Considering the last time anyone cared to make another 2D fighting series look really, really good was Capcom's Street Fighter III: Third Strike back in '99, Guilty Gear X2 easily takes the Best Visuals throne by force. Smoother sprite animation and slicker backgrounds had never been seen on the PS2 before Guilty Gear X came along, and its sequel surely continues that reign. Every slash comes out fluidly, each move an act of magnificence. It's almost like watching art evolving in real time. And if you're an anime fan, check out the gorgeously animated movie sequences included in the Gallery section; if all anime series were this impressive, I'd watch a hell of a lot more of them.

Not to be outdone by the first game, GGX2 (renamed from Guilty Gear XX for the American market) carries an awesome soundtrack filled with pulse-pounding rock and metal tunes, often performed with live drums. While some of the tracks were recreated from GGX to slightly lesser effect, the new songs get the action going in no time -- and the announcer's voice was gratefully redone! Goodbye, unintelligible grunts; hello, clear, crisp English. It's nice to see Arc System Works have put just as much attention into their sound department as they have with visuals this time around.

Not much has changed in the way of gameplay for the second 'X' installment, which can be both good and bad. Fans of GGX praised it as far more improvised and 'random' than Capcom or SNK titles, while others (myself included) did not care for several technical aspects of the game's fighting system. Thankfully, some characters have been toned down or changed from their previous incarnations (Dizzy, most of all) to help balance out the playing field; still, though, certain characters seem too overpowered. Well-versed Chipp Zanuff players can still run rings around inexperienced opponents and juggle them in a corner with launchers, Potempkin can still kill almost any character with a just few moves, and Sol Badguy's corner pressure seems to have gotten far more annoying than before. Instant Kills make a return as well, allowing players to destroy opponents with one blow if they're foolish enough to get hit.

With 20 characters and loads of unlockables, Guilty Gear X2 carries plenty of replay value and instant appeal for those hungry for new competition. Four fresh characters join the fray this time: Zappa, a helpless nobody inhabited by bloodthirsty demons that make his life a living hell; Slayer, a dispassionate vampire with a penchant for haikus; I-No, a delightfully sexy witch with crazy guitar skills; and Bridget, a small, yo-yo wielding boy who was raised as a girl. Their fighting styles take some serious practice to master, but none of them hold any massively overwhelming power compared to the rest of the cast.

All of the wacky Gatling Combos and Overdrive Attacks are here again, many of which have gotten facelifts from the previous game. Most quick characters can link almost any weak attack with four or five follow-up punches, kicks and slashes without involving a lot of thinking, while the slower fighters may rely more on strategy and well-placed Overdrives to win. Faultless Defense and Roman Cancel maneuvers also round out the repertoire, saving players from chip damage and allowing for some creative combos. It's all very different from the Capcom universe, but it can be mastered with some elbow grease.

SNK bosses ain't got nothin' on the CPU in Guilty Gear X2. Some of the final matches in Story mode are beyond humanly possible without using Instant Kills (and praying that they connect), and don't get me started about Mission mode. Just get ready to practice for months if you want to get anywhere in the special single player modes. Arcade mode isn't too tough by itself, until you get to fight EX I-No, whose special Overdrive can wipe out nearly 80 percent of your health while you're blocking. Granted, she's quite beatable if you figure out her patterns, or get lucky with an Instant Kill, but the sheer inclusion of such a ridiculous move nearly crosses the line. Boy, I can't wait for Guilty Gear X3 (or the more affectionately titled Guilty Gear XXX) when they introduce a boss that can kill you by snapping his/her fingers!

Controls have essentially stayed the same since GGX, except now R2 conveniently controls Dust Attacks and sweeps. New techniques include Dead Angle Attacks, which act as parrying moves while blocking, and Psych Bursts, which effectively knock your opponent away and fill the Tension meter if they connect. These new moves are invaluable for heavy defenders, especially if your opponent never stops trying to rush you down throughout the entire match.

Strangely enough, though, the more I learned about how Guilty Gear X2's complex engine works, the less I enjoyed myself. Yes, it's a great game in itself and should be treated as such, but I'm usually more interested in fighters where you know exactly how characters are going to act and why they do. Here, characters like Faust and Zappa seem to have incredibly random attacks before you really get used to them, and that can be unsettling to many players. Just be warned: you'll have to commit to this game in order to truly love it.

But, don't let this scare you! It won't be an easy adjustment if you're new to the Guilty Gear series, but even if you're strictly a die-hard Street Fighter or King of Fighters fanatic, don't pass this one up. It may be a bit unbalanced, but behind those stunning graphics and silly characters rests one of the most original fighters ever made -- and certainly one of the best on PS2.