SoulCalibur

I’ve been a fan of the soul series since Soul Edge, but its thanks to too many 3 hours plus sessions, and one good opponent on SC4 that it found a permanent place in my faves list. One of the best fighters and arguably the best weapons based fighting games available on console, but remember there is not allot of weapon based fighters so we can’t be giving to much cred for that! Soul Calibur offer something for all types of gamers, speed, power, range, technique, cheap/cheat, defensive, combos, and you're not limited to picking a style with certain characters and sticking to it. Unlike most other, if not all other, fighters that have a type of player they lend themselves too. You can be a casual gamer and still pull of the bad ass stuff; you can be too sick and know each combo and special but still get beat by a newbie! Does this happen with Tekken, Street Fighter or Mortal Combat? Blue moon type stuff. The control system can have you tapping, holding, rolling or sweeping your fingers over the controls at any time. I believe SoulCalibur has the versatility all other fighters I have come across lack.

SC5 has been the longest wait for a console since the original Soul Calibur on Dreamcast at 4 years if I'm correct. One thing about this latest release I noticed was the lack of hype. It was back in my school days that SC4 was released and I remember people I know for a fact never was a, will be a, or will ever understand a gamer, raving about it. It was all over gaming media, maybe thanks to the Star Wars fighters, but unless you looked for it you may have completely missed the run up to SC5, well compared to SC4 anyway. What makes me wonder this so much is that, SC5 is better, perhaps much better, than SC4...

I was a hard core SC4 player, and (no exaggeration) saying I’m good is a UBER understatement. You would think I would be displeased at any changes, but in fact even though the 2 major changes I have notice in the hour or so I have played disadvantage me, I'm preferring it! The first thing you notice is the slight slower pace, but this I think is due to you having to be slightly more calculating with your attacks. Imagine the Star Wars movies, the older made ones have slower more rigid looking saber fight scenes, but the attacks are less wasted, in the newer made moves you see the Jedi’s jumping and spinning all over the shop, looking as flashy as possible, SC5 is more like the older Star Wars... MORE like, NOT like. If you prefer to charge in attack crazy, you will still get on with the game, but it seems SC5 is aimed towards experienced gamers if not experienced SC players. The special attacks are far easier to pull off in SC5, and the controls have been changed slightly to make it easier for pad players to pull of those awkward moves, e.g. X+B (Xbox), instead now having to press a single shoulder button. Ring out physics seem more realistic, I'll be honest, I will ring out if needed, and I'm danm good at it too (yes... IT IS A SKILL), I haven’t yet decided if this is better or no. Combos are still there for you to pull off, but you don’t feel as if you’ve consciously input the command as much, maybe this is due to me not having enough game time yet? At times I've found myself stood there wondering what to try next, if the controls are over 95% the same why is this happening? There is nothing new that makes you think wow after 15 minutes of playing, and Ezio could have been a little more badass, that have got his stance just slightly off, but Ezios stand is part of what gives him so much badass...ness? No more handicaps or unlimited times rounds, even in 2 player. It really does seem that Project Soul have tried to please the more experienced players of the series. Ill probably be back to let you know how that goes.