Game Review: Soulcalibur IV (Xbox 360, PS3)

Soulcalibur IV is the newest game from the critically acclaimed Soul series. Normally I’m not a big fan of fighting games (with the exception of the Smash Bros series) but this game really got my attention. The screenshots looked brilliant, the characters looked diverse and, best of all, Yoda was in it. But would I enjoy the game itself, or just the novelty of jumping around as a little green man?

Instead of going straight online with Soulcalibur and having my ass handed to me, I decided to have a quick blast with the single player modes. Apparently my definition of “quick blast” is exactly the same as Namco’s definition of “entire single player experience”, because after about half an hour I’d successfully completed the story and arcade modes. I know that games like Soulcalibur, have never really offered much in the way of storyline or single player longevity, but a story mode lasting fifteen minutes, if that, is really disappointing. It’s a bit cheeky calling it a story mode in the first place, since there isn’t any real story to speak of, apart from some dull scrolling text at the beginning and a couple of cutscenes that don’t explain anything. Personally, I don’t see the point in creating a story mode if there isn’t a plot or any change in gameplay, it seems like a waste of time for player and developer.

This guy is pivotal to the storyline. Apparently.

The other single player modes, while limited, are probably a step up from the story mode. The new “Tower of Lost Souls” mode works a little like the “Bloody Palace” arena from Devil May Cry 4: you can choose to work your way up or down the tower, with the hardest fighting at the top. As you fight you gain rewards and experience, which can be used to enhance your character. It’s the longest of the single player modes, and probably the most challenging. Whether the challenge is getting to the top of the tower or forcing yourself to graft through all the fights for the rewards will depends on how much you enjoy playing Soulcalibur’s single player gameplay.

The other lonely game mode is the straight forward Arcade, and there’s nothing new here. It’s a straightforward line-up of eight different opponents fought on different stages. You collect experience as you go, and at the end you’ll receive some cash that can be spent on new characters, or on customising old characters. It’s simple and old fashioned, but it makes for great gameplay, and it’s exactly what I want from a fighter. The only real problem I had with the Arcade mode is that the difficulty always jumps around constantly. One fight you can be tearing into an opponent, pulling off great combos and finding everything laughably easy, only for the next opponent to slice you up like a soft lemon. But apart from that minor frustration it’s a good laugh, and you’ll constantly be persuading yourself that you have time for another go.

Time for another go, you have.

I’ve always used the single player as a stepping stone for the multiplayer, just to familiarise myself with the controls and characters. Unfortunately, the control system in Soulcalibur IV is a little difficult to get used to, because of a stupid default layout. Some buttons double up as completely different things, for example the taunt button will occasionally pull off an attack, if done at the right time. Pressing A+Y simultaneously has the exact same effect as pulling the left trigger, which is just stupid. Why not just set one command to A+Y, and something completely different to the left trigger? The whole control system seems a little broken to me, almost as if it’s encouraging button mashing. Now, I’ve got no problem with allowing button mashing, but encouraging it just means more people result to using repetitive moves and cheap tactics, which is incredibly frustrating.

All that said, it would be harsh to judge the game on single player alone. Incredibly harsh actually, since fighter games have always been made with multiplayer as the focus, and that‘s how I always remember playing them. So, how well does Soulcalibur IV fare as a multiplayer game, online and off? Pretty f**king awesome, actually.

The multiplayer in Soulcalibur works a lot like the Arcade mode: each player chooses a fighter, and then you kick the living crap out of each other. It’s the oldest, simplest idea in gaming ever, and it will never stop working. Fighting against other players is wild and unpredictable, with fights moving at an incredibly fast pace, and as a result the multiplayer is vastly superior to the single player. It’s incredibly accessible for new or casual players (I remember my girlfriend’s mocking laughter as she button mashed her way to 6 victories in a row), but the skill factor is still there for veteran fighters. Whether you’re a newcomer or a hardcore Soulcalibur player, you’re going to have a lot of fun with the multiplayer, because it’s fantastic, and easily one of the best multiplayer games I’ve ever experienced.

Multiplayer isn’t the only thing Soulcalibur IV does extremely well. The game boasts a superb character creation system, which is by far the most sophisticated I’ve seen in a console game. In character creation you can build your character from the ground up; choosing their fighting style, alignment, and the clothes they wear. You can even change the pitch and tone of their voice, in incredible detail. As well as creating your own character, you can also edit all of the games preset characters, and considering that there are so many presets, there are practically limitless customisation options, all of which can be used in any of the game modes. Creating and editing characters is brilliantly simple and incredibly intricate, and implemented superbly into the game.

Yeah, you can dress up your character as a rhino. F**king awesome.

As well as superb multiplayer and character creation, Soulcalibur IV boasts the best graphics I have seen in any game. Ever. Seriously, this game will make your eyes melt. Some of the characters wouldn’t look out of place in a Hollywood movie, they just look that impressive. I don’t think a game has managed to wow me with its graphics since Devil May Cry 4, but Soulcalibur is genuinely beautiful. You can say “graphics don’t matter” as much as you like, but when they’re this good, it really enhances the gameplay experience, and it really absorbs you into a game.

Sexually repressed Japanese game developers strike again.

Soulcalibur IV also boasts a good selection of instrumental tracks, which work really well with the tense, high adrenaline atmosphere of the gameplay. The only real flaw with the sound is something which doesn’t really need pointing out in a Japanese game: the voice acting. Apart from Yoda and the Apprentice, it all seems incredibly forced (no pun intended), and the bloke they’ve got to do the voice over for battles is just annoying. I know that it’s a really minor thing to be annoyed by, and it’s something that I’m sure other people might actually like. But it’s my review, and I’m going to complain about it if I want to. Ha.

So overall, Soulcalibur IV is a damn good game. What the game lacks in single player, it more than makes up for in the multiplayer modes. Casual gamers should definitely check this game out, but I wouldn’t recommend jumping in with a purchase. However, the hardcore fighters among you should definitely buy this game, because I can almost guarantee you’ll love it. It’s beautiful, slick, and incredibly good fun. Just don’t complain when your significant other beats the crap out of you on their first go.

8/10