Xboxist

Soul Calibur IV Review

Finally come to the 360, Soul Calibur IV has!

Alright, so maybe I don't do the most convincing Yoda impression. However, I assure you this review won’t be as lame as that attempt. The famous Soul Calibur series has just hit both the 360 and PS3, but in this review, we’ll take a look at the 360 version and see if Soul Calibur IV utilizes the system to its full potential and satisfies gamers’ expectations.

First, we’ll take a look at the graphics. The graphics are well up to par and do take advantage of the significant horsepower of the Xbox 360. The level of detail may even amaze some gamers who aren't yet jaded by current-gen eye candy. The details contained in the game, such as the shape and movement of every muscle and body part (and I mean EVERY body part, wink) is given life-like characteristics. Even the designs of the weapons look good enough to slice through the TV. Details like these show that Namco Bandai has gone to great lengths to make Soul Calibur IV an entertaining experience. However, the graphics are not the only place where the game shines.

Gameplay

The gameplay may be familiar to those who have played the previous Soul Calibur series. The same thrill and excitement is there, but a little faster and more precise movement with each character. There are also new modes to choose from, such as the Tower of Lost Souls, in which the player fights specific battles to gain a reward, such as power ups to customize his or her character or any of the existing characters (read the characters section below for details). The controls feel smooth and those new to the game may even become comfortable with the controls within a few matches.

Characters

Yes, yes. We all know about Yoda. He’s on the box! And yes, remember that fight scene in Episode 2? Well, picture that fighting style playable in a video game. It’s that intense! However, Yoda is not the only character from the Star Wars universe, as the Apprentice (from the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed game) is also a playable character. The characters from the previous Soul Calibur games return as well, such as Ivy, Maxi, Nightmare, Mitsurugi, and Raphael. In addition, a new boss is introduced by the name of Algol, who uses the Soul Calibur and Soul Edge. Think you can take him down? In addition to new characters, players can also create their own character from scratch using the Character Creation mode. Players can also use this mode to customize existing characters.

Multiplayer

The standard Versus option is a great way to get a warm up match started without going through the Arcade battle sequence. Players can get quick match started with friends or the computer. The one feature that is new to the Soul Calibur series is the online play. Gamers can battle other gamers through Xbox Live and can take part in ranked or unranked matches. Gamers may experience a little lag at some point in battles, however, it is nothing to worry about as it still delivers an excellent Soul Calibur online experience.

I think the only problem gamers may find with the game is that it is somewhat short, when considering only the Arcade mode and Story mode. However, the online play more than makes up for the shortness of these modes. The graphics and gameplay are amazing and smooth and the selection of characters will leave gamers with a variety of fighting styles to choose from to fit their gaming needs. What more can I say? Fighting fans need to play Soul Calibur IV for themselves to get the feel of the true experience!

Go play it, son!