the madden engine, but I simply enjoy the game a hell of a lot more.

I'll wait until I rent ESPN before rendering an opinion. Based on the demo, the graphics and animation are the best of the three.

[The Prince of Darkness]

<div class=\"smallfont\">"Oh, I don't have that big an opinion of myself but it's nice to see that you have that big an opinion of me."

Oh brother---I am not even going to touch this one

"I'm sure GC fans know which is the better technical 3d fighter between SC2 and Bloody Roar Primal Fury. Unfortunately, PS2 has this little game called VF4 that actually presents somewhat of a challenge against SC2. Of course, X-bots are the only fanbase I know that actually seem to think that DOA3 is even worth mentioning in the same breath as VF or the Soul Series."

You didn't answer my question. What I was really trying to find out was whether it hurts the GC fanboys to know that SSBM is no longer the best fighting game on their console, and whether it hurts the PS2 fanboys to know that VF is no longer the best fighting game on their console since they were both beat out by a multiplat title.


"Yeah, just like the one or two people that think Superman 64 or Fantastic Four are actually good games."

That is actually funny Slade, obvious as hell, but funny.

"Exactly, if you want both style and substance, Soul Calibur 2. If you want style but no substance, DOA3."</div>

Actually, it seems like a lot of people are questioning SC2's substance aren't they? That was really my question. I admit that DOA3 is all about the style, but that is whatt makes it fun at parties for me. If SC2 is pretentious in the substance department then I don't want it.

[slade]

You didn't answer my question. What I was really trying to find out was whether it hurts the GC fanboys to know that SSBM is no longer the best fighting game on their console, and whether it hurts the PS2 fanboys to know that VF is no longer the best fighting game on their console since they were both beat out by a multiplat title.

Technically, SSBM isn't a 3d fighter. In terms of actual 3d fighters, GC only has two real options, Bloody Roar and now SC2. However, if it floats your boat to compare the two games which are quite dissimilar, you're very welcome.

On PS2 though, VF4 is actually still doing pretty good and has even managed to beat SC2 on various different review sites. So, obviously, PS2 fanboys don't have to admit much since they get both an awesome 3d hand to hand fighter and and awesome 3d weapons fighter.

On X-box, DOA3 was SC2's only competition and it buried the game before it was even released.

Actually, it seems like a lot of people are questioning SC2's substance aren't they? That was really my question.

Actually, the only criticism I've seen from valid sources (let's not take the words of X-bots (Daman or Tappy) who have either not played the game or are jaded by the fact that it isn't online)....... In any case, the only criticism I've seen is that the game is too similar to Soul Calibur. Something I don't think is true because from the tier listings, which I linked to in another thread, it seems that character balance has been tweaked quite a bit in this game. Charcters which were low tier in previous games are high tier in this one and vice versa.

[The Prince of Darkness]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

I'd pass on Fever, this title was third-rate when it started out, and is still trailing the pack. I don't care for fever's graphics, the animations are nothing special and they're overused. Check out IGN's review of fever which is spot on, IMO. Fever's training mode is an absolute joke, it's so bad, it's embaressing, you just shake your head at the sheer inepititude. Haven't these guys even taken a look at Madden 2003, mini-camp mode and madden 101? If not, why not?

Madden is more of the same if you ask me, as far as the game engine goes. NCAA 2004 plays a more entertaining brand of football than madden. It's using the madden engine, but I simply enjoy the game a hell of a lot more.

I'll wait until I rent ESPN before rendering an opinion. Based on the demo, the graphics and animation are the best of the three.</div>

Thanks man. I will definately pass on Fever if they haven't cleaned it up in the gameplay department. As far as Madden goes---I always go in another direction if I can help it because I am so sick of the series. Even though the gameplay is great it just seems stale to me in the end. I just noticed that Game informer actually gave ESPN a better score than Madden, so hopefully that will be the ticket.

[Gaming Geezer 78]

eh....SC2 sucks. Don't waste your $ on that shallow, boring, STUPID AI fighter. I rented it, but why listen to me? I hate Japanese games and fighters so I guess I'm not the best judge here but read further the stupid criteria people like Geezer are using the say which version is best...

Everyone is acting like the PS2 version is all of the sudden superior because IT COMES WITH A FRIKKIN DEMO DISK. Yea, that's right, a DEMO DISK...forget the FACT that the PS2 version has choppy slowdown and load times(which neither Xbox nor GC version have and Geezer claim doesn't exist in the PS2 version...who are you gonna trust? Geezer or EGM? Even EGM, the sony loving bastards said that the XBox and GC versions are superior) I guess the fact that it comes with a DEMO DISK makes it all worthwhile eh? Riiiiiight...

Follow the pros...at least the have good logic...not some "fresh off the pipe" logic with fiber thrown in for good regularity.

FYI for Tappy....THE POST WHERE I TALKED ABOUT THE DEMO DISC MAKING THE PS2 VERSION THE BEST IS A J-O-K-E!!!

I know that is hard for a simple mind to grasp, but oh well. Why do I bother? And on to your comments:

Choppy Slowdown: The PS2 version has no more slowdown than either the Gamecube or Xbox versions. I know, I own them all. EGM is the only mag/site to say this.
Load Times: The Xbox version takes approximately 2 seconds to load after the announcer names the fighters. The Gamecube version takes approximately 1 second to load after the announcer names the fighters. The PS2 versions takes 3, maybe 4 seconds to load after the announcer names the fighters. The Dreamcast SC took 6 seconds to load after the versus screen popped up (no announcer naming fighters on it).

[mass]

&lt;div class=\&quot;smallfont\&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

Thanks man. I will definately pass on Fever if they haven't cleaned it up in the gameplay department. As far as Madden goes---I always go in another direction if I can help it because I am so sick of the series. Even though the gameplay is great it just seems stale to me in the end. I just noticed that Game informer actually gave ESPN a better score than Madden, so hopefully that will be the ticket.</div>

I would be remiss not to mention Read and Lead passing, Fever's supposed innovation and contribution to sports gaming. Needlessly complicated, this feature was obviously not playtested to any great extent. Imagine the following.

Third and long, you set up for a pass, the defense is blitzing, you hike the ball, you drop back and move around in the pocket to avoid the rush, you spot an open receiver, you hit the appropriate button to first select the receiver, now while still moving your qb with the left analog stick to avoid the rush, with the right analog stick, move the cursor to in front of the moving receiver's intended pass route(like that's easy), and then pass with the right trigger(non-intuitive, since you select the receiver with normal button assignments) adjusting for the strength of your pass. What fun!!

This game is a three-time loser and needs to be permanently benched. Madden might be boring after all this time, but Fever, is well, crap. Doesn't play well and lacks features. There's a great combo. It doesn't even play well anymore as an arcade football game. Plays seem to start off in slo-mo and then speed up. I don't know what the designers were thinking. The commentary is as dull as ever, the crowd sounds are good, but ESPN is going to piss all over Fever in the presentation, graphics and gameplay departments, and madden absolutely kills it in the features department and still plays a far more readily accessible brand of football. People who find playmaker too complicated and not worth the bother should at least rent Fever for a laugh, and try out Read and Lead passing.

[ThaMaskedGamer]

This is coming from an original DC owner, that played SC for years. This game is just a port, and Namco should be shameful for hyping this steaming pile. First let me say, SC is not a bad game, its a great game, so of course SC2 being a port is going to be good. But it is just an incremental upgrade, really small over the first game.
The fighting is exactly the same, you can pick up this game with an XBOX controller choose any of the old fighters and do 90% of the moves just as you would with a DC controller. The new fighters are filler garbarge. Talim, Raphael, and the console specific one's like Spawn, Link are good. But Necrid, Charade are just fighters that use the weapons of the other characters. The boss, inferno is back, and unchanged, he too, is just a variety of the other fighters covered in flames, cheap trick. This time instead of changing weapons after each round, one round is divided into thirds, and after u take away 1/3 of his life, he changes weapons. It really is just a cheap trick, I never liked inferno in the first SC, and after all these years I can't believe they brought him back.
Then there are the levels, the only difference now is the backgrounds are 3D, they look decent, but are meaning less and have no impact on the game. You still fight on a small platform that is very tiny. Some of the levels are now rooms with walls, and u can jump and fight off the walls, but nothing to the degree of DOA3, despite other who may try and mislead you. The levels overall are about 1/3rd the size of DOA3 levels, there are no multiple levels or breakable walls, or interaction.
Game modes, is crap. There is no tag team battle, so 4 people can't play, and there are no tag team combinations. These guys will try and sell you on WeaponsMasterMode, this is just the same old story mode from SC1, except as you go through u unlock not just characters, but also weapons. But, no they aren't new weapons, for example Mitsurigi will unlock Raphael sword, but he still fights the same. Its more filler garbage.
Namco took a prime opportunity to release the game on all 3 consoles and rake in big money. They stoked everyone's desires by creating a unique character for each console, but its all smoke and mirrors, there is very little here to warrant $50. And when thinking about the leap one would expect from the DC version that was released 4 or 5 years ago, this is a shameful offering. The graphics look almost identical, they are polished and very clean over the DC, new costumes, but you would be hard pressed catching the game playing to really notice anything one would consider a dramatic improvement. And I'm playing in 480P on the XBOX. The XBOX has 720P, but it plays in 4:3 not 16:9.
I would say, if u do get the game, get the version that has the character u like the best, either Spawn or Link. But first rent the game, do yourself a favor.

[Superboler]

The word verve should be a mantra for all game developers. This one's nowhere near sublime territory.

[The Prince of Darkness]

<div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

I would be remiss not to mention Read and Lead passing, Fever's supposed innovation and contribution to sports gaming. Needlessly complicated, this feature was obviously not playtested to any great extent. Imagine the following.

Third and long, you set up for a pass, the defense is blitzing, you hike the ball, you drop back and move around in the pocket to avoid the rush, you spot an open receiver, you hit the appropriate button to first select the receiver, now while still moving your qb with the left analog stick to avoid the rush, with the right analog stick, move the cursor to in front of the moving receiver's intended pass route(like that's easy), and then pass with the right trigger(non-intuitive, since you select the receiver with normal button assignments) adjusting for the strength of your pass. What fun!!

This game is a three-time loser and needs to be permanently benched. Madden might be boring after all this time, but Fever, is well, crap. Doesn't play well and lacks features. There's a great combo. It doesn't even play well anymore as an arcade football game. Plays seem to start off in slo-mo and then speed up. I don't know what the designers were thinking. The commentary is as dull as ever, the crowd sounds are good, but ESPN is going to piss all over Fever in the presentation, graphics and gameplay departments, and madden absolutely kills it in the features department and still plays a far more readily accessible brand of football. People who find playmaker too complicated and not worth the bother should at least rent Fever for a laugh, and try out Read and Lead passing.</div>


That really sounds lame especially considering that the read and lead sounded like the only redeeming feature. Well, there have been another couple good reviews for ESPN so I think that I am getting it tonight. I will post some thoughts in a couple days. I am especially curious about the 1st person because all the reviews seem to be praising it. I just thought that it would turn out to be a cheap gimmick.

[Tappy_Tibbons]

TPOD, don't listen to Slade, I've got SC2 sitting on my xbox right now in the BB video rented case...I've played it for about 1 hour total. It is NOTHING to write home about, believe me. I am actually amazed at how much this game was hyped. If you ever played SC1 on DC, you've played SC2 and only let geeky fighting game junkies tell you about stupid little nuances that only geeky fighting game junkies would notice unless you are a geeky fighting game junky....casual fighting game fans will laugh at SC2 and laugh even harder at morons on this board who treat it like it's the second coming...rent it, you'll see.

[The Prince of Darkness]

<div class=\"smallfont\">TPOD, don't listen to Slade, I've got SC2 sitting on my xbox right now in the BB video rented case...I've played it for about 1 hour total. It is NOTHING to write home about, believe me. I am actually amazed at how much this game was hyped. If you ever played SC1 on DC, you've played SC2 and only let geeky fighting game junkies tell you about stupid little nuances that only geeky fighting game junkies would notice unless you are a geeky fighting game junky....casual fighting game fans will laugh at SC2 and laugh even harder at morons on this board who treat it like it's the second coming...rent it, you'll see.</div>

That's cool. I was already pretty much convinced. I just picked up ESPN Football, so I am done for a month or so. Plus the folks over at EB agreed with you on SC2 so I passed on it.

[slade]

Hey Tappy, I seem to remember this one post, a few months ago saying that all fighting games were stupid if they weren't online. Do I really want to listen to someone that made an asinine comment like that. Errr, no I don't.

[Gaming Geezer 78]

TPOD, don't listen to Slade, I've got SC2 sitting on my xbox right now in the BB video rented case...I've played it for about 1 hour total. It is NOTHING to write home about, believe me. I am actually amazed at how much this game was hyped. If you ever played SC1 on DC, you've played SC2 and only let geeky fighting game junkies tell you about stupid little nuances that only geeky fighting game junkies would notice unless you are a geeky fighting game junky....casual fighting game fans will laugh at SC2 and laugh even harder at morons on this board who treat it like it's the second coming...rent it, you'll see.

You mean anyone who actually invests time into a game to unlock the secrets and become proficient?

You say that if you have played SCI on Dreamast than you have already played SCII? I guess the same holds true for every fighter then since each sequel adds & improves on the foundation laid by the first, right?

I can't believe you have the balls to talk smack with Daman about SCII and yet you can't wait for Dead Or Alive Online-a simple port of two old, tired, second-tier fighters! DOA series has always played second fiddle to Tekken, Soul Calibur and Virtua Fighter. Hell, it even plays second fiddle to all the Capcom 2D fighters, Guilty Gear, Bloody Roar....you get the idea.

For anyone who liked the original Soul Calibur & Soul Blade before it, they will love Soul Calibur II. The new characters are all interesting and diverse and add greatly to an already great cast. Unlockable characters, arenas, theaters, play modes, weapons and costumes are icing on this already sweet cake. I guess that getting a new costume on a demo disc for DOA3 is great, but actually having these items with the original game and you must earn them sucks, right?

For anyone actually reading these posts & sitting on the fence of whether or not to get SCII, just look at the reviews and what people who have actually played the game have to say. Not these beligerent, hatefull little Xbots who obviously haven't played the game.

And really Daman, since an EB Xbot employee told you the game isn't "all that" it must not be, right? The same EB employees who keep hyping the hell out of NFL Fever, right? The same EB employees where one dork clerk told me "Dood, Xbox has the best graphics evar! PS2 can't compete!" I replied, "Yeah, but PS2 has too many good games that Xbox doesn't have and the graphics aren't all the much better anyway." His response? "Uhhhh....I guess so."

Yeah...real intelligent. Talk about gaming geeks! Working for a buck-o five in a geek shop pedaling the wares of whatever company is paying the whores to promote their garbage. Just like EB clerks giving Enter the Matrix a "Highly Recommended!" OK......

[The Prince of Darkness]

<div class=\"smallfont\">You mean anyone who actually invests time into a game to unlock the secrets and become proficient?

You say that if you have played SCI on Dreamast than you have already played SCII? I guess the same holds true for every fighter then since each sequel adds & improves on the foundation laid by the first, right?

I can't believe you have the balls to talk smack with Daman about SCII and yet you can't wait for Dead Or Alive Online-a simple port of two old, tired, second-tier fighters! DOA series has always played second fiddle to Tekken, Soul Calibur and Virtua Fighter. Hell, it even plays second fiddle to all the Capcom 2D fighters, Guilty Gear, Bloody Roar....you get the idea.

For anyone who liked the original Soul Calibur & Soul Blade before it, they will love Soul Calibur II. The new characters are all interesting and diverse and add greatly to an already great cast. Unlockable characters, arenas, theaters, play modes, weapons and costumes are icing on this already sweet cake. I guess that getting a new costume on a demo disc for DOA3 is great, but actually having these items with the original game and you must earn them sucks, right?

For anyone actually reading these posts & sitting on the fence of whether or not to get SCII, just look at the reviews and what people who have actually played the game have to say. Not these beligerent, hatefull little Xbots who obviously haven't played the game.

And really Daman, since an EB Xbot employee told you the game isn't "all that" it must not be, right? The same EB employees who keep hyping the hell out of NFL Fever, right? The same EB employees where one dork clerk told me "Dood, Xbox has the best graphics evar! PS2 can't compete!" I replied, "Yeah, but PS2 has too many good games that Xbox doesn't have and the graphics aren't all the much better anyway." His response? "Uhhhh....I guess so."

Yeah...real intelligent. Talk about gaming geeks! Working for a buck-o five in a geek shop pedaling the wares of whatever company is paying the whores to promote their garbage. Just like EB clerks giving Enter the Matrix a "Highly Recommended!" OK......</div>

Dude---I would definately trust my buds at the local EB over what you recommend because at least those guys are consistent. Who knows what in the hell you will be recommending in a month's time. Plus, you have actually sung the praises of The Getaway in the past month. That speaks volumes there Geezer. You truly will play anything won't you?

[Tappy_Tibbons]

<div class=\"smallfont\"><div class=\"smallfont\"></div>

Dude---I would definately trust my buds at the local EB over what you recommend because at least those guys are consistent. Who knows what in the hell you will be recommending in a month's time. Plus, you have actually sung the praises of The Getaway in the past month. That speaks volumes there Geezer. You truly will play anything won't you?</div>

Yea, the Getaway was total garbage.

Man, why not RENT SC2 and find out for yourself what you think. Don't listen to me, Slade, Geezer, or anyone else, just sink 6$ into a rental and find out for yourself what it is, maybe you'll like it, but I know I feel cheated out of my 6$.

[trebor]

<div class=\"smallfont\">First off let me get this straight. Soul Caliber 2 is really not all that. I did not buy the game because I am going to pick up a football game instead. It does surprise me that some of you guys are *****ing about the fighting game that was supposed to be bigger than the second coming of Christ. Tell me guys---should I buy it and which version is the best. What does not surprise me is that everyone is wasting their time comparing a two year old fighting game to the second coming of Christ. Give me a break people---SC2 better be better than DOA3. Give me some feedback---especially Geezer since he got suckered into buying all three versions(not really surprising at all).
</div>

Ignore Tappy and Geezer for a moment and listen to what I have to say about SC2.

Let me preface this by saying the last fighting game I bought was Street Fighter Alpha 3 on PS1 and the only 3D fighting game I've ever owned was Tekken 2. Never played DOA, SC1 or any of the later versions of VF (although I played VF2 quite a bit in the arcades).

Having said all that, I think SC2 is a thoroughly enjoyable fighting game that has a polished look and interesting characters. Arguing whether VF4 plays better or if DOA has the most large-breasted bimbos to fight with is irrevalent. The bottom line is that SC2 looks great, plays great and is fun.

In any respect, it is a smooth playing game that allows you to get as deep into the fighting mechanics as you could possibly want. It is also a approachable game for those who are new to the genre, as button mashing can get you a relatively good degree of success in versus matches.

But the absolutely coolest aspect of the game is that it is available on all 3 platforms. Why is that the coolest aspect, you ask? Well, simply put, it means that there is more competition out there. The chances of a buddy owning the game is pretty high, and even if it is on a different console, you can still play it as 95% of the characters and moves are identical on all three systems.

I'm sure DOA and VF4 are excellent fighters in their own right, but if I tried playing against somebody, I'd get my ass handed to me - because I'm unfamiliar with them. Now if somebody wants to play SC2, that is a different story, and it doesn't matter what platform they prefer.

See what I'm saying here? Multiplatform can be a great thing, when it comes to competitive games.

[Darwin]

Slade, GF78, do not read the following. In fact, I will know encode this in Xbot-speak so you cannot understand it .... Yo !!!

Not to be treacherous to my fellow Xbots .... but a lot of us have been singing the praises of Moto GP 2 the last several months. IMO, this is my favorite racing game of all time. BUT ..... In essence, Moto GP2 is really a minor upgrade from the first one. In fact, I would really call it Moto GP 1.5. A few more tracks, a few more bikes, some additional options, however the basic physics, gameplay, and graphics have not changed much at all from the first Moto GP. But don't let Slade or GF78 know ... otherwise our point that Soul Calibur 2 is just a minor upgrade from SC1 might be weakened. We'll keep it our little secret. Xbox rulez Suckerz !!!

[Glockstar]

<div class=\"smallfont\">Slade, GF78, do not read the following. In fact, I will know encode this in Xbot-speak so you cannot understand it .... Yo !!!

Not to be treacherous to my fellow Xbots .... but a lot of us have been singing the praises of Moto GP 2 the last several months. IMO, this is my favorite racing game of all time. BUT ..... In essence, Moto GP2 is really a minor upgrade from the first one. In fact, I would really call it Moto GP 1.5. A few more tracks, a few more bikes, some additional options, however the basic physics, gameplay, and graphics have not changed much at all from the first Moto GP. But don't let Slade or GF78 know ... otherwise our point that Soul Calibur 2 is just a minor upgrade from SC1 might be weakened. We'll keep it our little secret. Xbox rulez Suckerz !!!</div>

Yeah I remember you nowww! You're that guy that's #@$%ed in the head! What the hell are you talking about, "the graphics have not changed much..."!?! While the old MGP looked good - it definitely looked like an XB game - MGP2 looks like a dream! Heck, just look at the back tires on each version... where MGP 1s are squarish, MGP2s are round, round, round! Please tell me you see this - I mean everything looks better, but this is really obvious. (If not... I'm afraid I'm going to have ask for a new teammate :p )

And there are more changes to MGP2 than what you mentioned too. Unfortunately, not all of them for the better. But it all adds up to a legitimate sequel:
+ New tracks and riders
+ Some of the older tracks were "redesigned" or made more like their real life counterparts (I assume - I don't race them in real life you know)
+ On-line enhancements
+ Graphical upgrades! (Trust me!)
+ An improved "Edit Rider" (where you can now re-edit anything and as many times as you wish - where in the first one, if you wanted to change something/anything, you had to create a whole new bike and rider!)
+ A totally different way to distribute "Points" for upgrading your bike
+ Added "Challenges" for earning points, in additon to "Training Exercises"
+ And though I haven't gotten into it on either, there are new ways to customize your bike as far bike set-up goes
- They eliminated the new and different bike "skins" and leathers that you could unlock in the first one. (Booo!)
- The A.I. of the computer bikes remains the same. (Terrible!)
= Same great gameplay though! (They better NOT change it!)

MGP2 is quite a bit different than MGP1. Trust me... I know. MGP1 was a total blast (well, except for not being able to make changes to my rider, and the jack-holes riding around backwards on-line) while MGP2 has been extremely aggravating!