Soulcalibur IV
Encyclopedia
is the fourth installment in Namco
's Soul
series of fighting game
s. The game was released for the PlayStation 3
and Xbox 360
on July 29, 2008, in North America, on July 31, 2008, in Japan, Europe, and Australia, and on August 1, 2008, in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
The game is notable for its inclusion of three characters from the popular Star Wars
franchise as playable fighters.
Character Creation from Soulcalibur III returns in Soulcalibur IV. Instead of including original weapon styles for use with certain classes of fighters, Soulcalibur IV now only allows players to choose which character from the series they would like to have their created character mimic. This differs from Soulcalibur III which had many unique styles such as "Grieve Edge". Algol, the bonus characters and the Star Wars guest characters cannot have their styles used by player created characters.
A wide array of new pieces of equipment are available for use in Soulcalibur IV
In addition, equipped items now also affect a character's statistics. Armor, weapons, and accessories may increase health, attack or defense; they may also grant skill points that allow the character to equip special traits that affect the character's playstyle. These traits range from automatically triggered guard impacts, the ability to cause damage against a blocking opponent, or even a stat increase based on parameters such as an opponent's alignment or gender. Standard characters are also able to be modified in this way to a modest degree, allowing custom costumes and skill sets to be used in Special VS. mode. Custom characters can still be used in Standard VS. mode, but without any of the special abilities gained through equipment or weapon choice. One profile is allowed for offline versus mode, meaning that only one profile's created characters can be loaded at a time.
Multi-fighter battles in Soulcalibur IV use a different structure from its predecessors, nicknamed Active Matching Battle (AMB). Similar to the tag system of games such as The King of Fighters 2003
, the AMB system allows players to switch to other members of a 'party' of fighters mid battle. Also, instead of starting a new round for each opponent defeated, new opponents will simply run into the battle immediately after a K.O. - with the exception of certain combatants. Matches utilizing the AMB system only appear in the Story and Tower of Lost Souls modes.
Soulcalibur IV features an all-new Critical Finish system. Next to a player's Health Meter is a colored gem that represents the "Soul Gauge". The gem changes color when the player blocks an attack or has his or her own attack blocked by a Guard Impact. The color gradually changes from blue to green and eventually to red and then flashing red. The player's own Soul Gauge will regenerate if he or she makes an attack and hits the opponent (guarding or otherwise). If the character manages to empty out the opponent's Soul Gauge, the enemy will be Soul Crushed, destroying a piece of armor (characters will now show permanent signs of visual damage such as broken and torn clothing) and producing a short stun during which the character can perform a powerful Critical Finish move, which will defeat the opponent instantly, by pressing all four face buttons at the same time. Each character has his or her own personal Critical Finish move. Namco says that it developed the Soul Gauge to decrease the benefits from constant guarding, thus giving the game a faster tempo and making the matches more offensive.
The Star Wars guest characters - Darth Vader, Yoda
and the Apprentice
- utilize unique attacks using the Force
. Darth Vader is able to utilize Force-based blasts, punches, and chokes, Yoda can use the Force to launch himself into the air for complex aerial attacks, and the Apprentice is able to use Force lightning and other dark-side moves. These moves drain a special Force Meter, which recharges gradually when not in use. If the Force Meter is depleted, the player loses control of the character momentarily.
Many characters from the Soul series return for Soulcalibur IV, with newcomers Hilde
and Algol added to the roster. The Star Wars
characters Darth Vader
, Yoda
and the Starkiller
are playable as guest characters. Initially, Darth Vader appeared on the PlayStation 3, and Yoda appeared on the Xbox 360; Namco later made both characters downloadable content on the opposite platform for a fee. Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice, the main protagonist of LucasArts
' video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
, is playable on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. Matt Sloan
, Tom Kane
and Sam Witwer, the voice actors for Vader, Yoda and The Apprentice respectively in various Star Wars games and cartoons
, reprise their roles in the English
version of Soulcalibur IV. They are also the only voice actors to be credited in the English version.
Revenant, Frederick Schtauffen and several other minor Soul series characters make an appearance in battle; most can be made in the Character Creation mode. Several bonus characters designed by manga
artists - Angol Fear, Ashlotte, Kamikirimusi, Scheherazade and Shura - are also playable in the game, and use the fighting styles of returning characters.
also mentioned exclusive access to extra customization content in this version. The "extra customization content" refers to the automatic unlocking of the most powerful weapons and joke weapons for each character, as well as clothing items to create a schoolboy or schoolgirl character. In New Zealand, United Kingdom and Australia there will be a Steelbook case edition instead, with a bonus DVD containing 4 trailers in HD, 4 wallpapers, exclusive concept art and an exclusive booklet with character biographies.
Certain criticisms were directed towards the guest characters from the Star Wars franchise, with several critics maintaining that their presence was unnatural and that Yoda and The Apprentice in particular were "broken" (a reference to a perceived imbalance in fighting games that gives some characters a vastly unfair advantage over other characters in gameplay) and "absurd", respectively. Yoda's smaller size (and thus his immunity to grab attacks) is mentioned as one such design problem. Fans were also disappointed at the lack of a Team Versus Mode, which allows two players to fight with up to eight characters each. The mode had been a feature in previous installments of the series yet it is conspicuously absent in Soulcalibur III and Soulcalibur IV. Critics have described its omission as “baffling” and "disappointing". The game is also one of the most modern PS3/Xbox360 games not to support Dual Shock/vibrational feedback.
In 2010, the game was included as one of the titles in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die
.
Harada informed fans that he is willing to accept opinions and requests on his Twitter; however, he asked the messages to be short and simple due to his poor English skills. While the possibility of a sequel was stronger than ever, Namco had not made a statement(s) to solidify their commitment for the game. Fans were encouraged to maintain support and show interest to secure development of Soulcalibur V
.
On May 11, 2011 Namco Bandai officially announced Soulcalibur V
. It is slated for release for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2012.
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
's Soul
Soul (series)
The is a weapon-based historical fantasy fighting game series by Namco Bandai Games. The series revolves around a sword that, after years of bloodshed and hatred, gained a soul of its own, the Soul Edge, and the sword forged to counter it, Soul Calibur. The series is special in that each character...
series of fighting game
Fighting game
Fighting game is a video game genre where the player controls an on-screen character and engages in close combat with an opponent. These characters tend to be of equal power and fight matches consisting of several rounds, which take place in an arena. Players must master techniques such as...
s. The game was released for the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
on July 29, 2008, in North America, on July 31, 2008, in Japan, Europe, and Australia, and on August 1, 2008, in the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
The game is notable for its inclusion of three characters from the popular Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
franchise as playable fighters.
Gameplay
Soulcalibur IV features the Story, Arcade, Training and Museum modes. A new mode called Tower of Lost Souls requires the player to win battles in order to gain rewards.Character Creation from Soulcalibur III returns in Soulcalibur IV. Instead of including original weapon styles for use with certain classes of fighters, Soulcalibur IV now only allows players to choose which character from the series they would like to have their created character mimic. This differs from Soulcalibur III which had many unique styles such as "Grieve Edge". Algol, the bonus characters and the Star Wars guest characters cannot have their styles used by player created characters.
A wide array of new pieces of equipment are available for use in Soulcalibur IV
In addition, equipped items now also affect a character's statistics. Armor, weapons, and accessories may increase health, attack or defense; they may also grant skill points that allow the character to equip special traits that affect the character's playstyle. These traits range from automatically triggered guard impacts, the ability to cause damage against a blocking opponent, or even a stat increase based on parameters such as an opponent's alignment or gender. Standard characters are also able to be modified in this way to a modest degree, allowing custom costumes and skill sets to be used in Special VS. mode. Custom characters can still be used in Standard VS. mode, but without any of the special abilities gained through equipment or weapon choice. One profile is allowed for offline versus mode, meaning that only one profile's created characters can be loaded at a time.
Multi-fighter battles in Soulcalibur IV use a different structure from its predecessors, nicknamed Active Matching Battle (AMB). Similar to the tag system of games such as The King of Fighters 2003
The King of Fighters 2003
The King of Fighters 2003 is a competitive fighting game produced by SNK Playmore for the Neo Geo arcade and home platform. It is the tenth game in The King of Fighters series and the first KOF game to become a tag tournament as well as the first one to be published by SNK Playmore...
, the AMB system allows players to switch to other members of a 'party' of fighters mid battle. Also, instead of starting a new round for each opponent defeated, new opponents will simply run into the battle immediately after a K.O. - with the exception of certain combatants. Matches utilizing the AMB system only appear in the Story and Tower of Lost Souls modes.
Soulcalibur IV features an all-new Critical Finish system. Next to a player's Health Meter is a colored gem that represents the "Soul Gauge". The gem changes color when the player blocks an attack or has his or her own attack blocked by a Guard Impact. The color gradually changes from blue to green and eventually to red and then flashing red. The player's own Soul Gauge will regenerate if he or she makes an attack and hits the opponent (guarding or otherwise). If the character manages to empty out the opponent's Soul Gauge, the enemy will be Soul Crushed, destroying a piece of armor (characters will now show permanent signs of visual damage such as broken and torn clothing) and producing a short stun during which the character can perform a powerful Critical Finish move, which will defeat the opponent instantly, by pressing all four face buttons at the same time. Each character has his or her own personal Critical Finish move. Namco says that it developed the Soul Gauge to decrease the benefits from constant guarding, thus giving the game a faster tempo and making the matches more offensive.
The Star Wars guest characters - Darth Vader, Yoda
Yoda
Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, appearing in the second and third original films, as well as all three prequel trilogy films. A renowned Jedi master, Yoda made his first on-screen appearance in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where he is responsible for...
and the Apprentice
Starkiller
Starkiller, also known as Galen Marek and the Apprentice, is the main character of the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed project , who first appeared in the game Soulcalibur IV. He is voiced by Sam Witwer, who also gave his likeness to the character...
- utilize unique attacks using the Force
Force (Star Wars)
The Force is a binding, metaphysical and ubiquitous power in the fictional universe of the Star Wars galaxy created by George Lucas. Mentioned in the first film in the series, it is integral to all subsequent incarnations of Star Wars, including the expanded universe of comic books, novels, and...
. Darth Vader is able to utilize Force-based blasts, punches, and chokes, Yoda can use the Force to launch himself into the air for complex aerial attacks, and the Apprentice is able to use Force lightning and other dark-side moves. These moves drain a special Force Meter, which recharges gradually when not in use. If the Force Meter is depleted, the player loses control of the character momentarily.
Online battles
For the first time in the series, Soulcalibur IV has the option to fight against other players online. Versus modes available in online battles are Standard VS (for classic matches) and "Special VS" (for customized characters). Created characters are playable in the online multiplayer mode. A player's wins and losses are recorded and used to establish a ranking level, which reflects online skill.Characters
Many characters from the Soul series return for Soulcalibur IV, with newcomers Hilde
Hildegard von Krone
, for short, is a fictional character in the Soul series of video games. Created by Namco's Project Soul division, she first appeared in Soulcalibur IV and its subsequent sequels, later appearing in various merchandise related to the series...
and Algol added to the roster. The Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
characters Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a central character in the Star Wars saga, appearing as one of the main antagonists in the original trilogy and as the main protagonist in the prequel trilogy....
, Yoda
Yoda
Yoda is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe, appearing in the second and third original films, as well as all three prequel trilogy films. A renowned Jedi master, Yoda made his first on-screen appearance in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back where he is responsible for...
and the Starkiller
Starkiller
Starkiller, also known as Galen Marek and the Apprentice, is the main character of the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed project , who first appeared in the game Soulcalibur IV. He is voiced by Sam Witwer, who also gave his likeness to the character...
are playable as guest characters. Initially, Darth Vader appeared on the PlayStation 3, and Yoda appeared on the Xbox 360; Namco later made both characters downloadable content on the opposite platform for a fee. Darth Vader's Secret Apprentice, the main protagonist of LucasArts
LucasArts
LucasArts Entertainment Company, LLC is an American video game developer and publisher. The company was once famous for its innovative line of graphic adventure games, the critical and commercial success of which peaked in the mid 1990s...
' video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a multimedia project developed by LucasArts along with Dark Horse Comics, Lego, Hasbro, and Del Rey Books...
, is playable on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. Matt Sloan
Matt Sloan (Director)
Matt Sloan is an American director and comedian from Madison, Wisconsin. He and his friend Aaron Yonda are notable as the co-creators of Chad Vader, who he also voices in both series and 'spin-off' episodes...
, Tom Kane
Tom Kane
Tom Kane is a prominent American voice actor with over 25 years of experience. He is most widely known for his animation work...
and Sam Witwer, the voice actors for Vader, Yoda and The Apprentice respectively in various Star Wars games and cartoons
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)
-Production:At April 2005's Star Wars Celebration III, Lucas stated that "we are working on a 3-D continuation of the pilot series that was on the Cartoon Network; we probably won't start that project for another year." In July 2005, pre-production had begun on the series, according to Steve...
, reprise their roles in the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
version of Soulcalibur IV. They are also the only voice actors to be credited in the English version.
Revenant, Frederick Schtauffen and several other minor Soul series characters make an appearance in battle; most can be made in the Character Creation mode. Several bonus characters designed by manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
artists - Angol Fear, Ashlotte, Kamikirimusi, Scheherazade and Shura - are also playable in the game, and use the fighting styles of returning characters.
Premium Edition
The Premium Edition of Soulcalibur IV includes a 48-page softcover art/comic book illustrated in full color, an XL 100% cotton t-shirt, and a tournament chart that allows "fans the opportunity to document the battle amongst friends." This chart is also a poster on the reverse side. It comes in a metal case and was released on the same date as the regular edition. GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
also mentioned exclusive access to extra customization content in this version. The "extra customization content" refers to the automatic unlocking of the most powerful weapons and joke weapons for each character, as well as clothing items to create a schoolboy or schoolgirl character. In New Zealand, United Kingdom and Australia there will be a Steelbook case edition instead, with a bonus DVD containing 4 trailers in HD, 4 wallpapers, exclusive concept art and an exclusive booklet with character biographies.
Downloadable content
Shortly after the initial release, various downloadable content were made available, including music tracks from the original Soulcalibur, customization equipment, and weapon packs. Later, the option to play as Yoda in the PS3 version of the game and Darth Vader in the Xbox 360 version was made available as well.Reception and sales
Soulcalibur IV has received mainly positive reviews from most media outlets. The game was praised for its graphics, character-creation mode and its long-awaited online play capability. Reviewers also noted that the gameplay is accessible for newcomers and beginners but still has plenty of depth and technicality for veterans and experienced players, including an abundance of single player challenges in Tower of Lost Souls mode. As of 8 May 2009, the game has sold 2.3 million worldwide.Certain criticisms were directed towards the guest characters from the Star Wars franchise, with several critics maintaining that their presence was unnatural and that Yoda and The Apprentice in particular were "broken" (a reference to a perceived imbalance in fighting games that gives some characters a vastly unfair advantage over other characters in gameplay) and "absurd", respectively. Yoda's smaller size (and thus his immunity to grab attacks) is mentioned as one such design problem. Fans were also disappointed at the lack of a Team Versus Mode, which allows two players to fight with up to eight characters each. The mode had been a feature in previous installments of the series yet it is conspicuously absent in Soulcalibur III and Soulcalibur IV. Critics have described its omission as “baffling” and "disappointing". The game is also one of the most modern PS3/Xbox360 games not to support Dual Shock/vibrational feedback.
Awards
- IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
Best of 2008:- Best Xbox 360Xbox 360The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
Fighting Game
- Best Xbox 360
- Spike TV Video Game AwardsSpike TV Video Game AwardsSpike Video Game Awards is an award show hosted by Spike TV that recognizes the best computer and video games of the year. The VGAs feature live music performances and appearances by popular performers in music, movies, and television. Additionally, preview trailers for upcoming games are...
- Best Fighting Game
- IGNIGNIGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
Top 20 Most Popular Xbox 360 Games of 2008:- 17/20
In 2010, the game was included as one of the titles in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die
Quintessence Editions Ltd.
Quintessence Editions Ltd. is a publishing company based in London which is the originator of the "1001 Before You Die" series. Typically, the titles in this series are intended as reference books. They are illustrated books authored by multiple contributors...
.
Sequel
Project Soul (the development team of the Soul series) had always given the impression that Soulcalibur IV would be their last installment as the team was rumored to be disbanded; however, Katsuhiro Harada (producer of the Tekken series) said he would seriously consider a sequel if there was sufficient interest.Harada informed fans that he is willing to accept opinions and requests on his Twitter; however, he asked the messages to be short and simple due to his poor English skills. While the possibility of a sequel was stronger than ever, Namco had not made a statement(s) to solidify their commitment for the game. Fans were encouraged to maintain support and show interest to secure development of Soulcalibur V
Soulcalibur V
is the upcoming sixth installment in Namco's Soul series of fighting games, and will be released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012. The game will take place 17 years after the events of Soulcalibur IV. The main protagonist is Patroklos, the son of Soul series veteran Sophitia, while her...
.
On May 11, 2011 Namco Bandai officially announced Soulcalibur V
Soulcalibur V
is the upcoming sixth installment in Namco's Soul series of fighting games, and will be released for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012. The game will take place 17 years after the events of Soulcalibur IV. The main protagonist is Patroklos, the son of Soul series veteran Sophitia, while her...
. It is slated for release for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2012.
External links
- Soulcalibur IV at PlayStation.Com
- Official English website
- Official Japanese website
- Soulcalibur IV at NamcoBandaiNamco Bandai, also known as the Bandai Namco Group, is a Japanese holding company formed from the merger of Namco and Bandai. It has interests in toys, video games and arcades, anime, and amusement parks. The new entity was founded on September 29, 2005...
.com - Soulcalibur IV at Soulcalibur Wiki