A Superb Fighter.
posted by aenderw (GREENSBORO, NC) Aug 1, 2008
Member since Jan 2008
While Soul Calibur has never been my favorite fighter, it has always maintained a place on my shelf where few fighters exist (and for good reason). The series presents a game rife with beautiful level designs, gorgeous character models, and gameplay with depth enough to satiate both button mashers and hardcore fighter aficionados alike. Soul Calibur IV is on par, if not better, than previous iterations.
The single player options include the benchmarks Story, Arcade, and Tutorial, as well as the "Tower of Lost Souls" in which you are pitted against numerous opponents over several floors of the "tower." The most ground breaking inclusion is that of online fighting. You are given the option to limit your encounters to a "Friends-Only" experience, allowing those that are new to this competition the freedom to keep it less competitive than it otherwise gets. Online is GREAT, but don't expect to waltz in as Yoda and clean house. The competition is fierce, but equally fun.
SCIV also introduces the Soul Crush, which is essentially a finishing move. It produces some profound effects to say the least and it's insanely satisfying to perform one. Also introduced is the armor destruction within fights that limit the defense of your opponent and you. It adds a new element to your strategy and certainly makes bouts more interesting.
The character creation is very in-depth, allowing you to start from scratch or simply edit an existing character (though lightsabers ARE NOT available... disappointing :( .) You unlock new accessories through the various gameplay modes.
SCIV is an all around great experience for those that enjoy fighting games. I'd definitely recommend renting, if not purchasing, this gem of a fighter.
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