Any new console launch comes with mountains of excitement, even one as weirdly-timed (seriously, June launch?!?) and as propped up by third-party ports as the Nintendo Switch 2. Sure, the machine mostly serves as an obvious hardware improvement from its predecessor, but a new system means cool new experiences, and I can’t wait to have those brand new experiences in the palms of my hands.
That said, I’ve been playing a lot of Soulcalibur II on Switch 2.
For context, one of Nintendo’s biggest announcements during its major Switch 2 reveal was that GameCube games would be available for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers with the new console.
While the day one inclusion of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker — one of the most beloved entries in the franchise — seemed to be the main standout from the initial batch of early-aughts classics, Nintendo also announced that Namco’s masterpiece Soulcalibur II would be available as well. This marks the first time the GameCube version of the 3D fighting game would be available on another platform.
I haven’t written as much about Soulcalibur II at The Punished Backlog as I should have over all these years, which is a shame because — without a shadow of a doubt — it is my favorite 1v1 fighter ever made.
I’ll Never Quit Soulcalibur II
When I first played the console release over 22 years ago (the game originally released in arcades in 2002), I was obsessed with its combat design, especially how every fighter had their own unique weapon that perfectly corresponded with their personality, image, and combat approach. I loved its gorgeous art direction, booming yet elegant soundtrack, and the total seriousness of the announcer before every match. Moreover, I appreciated that the GameCube version of Soulcalibur II offered The Legend of Zelda’s Link as a playable fighter, easily the best bonus fighter of any version of the title (the PS2 version got Tekken’s Heihachi, while the Xbox version got comic book character Spawn for some reason).
Importantly, the game holds up incredibly well. The actual combat mechanics, while not especially complex, still have enough depth to be constantly compelling. The visuals still look mostly sharp, and while online play hadn’t really come to home consoles by then (at least not broadly speaking), the title offers tons of the single-player and multiplayer options to keep players engaged forever.
Soulcalibur II Holds Up
Even decades later, whenever I decide to return to my collection of GameCube discs, Soulcalibur II feels the most like a game that could come out right now and still be a blast. Unlike many of the other (incredible) games of which I still own physical copies — Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, Resident Evil 4, and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 among them — I would change virtually nothing about Soulcalibur II.
So, when Nintendo said Soulcalibur II would be available on Switch 2 right from the get-go, I knew I would play it again. What I didn’t realize is how much I would play a decades-old fighting game on a brand new console that has already set me back over $500.
Obviously, I’ve spent the majority of my Switch 2 time with the fantastic Mario Kart World, but otherwise? I’m mainlining Soulcalibur II, aiming to complete Arcade mode with multiple characters and progressing past each mission challenge in the Weapon Master story. For many fighters, including Link, Mitsurugi, Nightmare, and Raphael, muscle memory takes over, and it feels like I’ve been playing this game forever. I’m back home.
How much longer will I play this old-ass game? I can’t say for certain. What I can say is that I’m delighted by how easily I can access it on the go, and that even amid all the hype for new shiny things, the precious artifacts from my past still have a hold on me, even after so much time apart.
Soulcalibur II is available to play on the Nintendo Switch 2 via Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscribers (MSRP: $49.99 annually for an individual membership).
Cover image from RetroDodo.
Sam has been playing video games since his earliest years and has been writing about them since 2016. He’s a big fan of Nintendo games and complaining about The Last of Us Part II. You either agree wholeheartedly with his opinions or despise them. There is no in between. A lifelong New Yorker, Sam views gaming as far more than a silly little pastime, and hopes though critical analysis and in-depth reviews to better understand the medium's artistic merit. Twitter: @sam_martinelli.
