I’m shaking things up a little in 2026, thinking that since I write these little mini reviews on social media anyway, why not just do that on my own blog? Bonus: I can throw in a few more words.
Anyway, Soulcalibur II is the first game I defeated in 2026, specifically the GameCube version on Nintendo Classics Online.
It’s a one-on-one fighter that got its beginnings on the Dreamcast (and arcades). The first game was beloved, but never made it to other consoles. As the Dreamcast became a financial failure for Sega, the decision to port the sequel to other systems was made.
The hook of the series is that the combatants uses weaponry such as swords and clubs to wreck one another. The gimmick of this entry is the inclusion of special characters for each port. Here on the GameCube, you got Nintendo’s Link, of Zelda fame.
The game is a fun time, easy to pick up and play, with button-mashing serving the newcomer well. The little Namco touches like the hilarious narrator from the Tekken series showing up were a nice surprise. It’s also a solid, diverse lineup of characters, and I enjoy the dynamic of being able to knock your opponent off a cliff to get the win. No real negatives either to speak of.
In short, it’s a good fighter. Gonna keep playing to decide where I’d rank it among my all-time favorites, but I think it says something that I want to keep playing. Check it out if you have the means.