Soulcalibur II
A top-tier weapons fighter that many consider the peak of the series. The GameCube version had an exclusive bonus in the form of a playable Link from Zelda, which made it the most sought-after port. Elegant duels with swords, axes and other weapons, fluid movement in three dimensions and an extensive single-player mode. A balanced, accessible yet deep combat system and Link as a fighter made SC II a must-have for fans of the genre.
Game 25 of 104 for Nintendo GameCube
The same title elsewhere (3)
Gameplay-wise the three 2003 versions are nearly identical, but they differ in their guest fighters and technical polish. GameCube got an exclusive appearance by Link from The Legend of Zelda, complete with his bow and boomerang; Xbox added Spawn from Todd McFarlane's comic; and PlayStation 2 featured Heihachi from Tekken, making each version a distinct collector's pick. Technically, Xbox benefited from more powerful hardware, generally offering the sharpest textures and steadiest frame rate, while the GameCube version is a touch softer in detail but remains a great choice thanks to its excellent analog controller. Most players today choose whichever version has their favorite guest character.
