Profile
General: Namco completely re-invented their Soul series with an enhanced gameplay system that runs at a smooth 60 fps. The new gameplay innovations (besides running at 60 fps) include the 8-way run, allowing players to move in all directions as they fight, and guard impacting; one of the most innovative defensive/counter systems ever seen in a 3D fighting game. The home version was a great improvement over the arcade, with cool extra options like creating your own custom intro, and the inclusion of Theater mode where you can watch "katas" by all the characters, or listen to all of their dialouge in the game.
Many of the classic Soul Edge characters are back with tons of new moves, but still staying true to their original weapon fighting styles. The brand new characters have incredible new fighting styles, as well as unique weapons to the series. Characters move with some of the most fluid animation found in 3D fighting games to date, and look equally as well. Characters also have some of the most vivid personalities to date, and actually say a wide variety of different win quotes! Their mouths also move realistically, and accordingly to what they are saying. Soul Calibur is one of the first games to really incorporate "mouth movemen"t in the actual realtime gameplay! Impressive.
The arcade version of Soul Calibur lacked graphical polish, and had some gritty textures, but the Dreamcast version's graphics really cleaned things up and were definitely "next-gen" for the time... Improving the awe factor greatly over the arcade hit. Character models were ultra-detailed from head to toe, and also had facial expressions and animations. The stages are also beautiful and set the mood for the game, along with the awesome and epic orchestrial soundtrack. The hit effects and lighting effects were also top notch for 1999.
Manufacturer: Namco
Platforms: Arcade,
Dreamcast
Release: 1999
Characters:
Mitsurugi,
Hwang,
Sophitia,
Siegfried,
Taki,
Voldo,
Rock,
Maxi,
Yoshimitsu,
Ivy,
Kilik,
Xianghua,
Nightmare,
Astaroth,
Lizard
Man, Sueng Mina, Edge
Master, Inferno,
Cervantes
Related Games: Soul Edge, Soul
Calibur 2, Soul Calibur 3, Soul
Calibur 3: Arcade Edition, Soul Calibur
4
Review is for Dreamcast version of Soul Calibur
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Closing Comment: The first Soul Calibur made a huge impact on fighting games, even though at the time it wasn't the most popular one out there. If you bought this game when the Dreamcast was launched, you should remember how blown away you were when you first saw the graphics... And not only did this game look good, it played like a gem. One of the most fun and technical 3D fighting games to date, and the start of a great series as well. ~F.Yagami, Webmaster of TFG
.
.
.
