Genre: Fighting
Developer: Capcom
Publisher: Capcom
# of Players: 1-2
Memory: 9 blocks
ERSB: Teen
Also On: Dreamcast, Playstation 2

Introduction:

Capcom has been milked their fighter franchises ever since the days of Street Fighter II, releasing every few months; new iterations of the previous installment with minor if any improvements. Capcom Vs SNK 2: EO for the GameCube is the latest version of the Naomi Arcade original which, since its conception, has appeared on the Sega Dreamcast and Playstation 2. Since Capcom Vs SNK 2: EO is a 2D fighter; many questioned how well the game would work with the GameCube’s pad. Many thought and still think that it would be a mess, not surprisingly so did Capcom. In attempt to fix this problem they added a easier and less efficient fighting style exclusive to the GameCube version of the game called GC-ISM, hence EO in the title meaning Easy Operation. This Versus series needs no further introduction, with 44 fighters from both of the companies’ histories this game IS the clash of the titans.

Presentation:

Menus are nice, the usual of what you should expect from Capcom. Load times are nowhere to be seen. Character animations aren’t too fluid and look pixilated at times but that’s only in a few cases. Artwork is great but some characters such as Cammy and Morrigan have the same initial design from their first appearance more than half a decade ago. It is nice to see M. Bison back with design closer to the original design in Street Fighter II.

Gameplay:

Everyone’s big question about this game was whether or not it would work well with the GameCube’s controller since it features an odd button layout and a tiny D-Pad. Well, the button layout does not present much of a problem and is just as functional if not better than any other controller when playing this game; the D-Pad on the other hand blows dogs for quarters. Do not even attempt to use the D-Pad in this game; it’s just not worth it instead try the next best thing, the GameCube’s analog stick. Since the GameCube’s analog stick has those grooves all around it makes it very precise. Actually it works better for this game than any D-Pad on the rival consoles. Never have I found it easier to dish out 20 hadoukens in a row while my character is on the right side of the screen. Super Combos aren’t a problem at all either; the GameCube’s analog stick is just that damn good! The only problem I have experienced with the GameCube’s controller is using the L and R triggers, in order to use a punch or kick when pressing these triggers you have to pull them down until you get the digital click. This problem causes you to be half a second slower when using those triggers and trust me that half a second is worth a lot.

I’ve had much worse problems with the other next-gen fighter pads with 2D fighters but for this game I prefer the GameCube’s to all the rest.

Just in case you’re wondering what my control scheme is:

B Button- H Punch
A Button- H Kick
Y Button- M Punch
X Button- M Kick
L Trigger- L Punch
R Trigger- L Kick
Z Button- Taunt

Gameplay modes are what you would expect from a Capcom Versus fighter, with Arcade, Versus, and Survival getting the most play time. Each mode has 3 sub modes which are Ratio match, 3 on 3, and Single, personally I prefer a Single player match type because I hate that Tag Team stuff (I’m old school brotha). There are 6 types of fighting styles to choose from, pick whichever one suits you and you character best. In the game you are available to choose from two ISMs to play with, GC-ISM and AC-ISM. Do not even attempt to choose GC-ISM that mode is for toddlers and to that extent toddlers would even find that too easy.

GC-ISM takes away from the true Capcom fighting experience we all know and love…

Visuals:

Capcom Vs SNK 2: EO is not a bad looking 2D fighter by any means but it hasn’t gone through much of a change since its original arcade release. The character sprites have increased in size just a tad and EO for the GameCube IS an improvement over the sloppy PS2 port but that’s not enough. Not all of the characters movements look fluid but choppy; this is due to lack of enough frames in animation… Why Capcom decided to get lazy boggles my freakin mind. Like Marvel Vs Capcom 2 the backgrounds in EO are a mix of 3D and 2D, giving some stages an amazing look to them but personally I would prefer hand drawn 2D backgrounds. Special effects look great but lack that seizure causing effect the Marvel Vs Capcom games have.