*** THE CASUAL GAMER ***
| Main | Overall Series Rating: Transcending History |
The Soul Edge Series:
Welcome to the Stage of History
1997:
It all started with this game, Soul Blade, made by Namco for the original Sony Playstation (it actually started in the arcades, where this game was know as Soul Edge). This game erupted onto the fighting game scene and quickly took home the crown. It won players over with its great graphics and cool weapons-based gameplay. It was really something fresh at a time when Tekken and Virtua Fighter were the dominant forces in the fighting genre. Soul Blade conquered all and would remain on top for some time, even holding its own against the beatings that newer, flashier games like Tekken 3 threatened to give it. Here we saw the birth of such memorable characters as Mitsurugi, Rock, and Cervantes, that would carry over and kick ass into the sequels to come.Rating (back in the day): Transcendent, (and today): Commendable (despite its age, it holds up really well, kicking ass just like it always has)
1999:
The sequel to Soul Edge and its spawn Soul Blade is know as Soul Calibur. It actually debuted in arcades a year earlier, but it came to true form when it was released on the Sega Dreamcast. It not only dethroned Soul Blade as the best fighting game ever, it destroyed all other contenders in its wake. This game had the killer one-two combination of fun and fluid gameplay multiplied by the best graphics ever seen in a video game. It was the single most important reason to buy a Dreamcast on launch day. The Dreamcast's increased power over the Playstation based arcade architecture let the developers breathe new life into the game. It was given a graphics overhaul, new characters, and new gameplay modes. It was simply stunning at the time, and it still holds up to any game released since.
Soul Calibur brought back many characters from the first game while adding new ones, too. We got Mitsurugi, Siegfried, Rock, Cervantes, and co. back in the fold, and we got great new characters like Astaroth and Lizardman. Even Yoshimitsu, the often hated space samurai from the Tekken series, was added after developers over at Namco realized he was in the wrong game. Unfortunately, Li Long, a fan favorite from the first game, was replaced by a crappy-looking Elvis impersonator named Maxi. Overall, though, the lineup was amazing...no, legendary.
Rating: Transcendent
[P.S. Just dont play this game against someone who has played it for 150 hours, unless you have too, because you will get frustrated as you get your ass kicked and eventually throw your controller through a wall]
Coming in 2003:
Soul Calibur 2 is due in arcades as of this writing, but the home consoles won't get a version until well into 2003. It is hard to wait, but the game looks amazing. The developers are improving on the already incredible graphics of Soul Calibur and tweaking the fighting engine and physics. From what I've seen, most of the characters from the previous games will be present, or they will have suitable replacements. Not everything is known about this game yet, but it looks like it's going to be another winner, keeping the fighting game title in the family. But we'll have to wait and see if this game can sway the attention off of Virtua Fighter 4. For now, though, just enjoy some pictures I dug up for all my loyal readers and fellow casual gamers.
God bless the Japanese!
I heard that Capcom got the license to do an Astaroth game. They're going to call it "RESIDENT BADASS."
Astaroth with a slightly revamped outfit. Nice Package, man!
A refreshed Mitsurugi, minus crooked arm. He does look a little crosseyed, though.
Fun Fact: Mitsurugi's name was changed to Arthur in some countries where there are laws against samurai. He was given blond hair and an eye patch, but his moves remained intact. True story.
**~THE LEGEND WILL NEVER DIE~**