It’s been a while since we saw the launch of a good 3D fighter. This year in particular, 2D fighters reigned with titles like BlazBlue, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat and it seemed there was no room for 3D fighters anymore. But times change. SoulCalibur V proves that the three-dimensional era of fighters is not over by a long shot. With a new arsenal of fighters, SoulCalibur is ready for battle again. Is this a good sign? It might just be the best one yet…

It’s been 17 years since the events of SoulCalibur IV. A whole new confrontation looms between good and evil, between Soul Calibur and Soul Edge. In the story of Patroklos, who is the son of Sophitia Alexandra, his family’s destiny will be changed by the arrival of the Soul swords. Patroklos seems destined to wield Soul Calibur and he’s not sure how to deal with this. The sword will grow and gain power during the course of the story and Patroklos will change. Change into what he was destined to be.

The story will develop a little further with every chapter, making sure you won’t want to miss a single moment. After finishing a chapter, the story may make a sudden, strange twist, enhancing tension. Will Patroklos succeed in facing and beating Nightmare and the Soul Edge? Will he be able to save his loved ones?

Faith is in your hands! So is SoulCalibur!

SoulCalibur V has a lot to offer: an exciting Story Mode with unexpected developments, Quickplay for a quick fight, the traditional Arcade Mode, and of course a training ground. That last one is very important if you want to be able to stand your ground in fight. Apart from the previous modes, there is also the possibility to create your own character through an almost indefinite number of options. We won’t tell you too much about the Story Mode, because it’s a little short, but very interesting nonetheless. It’s a part of the game you should experience without reading spoilers.

Quickplay is a noteworthy part of the game, since we’re not dealing with regular opponents here. In the Quickplay menu, you can select a continent where different, automatically generated characters await you. These characters all have the combat style of an existing character, but look nothing like them. They all seem to be products of the Soul Creation and they are looking to teach you a lesson or two. The goal here is obvious: to be the one to teach them.

No fighter can do without the traditional Arcade Mode. Soul Calibur V contributes to this tradition by building different stages for each character with the infamous Nightmare and his Soul Edge as the final boss. Earn points and titles by winning matches. You’ll be able to change the titles in your personal profile, like you may have seen in Street Fighter IV.

The most important part of SoulCalibur V just might be the Training Mode, since training is the key to success in every fighter. In this Training Mode, you’re given different options for completing your training. There is the option to just go wild and have fun button mashing, but there is also the possibility to practice special moves like Brave Edge, Critical Edge, or a combination of the two. Almost anything is possible with the right training. But it’s not just important to practice your attacks. In this training you also have the option to practise moving around with the 8-way-run technique. Being able to move horizontally, vertically and diagonally is required for those who want to master SoulCalibur V!

SoulCalibur V is not a difficult fighter, but definitely not an easy one either. The game has a low treshold for starters; almost anyone will be able to play it. However, to get the most from the game you’ll have to spend a lot of time in the previously mentioned training. It’s also important to master the buttons of your controller. Whether you play with an Arcade Stick or with a fightpad, you’ll have to learn the button combinations by heart. Every combination has a different output and the length of time you press the button is also of importance. So remember what to do and when to do it, because your actions can end fatally or bring you victory.

Almost every fighter contains so-called ‘Super’ moves that require a filled energy bar to execute. SoulCalibur V is no exception to this rule and has called its energy bar Critical Gauge. With this bar you can execute powerful moves that are virtually unstoppable. Depending on your character, it will take a part of the Critical Gauge to execute an attack. You can perform this attack on its own or in a combo. However, you should be aware that your opponent will see a single attack coming and they will be able to use it against you.

SoulCalibur V demonstrates that 3D fighters are nowhere near played out. At the start of every fight the surroundings are showed off and they look gorgeous. The environments vary from forests and swamps to a castle bridge. The environment also reacts to what happens during a battle. For example, when a player is smashed into the fences, they will fall down, creating a little more room in the level. SoulCalibur V seems improved on all areas when compared to its predecessor. Sharper environments and smoother character movements make for a top class fighter!

Many of the sounds and music fragments in SoulCalibur V will sound familiar to those who played its predecessors. Every character has their own voice and is available in both the English and Japanese language. Unfortunately it’s not possible to set a language for individual characters; Ezio Auditore, for example, sounds very strange in Japanese. The music has also been handled with care and every stage has been given its own soundtrack.

As said above, SoulCalibur V offers the opportunity for endless enjoyment. Take, for example, the Creation Mode. This is where you can create your own warrior, based on an existing one. The existing fighter determines the combat style of of your creation, but you can shape their looks to your heart’s content. Change their looks, change their clothes and the colours of their clothing, and put stickers where ever you want. By the time you’ve finished every last detail of your character you’ll have pleasantly passed an hour, maybe even two. There is room for 54 of your own creations.

Points are earned by winning fights. These points are comparable to Experience Points, or XP. The more fights you win, the more points you’ll earn and the higher your Level will rise. At the start of the game, you’ll begin at Level 1 and you will have the opportunity to fight your way to Level 99. After you’ve completed the Story Mode, the Arcade Mode with different characters, and many rounds of Quickplay, you’ll find that you haven’t experienced even half of what SoulCalibur V has to offer. Time to prove yourself online!

There are several possibilities online, like achieving Ranks. As if the Level system wasn’t enough, you now get the chance to rise in Rank as well, depending on how many Ranked Matches you win. Apart from Ranked Match, there is also a Player Match, where you can enter a Lobby or create one yourself. Player Match is designed very well for up to six players in a Lobby. You can watch others play and there is a chat screen.

The biggest part of the online options will be the Global Colosseo. Here, you’ll be able to enter a Lobby, sorted by continent and world city, where tournaments and other events will be held. These are competitions on the SoulCalibur V servers that we haven’t been able to test for you yet because the tournaments will start on February 1st 2012.

In short, there’s enough to do in SoulCalibur V to keep you occupied for a very long time. Creation Mode offers endless possibilities and, in doing so, will create new experiences constantly -especially online- because you are working with a new character every time.

SoulCalibur V revives the 3D fighter genre. With its amazing environments and characters the game is a pleasure to look at. New techniques and ways to knock your opponent out ensure hours worth of training, experimentation, learning and more. Every time a match ends there are moments the game feels new. SoulCalibur V is one of a kind and will last you for a very long time. With more than 35 characters the battle between the Soul Blades is endless.

SoulCalibur has always added an exclusive character to each game. This time Ezio Auditore, from the Assassin’s Creed series, was chosen as the guest star. Ezio has his own repertoire of tricks to defeat his opponent in SoulCalibur V; he stepped straight out of Assassin’s Creed and brought his weapons. Prepare for an intense battle…

We played SoulCalibur V on the Playstation 3.

Faith is in your hands! So is SoulCalibur!