"This is what the first one should've been."

I remember waiting eagerly for the first Capcom vs SNK game. It was the unimaginable happening before my eyes - two of my favourite companies, Capcom and SNK, coming together to make one game!! However, as good the game was, it had many flaws, overly dominant shoryukens being just one of them..

However, zap forward by just a year, and here we have CvS2. Boasting 44 characters and 6 grooves, is this the true Millenium fight we've been hoping for? In one word, YES!!

Graphics: 7/10 The graphics in this game are probably my biggest complaint, and yet, it isn't that big a complaint. The entire SNK crew was redrawn, including the new characters. However, Capcom has yet again, failed to clean up its own characters. resulting in some really bad pixellation. Oddly enough, the game actually looks better on the TV screen than the high-res arcade one, since that the jaggedness isn't that glaring on the TV screen. Other than this minor hitch, the graphics are great. Smooth animation and awesome 3D backgrounds, which are far more vibant than CvS1's

Sound: 9/10 The sound this time round is especially fantastic. Ditching the techno sound track from the first game, the 2nd now boasts a far more varied sound track. Ranging from overly catchy dance music (''This is a true love we're making!''), to your standard up-beat fighting music, you're BOUND to find a track that you like. Sound effects are also solid, and even the robotic announcer from the first game has been ditched, replaced by a far more enthusiastic sounding one.

Control: 9/10 Returning to the 6 button layout was a good move from Capcom. THough I'm a KOF player at heart, 6 buttons is far better, for it gives the characters more attack options. It takes some getting used to for SNK players, but after a while, you'll be busting off combos in no time! Excellent job here, next.

Gameplay: 10/10 Now THIS is the best part. THe game is FAR more balanced now, with characters that were either weak or lacking moves (Kyo being one prime example), have been beefed up, as well as overly powerful characters (Ken), have been toned down. The game feels remarkably balanced now. Even the ratio system has been tweaked, with Ratio 1s being weakened and Ratio 4s beefed up. A Ratio 4 Haohmaru is a FEARSOME sight!!!

The 6 different grooves are also well balanced. For beginners, there is C groove, which pretty much functions like the Street Fighter Zero system. For Intermediate players, there's N groove or S groove, which function like KOF's Advanced and Extra fighting styles respectively. And for experts, there's A, P and K grooves. Whatever your fighting style, it's all there for you! No one groove is truly more dominant than the other.

Conclusion: All in all, CvS2 has lots to like. A more steller cast, better gameplay and a whole lot more fun. If you're a 2D fighter fan and don't like this game, you're too picky or biased. Sure, it isn't a KOF game, with abusable CDs, ultra cheap striker attacks and infinite combos, but that isn't what CvS is about. It's about pure, solid fighting where skill is king. And solid fighting this game will definitely give you. Buy this game. NOW!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 09/16/01, Updated 09/16/01