Capcom vs. SNK 2: EO

Published by Capcom
Developed by Capcom
Platform: GameCube
Price £39.99
Released: Out Now

Fans of the fighting game genre haven't been well blessed so far with quality titles on the Nintendo GameCube. The console has been out now for over four months and still no game has come up with the goods. However that's all about to change as Capcom has released a solid beat 'em up in the shape of Capcom vs. SNK 2: EO which is not only the first good fighting game on the platform, it is also the first 2D fighter on the GameCube.

The EO stands for Extreme Offence which is certainly an apt title. There are in excess of twenty fighters from both the Capcom and SNK stables. These rosters include classic fighters such as Chun-Li, Bison, Geese and Rock Howard. The game comes with six grooves (which is a fancy way of saying fighting style and the special moves that they entail) for you to choose from. These grooves really make a difference to the gameplay so making sure you have one that is comfortable is a must.

If you've played earlier versions of the Capcom vs. SNK then the main difference you'll notice is the inclusion of the GC-ISM (GameCube-ISM)control method. In order to sound as uncomplicated as possible this is basically a simply control method for beginners that also attempts to compensate for the ridiculously odd collection of button shapes on the GameCube controller. The GC-ISM is not going to please seasoned veterans of the series and for those the original AC-ISM (Arcade-ISM) control system is available. To be honest the main stumbling block with the gameplay is the odd arrangement of the GameCube controller. Whilst the little gamepad may be fine for leisurely paced titles such as Luigi's Mansion it certainly doesn't go too well with fighting games such as this.

The gameplay modes are as follows:

Arcade - For one or two players against a CPU opponent. You can have a ratio match, 3-on-3 match and a single, 1-on-1 match.

Survival Mode - One player only. You play with one fighter and attempt to defeat all the opponents. You have unlimited vitality to help you to do this.

VS Mode - Human vs. Human competition. The match options are the same as for Arcade.

Training Mode - As it suggests this is for training purposes. You can choose the actions of your dummy opponent, check command lists and change characters. This mode is the place to start learning the finer points of fighting.

Replay Mode - Allows you to watch some of your recorded fights. You must have a memory card to be able to record and watch replays.

Colour Edit Mode - A simple function, but a highly popular one nevertheless. It allows you to change the colour of the fighters. You must have a memory card to use this option.

Of course you can have all the options under the sun but what really counts is the quality of the fights. Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO certainly delivers on this score. The option to alter the game speed and difficulty settings mean that the game is going to keep you challenged for many months to come. The collection of fighters within the game appears to have been well balanced and no one fighter is going to walk over the opposition. This is always essential if the game is to avoid getting boring real quick. Of course it is always better against human opposition and the game has enough multiplayer options to keep you and your friends interested.

Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO is fine for deaf gamers. There aren't any subtitles for the announcer or the fighters comments during the game but apart from these two exceptions there are no other complaints. All the important information, command lists etc. are given in text. The text is of a very good size and easy to read, even on a small TV.

This is a much improved effort from the last title we looked at, Capcom vs. SNK Pro on the Playstation. The loading times are far superior. The graphics are much improved too. The backgrounds look very nice indeed. Some of the fighters look a little too pixelated but this aside, the game looks very good for a 2D fighter. If you are a fan of 2D beat 'em ups then you owe it to yourself to purchase this title.

Overall Game Rating: 8.4/10 Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO is a solid 2D beat 'em up that will give you many months of fighting action. Definitely the best beat 'em up game on the GameCube at the moment.

Deaf Gamers comment: Announcer and fighter comments are missing but the game is otherwise OK.