Capcom vs. SNK 2: EO [Xbox]

Another year, another Capcom fighting game; there's really no stop to their constant recycling of 2D fighters. Every system since the Super Nintendo has seen their fair share of deluxe super champion turbo editions of Street Fighter or Street Fighter-related game, so why stop with the Xbox, right? Well, this time there's actually more than meets the eye. Along with a solid, albeit dated fighting game, Xbox owners will have the privilege of playing their favorite Capcom or SNK character(s) against someone thousands of miles away -- or next door, if that's your fancy -- and the experience is more than adequate.

Gameplay
Capcom VS SNK 2 is composed almost entirely of classic Street Fighter and SNK fighting techniques, which means lots of charge moves, half and quarter circles, and super moves. What's new to the game are the different "grooves," or fighting styles. Although the "Capcom" and "SNK" grooves were introduced in a previous game, Capcom VS SNK 2 takes this concept a step further by introducing six different grooves: C, A, P, S, N, and K. Clever, isn't it?

Depending on which groove you choose, the type and number of fighting techniques you have available changes, with half of the grooves leaning towards traditional Capcom fighting and the other half leaning towards SNK-styled battle. More or less, the difference between the two fighting styles is mainly the availability of certain non-lethal moves such as air blocks, dodging, and rolling, with each groove having its own balanced mixture of the said moves. Each groove also has slightly differing super meters, with half of the grooves having a traditional Capcom interface and the other half having SNK-styled meters and charges. You'd think that with so many variations in the gameplay that there would be some cheapness taking place, and it does, but overall the game still remains more balanced than just about any other fighter in existence.

First introduced in the Gamecube version of the game, the EO, or Easy Operation mode allows the player to pull off special/super moves with a simple flick of the right analog stick. Probably intended for younger and/or less experienced players, the EO mode helps the game have more of a pick-up and play feel. What's strange about it, though, is that if you do choose to use it, you can only use the left analog stick to control your character. I don't know about you, but I strictly adhere to using only the D-pad when playing these types of games. But, I assume that if you're going to use EO mode, the difference won't really matter that much anyways so it's a moot point.

The biggest problem that Capcom fighting games face when being ported to a console is the controller issue. Typically, Capcom games use a six-button configuration with three punch buttons and three kick buttons. But the number of buttons is not the problem since every console controller since the SNES has at least six buttons. It's the comfort and ease with which you can access those buttons. See, in the arcades you use your left hand with joystick and your right hand for the buttons. On a console controller, you have to use your left hand for movement as well as a button. This will never feel intuitive to me. Trying to pull off a combo using the left trigger button is almost impossible to do without a LOT of practice. But this isn't the only problem. The layout and nature of the buttons also causes some difficulty. Take the triggers for example. Rather than a quick tap of a button, you have pull the trigger button all the way in to execute a move. This makes for some slight delay in your moves until you learn to compensate for it. You can use the black/white buttons instead of the triggers, but they're not any easier to use, and the fact that you can't configure the trigger buttons (what!?!) only makes things more difficult. What it comes down to is picking the lesser of the two evils.