Soul Calibur III for PlayStation 2 Reviews by Gamers

If you like fighting games, especially soul edge/calibur games, then you owe it to yourself to check this game out.
Graphics: 7
The graphics are GOOD, maybe even close to GREAT, but not quite EXCEPTIONAL. It's slightly above par for the fighting game genre.
Sound: 6
The voice acting is horrid, as is the voice acting for MOST games in the fighting genre, but the soundtrack is good, and the sound-effects are superb!
Controls: 9
The controls are complex enough for someone with a lot of time & patience to master like an art form, yet simple enough for a "button-masher" to make it through a few rounds, feeling like they accomplished something.
Gameplay: 9
I'd gladly give this game a 10 on gameplay if the fighting were just a hair more complex. Unfortunately the one thing that anchors this game down is the fact that it falls into the age old "learn-2-or-3-good-combos" rut. Once you've checked out all the "built-in" combos, you pretty much tend to stick to 1 or 2 "old faithful" sequences, and eventually, you could to them in your sleep. The redeeming qualities, however, rocket this game into the hall of fame! It's got TONS of customizable content, including an all new "create-a-fighter" feature! It's extremely well equipped to keep you busy for days/weeks/months just trying to complete every personal goal you set for yourself! There are enough mini-stages to keep your thumbs sore for quite some time to come, and the new conquest style game is remarkable! I personally have logged close to 500 hours on that mode alone. It also has (of course) the typical VS mode & "story" mode where you (hopefully) beat the game with one character in order to see his/her ending. There are lots of unlockable characters, and items for use in any mode, however most of the items you can unlock are "purchased" with gold earned in the different game modes, and roughly 70% or more is strictly eye candy with no real in-game effect.

Overall this is a GREAT GAME

Very Good! The extra characters and fighting moves make this game a blast! The fighting system is smoother than the 2nd SC and the there is actually a plot. There are even interactive cut-scenes in which you must press buttons to avoid being damaged before the battle starts, or to change the course of the plot. Very good!