Soulcalibur 2 Had the Ultimate, and Dumbest, Fighting Game Problem 23 Years Ago

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Released in 2002, *Soulcalibur 2* is often considered one of the greatest fighting games of all time. However, it faced a challenge tied to the gaming landscape of that period. The PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox were the major consoles competing for players’ attention – with Microsoft’s Xbox stepping in to challenge Sony and Nintendo after SEGA’s Dreamcast was discontinued in 2001. Each console had its own strengths, offering different exclusive games, technical capabilities, and overall brand identities.

The competition between gaming consoles back in the day led to a lot of heated arguments among players, each defending their preferred system. It was a bit like arguing on the playground, and it’s largely faded now that many games allow players on different consoles to play together. It’s easy to forget how intense this rivalry was, and a great example is *Soulcalibur 2*. While the game came out on all three main consoles, each version had characters you couldn’t play anywhere else. This means even today, one of the best fighting games ever made still feels like it’s missing pieces.

Soulcalibur II’s Console-Specific Characters, Explained

Soulcalibur II, created by Project Soul and published by Namco, continued the story of the Soul Edge—a cursed sword that drives the series’ plot. This fighting game built on its predecessors with more characters and diverse fighting styles. Known for its responsive controls and thrilling action, it quickly became a favorite among fighting game fans. A unique feature of the game was the inclusion of a different guest character depending on which gaming console you played it on.

When the game was released on different consoles, each version featured a unique guest character. PlayStation 2 players could use Heihachi Mishima from *Tekken*, while GameCube owners got Link from *The Legend of Zelda*. The Xbox version included Spawn. Each character offered a different way to play, standing out from the existing fighters. Heihachi focused on powerful punches and grabs, and Spawn wielded a fiery axe. Link was particularly unique, bringing a variety of weapons and items from *The Legend of Zelda* series to the fight.

The core gameplay remained consistent, even featuring the character Necrid, designed by Todd McFarlane. The idea of having different characters exclusive to each version of the game was intriguing, but it meant players had to buy all three versions to experience every fighter and compete for the Soul Edge. This practice is unlikely to happen today, making it a noteworthy – and somewhat annoying – moment in gaming history, especially for fans of the genre.

Why Soulcalibur II Feels Incomplete Over Two Decades Later

Since the early 2000s, gaming has become much more flexible and connected. Platforms like Steam and the popularity of mobile games have created a more unified gaming community, moving away from the traditional rivalry between console brands. Now, with crossplay becoming common in many games, players can enjoy their favorite titles together regardless of what system they own.

Honestly, I don’t think we’ll ever see character rosters like *Soulcalibur II* again, and that’s what makes that game so special to me. Back in the day, when consoles were king, there was a real sense of pride in which system you owned. It created a lot of buzz and competition, and fans would actively try to boost sales for *their* console’s version of a game. It was a cool time!

Players frequently discussed their favorite characters online, which boosted the game’s popularity and likely contributed to its strong sales on all three consoles. However, this also meant the game always felt a little unfinished. The complete character list was never available, preventing players from experiencing the game as intended. Fans of *Soulcalibur II* never truly got the full experience, as the entire cast couldn’t battle each other. This issue was made worse by legal problems surrounding the character Necrid, which delayed the game’s re-release for quite some time.

The high-definition version of the game included Heihachi Mishima and Spawn as playable characters, but not Link. It was later removed from sale. Now, Nintendo Switch 2 owners can play the game with Link as a guest fighter. Different versions of the game were released on various consoles, meaning no single version had everything originally created for it, which makes the game feel somewhat unfinished now.

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2025-10-16 02:40