Namco's Soul Calibur II for GameCube has been available in Japan since March 27 and it won't ship in the US until this August. This, along with the fact that the game features an amazingly well done adult Link fighter complete with his own move list, is sure to make the wait for the game's stateside debut drag on and on. On the bright side, if you're lucky enough to own a Japanese or US-modified GameCube that can play titles from the Land of the Rising Sun, Soul Calibur II could be just the import you're looking for.
But is it a safe import? Does it have too much Japanese text to be fully enjoyed by those of us who speak and read English alone? And finally, will the US version arrive with any additions that could make the Japanese version seem inferior? We give you the lowdown and make a recommendation.
The Game
Soul Calibur II is is the best fighter for GameCube, period, but it's also one of the standouts in the genre on any platform. It's a true sequel to the impressive Dreamcast original of the same name, meaning that it looks and plays very similar. It features 20 main characters, 13 of which are revamped versions of fighters that starred in the first game. Look out for such favorites as Mitsurugi, Ivy, Astaroth, Yoshimitsu and our personal favorite, Voldo. On top of these, though, there are never-before-seen fighters like the Todd McFarlane-created, a hulking green beast, and far more important to Nintendo fans, adult Link of Zelda fame. There are also some hidden extras like Lizardman.
Each brawler comes with individual fighting styles so while Voldo is limber and capable of bending over backward and crawling on all fours, Link can shoot his trusty bow and arrow, throw his boomerang or hurl bombs at opponents. The list of moves -- Link has 132 different ones according to the game -- is huge, and the selection is only outdone by the intuitive nature in which everything is executed. Skeptics be silenced, the GameCube controller works brilliantly with the game. There are more than enough buttons and the layout is easily manipulated because Namco has assigned key combos to work perfectly either by using the face buttons alone or, if things get tricky, in combination with the L and R buttons.
There are seven major modes of play, from Arcade and Versus to Time Attack, Survival, Team Battle, Versus Team Battle and, of course, Practice. There are also 'Extra' versions -- unlockables, of each of these modes. The selection is noteworthy. Each area has its draw, but the bulk of the game -- its real meat and potatoes -- is spent in the Weapon Master Mode, which is separate from all of the aforementioned. Here you choose a character and follow a world map while completing challenges, earning gold, and buying various items for your character. Link, for instance, can earn and then equip all sorts of classic Nintendo weaponry, from his regular Master Sword to the hammer, Cane of Byrna and more. For these extra weapons alone, the incentive to keep playing through the mode is great, but each new Weapon Master challenge is fun anyway. It's all very well done and complete.
As a single-player fighter, Soul Calibur II is solid. If you're experienced in these types of games, you'll probably be able to beat Weapon Master mode on normal difficulty without breaking a sweat. But up the difficulty and you'll have to work for every piece of gold earned, and it'll take you some time to get through the area. Afterward, you can go through again, or explore any of the game's other modes. The beauty about 3D fighters like SCII is that while seemingly shallow, their depth is revealed in the sheer number of moves and combos that can be learned and then mastered, and both take time. Meanwhile, as a multiplayer game, Namco's fighter is a classic. Two players won't be able to stop at just once match -- we guarantee it.
The Import
Soul Calibur II is a fighter, not an RPG or adventure, so it doesn't have nearly as much Japanese text as, say, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Still, it has more than we originally thought it would. The main interface as a whole runs entirely in English. See the picture below:
The main menu interface runs completely in English -- which rocks
This simple truth makes the title unbelievably easy to navigate. All of the sub-menus that you don't see pictured in the menu above also run in English, too, including the options area and character select -- very handy. Even the game's title screen is in full English.
The options menu is in English
Character selection is in English
However, as you enter into each mode of play you'll begin to see more and more Japanese, especially where the Weapon Master Mode is concerned. A world map of the game, below, features a mixture of English and Japanese.
Weapon Master World Map is a mix of English and Japanese
However, when you decide to compete in any of the challenges, you won't be able to read what it is exactly that you're challenge is because it will, of course, be in full Japanese.
Here's a typical Weapon Master mode challenge; you'll have to guess what to do or learn by trial and error most of the time
It's definitely bothersome and because there are one or two tricky challenges, you might even find yourself stuck at one point or another. We became stuck momentarily on a Weapon Master challenge that asked us to uppercut our opponent into the air and then pounce on him. For everything we tried, our foe would take no damage, and then we finally stumbled upon the secret and continued on. Expect to face similar trial and error in this mode if you cannot read Japanese.
Once you've earned some gold you can buy weapons. However, all of the profiles for weapons, not to mention any other unlockables including character descriptions, are all in Japanese, a definite disappointment for Zelda fanatics hoping to savor every detail about Link and all of his weapons.
Shopping for weapons? You can search for your character by icon, but you still won't know what you're buying
All of the weapon profiles are in Japanese
You won't be able to read Link's character profile.
Meanwhile, the same can be said about the storyline. It's in full Japanese. And while there really isn't much to it -- just a few pieces of art and some text at the end of the game, you won't be able to read it.
Link's story ending? Japanese
On a brighter note, though, all of the moves in the game can be easily read in the Practice mode's command list, which details everything in Japanese, but also includes button icons. We learned just about every move at Link's command by using the menu and we had no trouble whatsoever understanding it. Neither will you.
The moves are detailed in Japanese, but button icons still easily let you know what to do
The US Version
Namco recently stated that it would include extras in the US version of the game, but it wouldn't offer specifics. It did, however, hint that characters like Lizardman -- not selectable fighters in the Japanese release -- could be fully playable in the American build. That alone would be a clear advantage.
Our Verdict
It really depends. If you can afford to get both the Japanese and US versions, import. Don't hesitate. Soul Calibur II is definitely good enough that you'll be thrilled to have it five months before the US release. There is some Japanese in the game, as we highlighted, but you'll be able to navigate most of the menus in full English and the fights themselves are void of language so it doesn't matter. Yes, the Weapons Master mode will offer one or two challenges, but through trial and error it can be beaten fairly painlessly. And while you won't be able to understand the descriptions for extra weapons bought, you will still be able to equip your character with them -- which is, trust us, simply cool.
If, on the other hand, you're absolutely only going to buy one version of Soul Calibur II, make it the US one. For Nintendo fans, this game is something of a collector's item in the same vein that Super Smash Bros. Melee is; it features a jaw-droppingly impressive adult Link, sure, but it also boasts character profiles and descriptions for all sorts of classic Zelda weapons complete with full renderings. More, Namco has said that it will probably feature some additions for the American build, which will likely make it the better of the two.
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helaas kan ik me eigenlijk alleen maar op die cijfers leegrukken, en niet op het spel zelf.... mijn tv is namelijk naar de klote en heb geen geld voor een nieuwe, want het uitgaan, qlimax, vakantie moet ook nog allemaal betaald worden 
laat me dan ook nog een beetje plezier hebben ja?! 
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Ga eerst maar eens zelda uitspelen 
nu is het altijd: ''zit je weer die domme kinderachtige spelletjes te spelen'' 
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