Nintendo Switch Online has a lot of great games, but only a select few can be considered truly best-in-class. Typically, they represent the expected strengths of classic Nintendo games, delivering peak platforming experiences or thrilling fantasy adventures. Any list of the service’s masterpieces could easily be filled up with Mario or Zelda titles, however predictable that might be.

In one case, though, things are very different. Among the limited selection of GameCube titles currently available to Switch 2 owners through a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, no one should ignore a fantastic option that occupies a central place in fighting game history.

Is This One Of The GameCube’s Best Games?

Soulcalibur 2, available through Nintendo Switch Online, is unlike anything else on the GameCube. While it wasn’t the only fighting game on the platform — Super Smash Bros. Melee is, perhaps, the most notable example — Soulcalibur 2 did things its own way.

The original Soulcalibur was a maverick title, introducing an eight-way movement system that showed how much 3D graphics could offer the genre. It also leaned into a variety of weapons that helped set it apart from competitors like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. When the game made its way to home systems, it garnered widespread acclaim, setting an intense standard that sequels might struggle to match.

Against all odds, Soulcalibur 2 managed to raise the bar again. Fast and fluid gameplay, stellar graphics, and a great roster of characters all upped the ante, along with a huge variety of modes. For many GameCube owners who liked fighting games, Soulcalibur 2 was a no-brainer, but it also reached across the aisle to appeal to those who weren’t yet invested in the genre.

It Even Has Link As A Playable Character

A big part of that crossover appeal came from Soulcalibur 2‘s guest character on the GameCube — The Legend of Zelda‘s Link. The guest characters were cool on every console, as the PlayStation 2 got Tekken‘s Heihachi Mishima and the Xbox received the comic book antihero Spawn, but Link felt like the most unbelievable addition. At a time when many Zelda fans were disgruntled with The Wind Waker‘s lovable cartoon rendition of Link, Soulcalibur 2 delivered the edgier alternative that they sought.

Decades later, the collaboration feels harder to believe than ever. While Xbox and PlayStation have explored PC or even multi-platform releases and plenty of character crossovers, Nintendo’s ecosystem is as closed-off as ever, and Mario and Zelda don’t casually appear outside their expected environments. Having Soulcalibur 2 on Nintendo Switch Online presents a rare opportunity to see Link in a different context, which fans of both Soulcalibur and The Legend of Zelda should be able to appreciate.

At any rate, Switch 2 owners with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription have nothing to lose by checking out Soulcalibur 2. At worst, you’ll spend an hour or two learning some interesting fighting mechanics before deciding it’s not for you. At best, you’ll fall in love with one of the GameCube‘s most compelling classics.

Released

July 5, 2002

ESRB

t

Developer(s)

Project Soul

Publisher(s)

Project Soul

Engine

unity

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer

Franchise

Soulcalibur