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Review: Capcom vs SNK 2 |
A long time ago, on an IRC channel far, far away:
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PhotonBRB Man I’m gonna get CvS2 soon… God I’m so behind. College does that to you
JaeHoon lol
*PhotonBRB is now known as Photon_
Viscant don’t get cvs2
Viscant if you want the same experience of playing cvs2, just hire a big guy to punch you in the nuts
Photon_ It’s worse than Marvel?
Photon_ LOL
Viscant that’s the cvs2 experience and it’ll save you 20 bucks
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OK, so one of the top players in the world says CvS2 sucks. Give this baby an 81% and let’s be done with it!
…
…
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…Only kidding.
Being currently on vacation, I finally got the chance to borrow an Xbox. Unfortunately, my friend’s peers were either a)graphics whores and/or b)managed to outperv me, so they beat me to it when it came to borrowing DoA Volleyball and Soul Calibur II. ;____________; Being the fighting game fan that I am, I wouldn’t settle for crummy sports sims either. So I was “stuck” with Capcom vs. SNK 2.
Note: As much as I wanted to, I didn’t have access to the LIVE version of this game, since my country apparently doesn’t have the connections for XBOX LIVE yet. As such, the review does not cover that said aspect of the game. Apologies if this is what you were looking for.
Capcom vs. SNK 2 is currently the latest “new” 2D fighter offering by that everyone’s favorite groundbreaking, shoto-making, RE-release happy (emphasis on the RE) Japanese company. It is an improvement over the original in virtually every respect. The first Capcom vs. SNK failed to live up to expectations as an awesome dream match. A few reasons: It played kinda slow, Ratio 1’s were too good, Ratio 3’s sucked for the most part, unbelievable Nakoruru abuse, it was just Street Fighter vs. King of Fighters with two extra hos thrown in, and so on. I feel that CvS2 has rectified the mistakes the first one made, and a lot more.
For just a deep, diverse, and crazy game, I think it’s only fitting that I take a new approach. I’m doing something so crazy, it might work: I’ll neatly divide my review and rate the individual categories! On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest, CvS2 shall now be scanned using the very special trannie system.
Gameplay
½
“Is this true love we’re making”? Not only is that statement a funny-sounding line to one of this game’s songs, but it was probably what SFA3 said while it was humping KOF98. This is because at first glance CvS2 struck me as the the offspring of those two games. This would most certainly appeal to fans of both companies!
Okay, so that was a bad analogy, and a sorely lacking observation, but that’s the gist. Capcom vs. SNK 2 is a more complete and satisfying crossover than the original, as it more thoroughly implements mechanics and characters from its mother companies. No more rudimentary, plain old ‘Capcom’ or ‘SNK’ groove. Oh no sir, this time the grooves have branched out into six different categories. The six grooves are C,A,P,S,N and K. Neat, isn’t it? A brief rundown of each:
C- This is one of the simpler grooves. It plays in a fashion similar to SFA3’s A-ism.It features rolling and the ability to air block. A three-tiered bar is employed, and the level of super is determined by the button pressed for the super motion (lp for a Level 1, mo for a Level 2, and so on).
A- Another A3- inspired groove, this implements the funky and effective Custom Combo system. It features a two-tiered bar and when the said bar reaches 100%, hp+hk may be pressed for CC activation. Rolling is also available.
P-This incorporates parrying from the SF3 series. It must be said, however, that the timing on these parries are stricter in this game relative to the said series. The bar is one level only. Once it fills, access to a Level 3 super is possible.
S- A modded KOF98 Extra Mode. The classic dodge is back; press lp+lk and voila! The bar is charged manually using hp+hk, and a full bar enables one to perform Level 1 supers. At red life, a character has access to infinite Level 1’s. Performing a super at red life and a full bar results in a Level 3.
N- Similar to KOF98 Advanced Mode. There is rolling, three levels of super, and “breaking a stock”. Level 1 supers are accessed normally. Pressing hp+hk will use up one stock and put your character in a brief max mode state. Performing a super during this state causes the said super to come out in its Level 3 version. Sorry SNK nuts, no stock addition and no smiley-face relationship maps this time. :P
K-This is like a lovechild of the Samurai Showdown and Mark of the Wolves. It incorporates the Just Defend system while at the same time gives the characters a rage bar. This bar fills up due to JD’ing or when your character gets hit. When the bar does fill up, the K groove character enters Rage Mode. In this state, the damage he or she deals is considerably increased, and he or she can perform a Level 3 super while the bar isn’t empty. As with P groove, the K groove is one level only.
Being new to the Xbox and it’s controller, I felt that the game control was rather awkward at first. The dreaded pair of back triggers, something I loathed back in the Dreamcast days, reared its ugly head once again. I also found the analog stick and the d-pad to be quite odd, and the button layout a bit uncomfortable at first. My first few playthroughs were awkward ones, but my game experience and familiarity with the controls thankfully improved over time. Here is an illustration of my thoughts regarding the controller:
As hinted above, the Xbox version has a so-called EO-ism. Once a player has selected a groove he or she is prompted to choose between EO-ism and AC-ism. The former is akin to the Easy or Beginner modes of the Marvel versus series. The latter is simply manual operation. In EO-ism, the X button is reduced to the roll command for grooves that have it, and the second analog stick is tapped in various directions to access various moves. I tried EO for a short while, but then again I’m a grown-ass man, and thus I decided that it’s best for kiddies and total newbies only.
The Xbox version of Capcom vs. SNK 2 has a few perks for the creative minds as well, such as Groove Edit and Color Edit. In Groove Edit, you can mix and match groove features for later use; the edit grooves have the name EX at the select screen. Color Edit is self-explanatory. :)
Roster
The cast is probably the largest in a fighting game not named Marvel vs. Capcom 2. The roster of the first Capcom vs. SNK game is intact, of course, accompanied by new friendly faces. Some are familiar, such as the legendary Haohmaru, pop superstar and Saigado bukkake target Athena and the loveable (IMO!) Chang and Choi duo. And to usher in some new fans, more obscure characters such as Maki, Todo (ugry girl’s dad), Hibiki and Eagle are round out the cast. Rival Schools bishounen Kyosuke makes his 2d debut, whereas Garou bishounen Rock Howard is all set to scrap with his father(s).
That’s gotta hurt
Unlike the previous Capcom vs. SNK game, CvS2 boasts of a ratio adjustment system. You can choose up to three characters, and distribute the ‘ratio’ amongst them. As with the previous CvS, this value affects the damage dealt and taken by the character. The ratio sum is 4, so the possibilities are an R4 (one character), an R3 plus R1, or two R2’s (two characters), or the maximum of one R2 and two R1’s. At the character select screen there is a box with the word “END”; you select this if you intend on using only one or two characters.
If the ratio system is too complicated for your tastes, the Xbox version of CvS2 offers Three on Three– making the match akin to a King of Fighters one– or Single mode.
The usual suspects, plus some genuine fan favorites and some surprising fillers. That’s the cast in a nutshell. I’ve pretty much fallen in love (in a nongay way) with the roster.
Oh and addendum–what review would be complete without a brief overview of that TIER TIER TIER magic? :-*
Okay, so the internet power may have exaggerated or overrated the power of these crouching fierces, but it can’t be denied that they exist. Good ol’ Sagat and Blanka are blessed with these moves of reach and priority. To my knowledge they can pretty much interrupt alot of shit using the c.fierce. Abusive but not insurmountable. Sagat and Blanka make it to the coveted top tier, not only because of this, but also because of the fact that they are pretty easy to learn and use, and they can dish out damage.
Custom combo grooves have always been infamous for their power. Capcom vs. SNK 2 is no exception. A-groove M.Bison and Sakura have few weaknesses, and can resort to a repeated dp+P custom pattern to deliver the hurt. Bison’s custom has been nicknamed “paint the fence”, due to its funky motion. Sakura’s on the other hand, is simply known as “sho-sho-sho”. It can easily cause guardcrush, and when it hits, oh boy. It makes even the hardest of men cry and develop schoolgirl-phobia.
Graphics
The visuals are lovely for the most part. Sprites are hi-res and animate well, and the old Alpha ones seem to have undergone a little retouching to keep pace with the brand spanking new ones. A character’s looks can be manipulated to suit your tastes too, using the Color Edit. Even the projectiles and energy-based attacks have undergone an overhaul, making them more pleasant too look at than the LOL bioluminiscent shit flying around in the first CvS. Everything looks above average and indeed, worthy of the “first dream match of the 21st century”.
Except Morrigan. Sigh. Sure, there are several Alpha-era sprites around, but they don’t stick out as badly as Morrigan. A few new sparkle effects does not a new sprite make. Come on, it’s been a decade! CAPCOM R LAZEE Surely the fans would appreciate an overhaul of those big succubus tits!
The backgrounds do not disappoint. They are, as in the previous Capcom mega-mix of fighters (MvC2), in vivid 3D. They are certainly varied, full of life, and sport a lot of cameos from characters from either company. With exotic names such as Barentsburg (the Arctic wasteland and the icebreaker with multinational flags) and Kinderdiik (the Dutch lowlands with the trademark windmills in the distance), they are some of the best bg’s I’ve seen for a 2d fighter.
The Aomori stage, with the giant E.Honda and Haohmaru balloons, does leave a lot to be desired, though. I can’t say I’m a big fan of the yellow diamond motif, either.
Sound
½
I don’t know how to describe the music exactly. It sounds like mostly pop and tecno to me. It’s not as energetic or jazzy as a KOF soundtrack. And on the other hand, it’s not classic or catchy as Street Fighter tunes. But I must say, it works. It brings that campy, nonserious atmosphere to the table, and I think that’s a good thing. As for the voices, they are a mixed bag. Nothing to complain about really. Do keep those tissues ready for a Maki or Cammy appearance though…you’ll need ‘em to wipe the blood from your ears once you’re through. :D
The announcer? Ha! I bet half my hentai collection that he’s somehow related to the SFA3 one. He brings the same level of energy, hilarity and annoyance as A3’s barker. With perky lines such as “LIVE AND LET DIE!” and “THIS IS A MATCH TO REMEMBER!”, you will either absolutely love him or loathe him. It is, in my opinion, the best/worst audio thing this game has to offer.
Overall
½
I dare say Capcom vs. SNK 2 is a deep, technical fighter. Crouch fierces and (and RC’s o wate they’re not in this version) and A-groovery and other tricks aside, it is a great game for fighting game newcomers and veterans alike. Grooves and ratios give the game incredible depth.
from DarkPriest, GGXX nut, I-no fanboy, and connoisseur of hermaphrodite hentai:
DarkPriest: Unlike CvS2.
DarkPriest: If I want to piss myself off for soem [sic] ungodly reason I’ll play Satan’s game I.E. CvS2
DP, a regular HerVert, and Viscant actually agree on something gameplay wise. The first impression of CvS2 as a great fighter is still with me, although judging from these cut-and-pastes from convos, your mileage may vary. Now excuse me while my head explodes. DP and Viscant agreeing on something! POP!
(Much thanks to Effeser for the anigifs and to Eurogamers.net for the screenshots.)
