A few days back I had a few drinks and popped in Soul Calibur 2 for "X-Box 1" into my "360".
Guess what?
It worked.
I rocked out to it and fell in love with this game again.
I also discovered that the control pad alterations made from X-Box gen 1 to the 360 made the game easier to play. (Again a continuing theme with controls and playability marking a hit or wrecking a great idea.)
Granted I played Part 4 of the series so much that I should be a practical expert by now. But I actually lost a couple of matches in the "Weapons Master" Mode.

The Characters are younger and have more vigor.
The moves in this one are more plenty-full than the latter 4th instalment. Plus they are easier to execute. Granted, The random jump command sneaks in every now and again when you want to perform a reverse strike but that happens so rarely its hardly a bother.

The unlock-able features are a joy to earn, and Play. From Characters to Arsenal, From Stages to endings, This Game Rocks.

The Graphics are somewhat less detailed but full of attractiveness. Why many alterations from this Game to the Fourth Instalment of the series are great you get the feeling that allot of brilliance they covered in this game was wrongfully abandoned.
Same thing goes for the Music and Sound.
The biggest difference Is The MUSIC.
The Music in this game rocked so much, I missed it. It Propels the player and does not distract from playing it (Like the Jazz music in Marvel Versus Capcom 2). It's an Orchestra without the over-dramatics. It fits and keeps a person listening for more. The music is better in this game than Part 4 (Oddly Enough).
This is a "20+hour fighting game" done right.
(Note: I would mention a higher amount of time due to Addictiveness, but a really skilled Fighting gamer could possibly Jam through this in a weak-end and move on to the next challenge. That's the way a fighting game should be. But the thing is so addictive you go through all the characters and all the scenarios to get a 60+hour game without it being a chore.)
Final Score???
All Nines with Two Exceptions. Sound 10. and Difficulty 7.
The sound gets a Ten for having fantastic music that has been altered through the years with the other games but still holds up to the test of time with the original versions of it's themes.
The Difficulty was a Nine on the Original X-Box Gen 1 controls. On the 360 its a 7.
It is that much better.
Pat Namco on the back for this game. I'm in love again.
To All Fans of the series??? Hunt down a copy of this thing or ask for a re-release. It Rocks.

Good Luck To All.
That's it. I'm done.
Stick a fork in me.
Peace.