What SC2 has in polished graphics, smooth animations and a beautiful combat system, lacks in areas that keep my interest
I played the very first one on a ps1 many years ago. Soul Blade? and was impressed with the style. Back then the competition wasn't so fierce and I passed it with a high enjoyment rating. But this is now and what was great back then, now leaves me wanting more of the razzle dazzle of today's games.
First off, I felt ripped off back then and I felt ripped off today. You fight with insane swords, axes, etc and can buy new weapons yet there is no blood and there is no finisher style moves. Even the ring outs are bland and water splashes are extremely lack luster. Sure its not always about the blood and such. But for me thats what a fighting game is about. This is where it loses my vote.
I understand this is japan-amation style of fighting and I can let it slide somewhat due to the flashy moves and a huge selection of them to boot. But then it falls again due to my preference of fighting games. I like many choices of grapple moves, I like reversals that get your blood flowing, this sadly appears to be limited to mostly striking variations. In the first you had an option to lose your weapon and fight hand to hand combat, I liked that touch, to bad that is gone.
As for game content, Arenas to small, not enough level interaction(if any) and I finished the arcade mode in 20min!!! I was a novice and I breezed thru it.
In Soul Caliburs defense, it makes no mistake in letting you know that this is a fighting game and fighting game alone. But then there is another downfall.. What no tournament play for multi-players.. Sorry this is the last straw.. for a fighting game, where is the worth to keep it in my collection. People get tired of getting beat on. Tournament mode may have saved it to be a positive rating, after all if you learn the intricacies with another friend this would be a very intense game. Unfortunately no one will wont to put the effort on the line when it lacks so much 'OOOhhh , AHHH' factors.
Bottom line, I love the combat system(Hight,medium,low) and hope its incorporated into more modern day fighters. It is an okay game but its not for me. I found it boring. Not my style when I can enjoy the down and dirty, gritty styles like Def Jam(yet basic compared to SC2).
I recommend Blade of Darkness for PC for a swords game *slurp*. Or even Mace n64(although controls are poor)