[Vic Viper]

When Namco's Soul Calibur II was released in Japan, many eager fans snatched up the import versions. Not only is it the follow-up to the outstanding Soul Calibur for Sega's Dreamcast, but each release had a console-specific character: Link on the Gamecube, Tekken's Heihachi on the PS2, and Todd Macfarlane's Spawn on the Xbox.

Fans who salivated at the possibility of waging combat as Link, Heihachi, and Spawn, and bought the import Soul Calibur II may have had the chance to play the game a few months early, but it appears that gamers who have waited for the US release will have the last laugh, as Namco has announced that the US versions of Soul Calibur II will have three more characters: Rock, Hwang, and Lizardman.

The return of these classic characters and the now-playable Lizardman add to what is already looking to be one of the most popular fighting games of the year. These characters are reported as being available in all versions of the game, with Link, Heihachi, and Spawn still being console-specific. The game is set for an August 26 release here in the states, so that's just enough time to break out your Dreamcast and hone your Soul Calibur skills. Get cracking!

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