"This... this is a beautiful fighting game."

For so long I've been waiting for a good fighting game on the GameCube. Something like Street Fighter... sure, we have Bloody Roar, but it's not like Street Fighter was! This... this Capcom vs. SNK 2 EO (which stands for Extreme Offense) is exactly what I've been waiting for. This game pits Capcom's top characters (famous for the Street Fighter series) against the top characters of SNK (famous for the King of Fighters games). There is a tremendous cast of over 40 characters available here, including the original 8 Street Fighter II characters as well as the 4 bosses, as well as memorable characters like Morrigan, plus, on the SNK side, such characters as Chang, Raiden and Kyo (sorry, I'm not much familiar with that side. ;p).

This game is loaded with extras as far as control. You can choose to play with either GC-ism, for beginners, or AC-ism, for players used to this type of fighting game. GC stands for GameCube, of course, and allows all three strengths of punches and kicks to be done with just the L and R buttons, and the super moves can be easily done with the yellow C-stick. AC stands for Arcade, and is your standard control setup as you normally see on previous Capcom games. A punch and kick are situated to the L and R buttons, plus the other 2 punches and kicks put onto the X, Y, B, and A buttons, with super moves being done with a moving combination and a punch/kick. Both modes allow movement with either the control stick or directional pad, which is nice. There are also 6 different types of ''grooves'' which are different layouts on the controller, so to speak. Certain things are done differently in certain groove systems and some things are not available in some while they are in others. Also, which groove system you choose determines how your super meter will fill... such as by levels or by simply taking away 50% every time a super move is done. There are other options as well for other groove systems.

The GameCube controller, comfortable as it is, is not adequately setup to accommodate a complex control fighting game such as this one has. It's a bit awkward because of the setup of the A, B, Y, and X buttons, and the size of the L and R buttons, but it's not Capcom's fault, and they do the best they can do rectify the problem, which I think they did very well on. Of course, you can customize your own controls as you see fit to be comfortable. This leaves a big advantage to you, the player. I find the control stick to be a little bit awkward for performing super moves, so I try to use the directional pad. It makes it a little easier, however, the pad is so small that it can mess up what you're trying to do. Again, not Capcom's fault.

The graphics are excellent and very smooth. All of the attacks look great and the fighters actually look like they are performing the attacks, as opposed to some other games. The backgrounds are well-detailed and colorful... of course, with the exception of that blue-black blocky stage. :p

The music in the game is excellent. I still have the tunes from quite a few of the stages stuck in my head, and they are enjoyable. Sounds effects are wonderful as well. From the sound of Ryu charging his super fireball in his hands to the crash of the opponent's head after Raiden slams them down, these sound effects are well done and never get old.

Overall: 10/10
I don't give out 10s very often for games, but I feel this game deserves it, most definitely. It's the fighting game on GameCube that I've been waiting for. If you liked other Street Fighter games and other Capcom beat-em-ups, you'll love this. Go out and get it. You won't regret it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 09/29/02, Updated 09/29/02