Review by: Jason Purdy
Published: October 4, 1999

Console developers are all but required these days to accompany the debut of their new hardware with at least one game that pushes that hardware to the limits. When the Super Nintendo came out, it had Super Mario Land to show the world exactly what they meant when they talked about “Mode 7 Graphics.” Likewise, Super Mario World on the N64 was packed with as much eye candy as the cartridge could hold and served as an excellent demonstration of what the N64 could do that the PSX couldn’t. It’s simply good business sense to make sure that your first titles do everything within their power to make your console look as exquisite as possible, and that is exactly what Namco has done for Sega with Soul Calibur. Sure, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing has cool facial expressions, but the character models are seamy and the animation is choppy; and as impressive as Pen Pen Tricelon is, it just doesn’t quite compare.

Soul Calibur is based on Namco’s arcade game of the same name. Note that I say it is only based on it, because to call it a port of the arcade machine would be a grievous injustice. In fact, the event that stands out in my mind most prominently as the single moment when I realized that the Dreamcast might actually stand a chance in the upcoming console war was at E3 when I saw the Soul Calibur arcade machine running next to the Dreamcast version. The difference was staggering. On the Dreamcast (DC), the graphics were smoother, better looking, and faster. Even the attack animations were more complex. To say that I was impressed would be a huge understatement. I was a huge Soul Calibur fan in the arcades and I never would have imagined that it could look this fantastic. The finished product that shipped alongside the DC is a testament to both the raw power of Sega’s new console and to the talent of the teams of artists working at Namco.

On the surface, Soul Calibur seems like yet another medieval era beat-em-up, in the same vein as the early Mortal Kombats. At its basest level, you choose from a wide array (as shown at right) of samurai, ninjas, brawlers and demons and use your character’s talents and abilities to carve a path through the competition, thus achieving a position of honor as the biggest bad boy on the block. You have to keep in mind, though, that Soul Calibur comes from the same people who brought us Tekken 3, so right off the bat you know that this game is far more than a mere button mashing frenzy. At the very least, the sheer number of fighters available for use is enough to ensure that this title will hold your attention for quite a while. More impressive than the number of characters, though, is the number of moves that are available for each of them. There are literally hundreds of attacks, blocks, parries and throws that each fighter can pull off. You can spend days just learning the basics of combat with each character, and almost as much time unlocking all of the hidden features.

The combat in Soul Calibur is all weapon based, as opposed to the hand to hand brawling of Tekken 3. This is very significant for many reasons, not the least of which is the variety of styles represented. While there were many differences in the martial arts that the characters in Tekken 3 used, they were still just kicking and punching. In Soul Calibur, on the other hand, wildly different strategies are used to fight each character depending on who you’re using. For example, if you put Hwang and his scimitar up against Mitsurugi and his katana, you’re going to see a lot of clashing swords, flashing blades, and close in slashing. Put Hwang up against Astaroth and his seven foot battle axe, or Nightmare and his gargantuan living broadsword, and you’ll see entirely different tactics being employed. The larger characters try to keep the smaller one at range with their huge weapons while Hwang tries to use his speed and maneuverability to his advantage.

Soul Calibur also includes a “Mission Mode,” further adding to the replay value. In this mode you select a slasher of your choice and set out to complete a series of battles, each of which is based around the main story of the game. This story concerns itself primarily with the hunt for the “Soul Edge,” the mythical blade that was the central focus of the first title in this series. More than that, though, it revolves around the individual characters, each of whom has their own reasons for seeking out the Soul Edge. These reasons range from greed and selfishness to honor and glory, and the depth of the character’s motives adds an incredible amount to the gameplay. Each mission that you embark on has its own set of conditions that must be overcome, such as a strong wind pushing you towards the edge of the arena or an opponent who regenerates his health. As these obstacles are overcome, you are awarded points which can be spent to unlock pictures in Soul Calibur’s prodigious Art Gallery, which in turn unlocks new modes and features.