About Soul Calibur VI

Ahhh, Soul Calibur by Bandai Namco. A breath of fresh brutal air in the dirty world of fighting games. Soul Calibur VI really lights a match under the behinds of other fighters too.

So, the question that inquiring minds want to know is...on October 19, 2018 should you buy this new edition in the Soul Calibur series?

Bringing to the table is a list of new characters, a full story mode, and a new critical edge super move system.

The art and graphics are beautifully rendered.

The game plot takes place during the 16th century, and it will revisit events from prior game installments. Bandai Namco said recently “set players on a voyage of discovery as they uncover events from the original Soul Calibur to learn hidden truths.” That is confirmation, in my opinion, of a back to their root's storyline. I believe it will be somewhat of a retelling of the storyline from the earlier games.

Soul Calibur VI Game Play

Guard impact is no longer part of the super meter system. This means it can be done at any time during combat. This helps give players a more useful defense system during fights. Some things are the same as other game installments. One thing that has remained is the ability to cancel out an attack by hitting the block button. This can be useful, a player can simply fake out their opponent, make them dodge an attack that isn’t happening and then set about delivering a series of blows.

A new addition to the combat system is stance known as Reversal Edge. This mechanic allows players to defend against an attack and strike back, in slow motion. The critical gauge can also be used for guard impacts. These are well-timed blocks that also open your opponent to your attacks. These are a nice tool to use when fighting but are not necessary for players to be a strong contender in this fighting game. 

Reversal Edge can guard against many attacks, but a single break attack defeats it.

The Reversal Edge reminds me a bit of the Focus Attack from Street Fighter IV. Once activated, it absorbs some hits before delivering a blow that triggers a sequence of events where you, the player, hits some buttons and just waits to see what happens.  A real boast for Soul Calibur VI is the multiplayer. Multiplayer on a fighting game is so important, which allow us to fight friends, and challenge family to the death! These are critical part of what gives a fighting game its longevity. 

Namco is known for games having many modes and features and Soul Calibur VI is no different. Gamers want to know what exclusives and extras we can expect to see upon release. Aside from arcade mode Soul Calibur VI features versus, team battle, time attack, practice, museum, mission, online, extra survival, and survival modes. Most of these are staples in fighting games, but there are a couple exceptions here. In mission mode, you can either have a tutor, the Edge Master, or you can fight against opponents and be rewarded with points. You can cash in points at the museum. The museum mode is an art gallery of black and white drawings, CG renderings, and anime- style art. 
Buying the art helps you unlock other things in the game such as character outfits, stages, character profile options, and even more.

Who else is ready to whoop some butt? Geralt should is!

Soul Calibur VI Combat

For anyone not experienced in the wonderful world of Soul Caliber I will give you the game in layman's terms. The game revolves around a back-and-forth fighting system using high, low, and horizontal attacks. You can choose to block and side-step opponents during combat as well. Higher-level combat moves are a combination of button sequences and tactical positions. This system probably sounds familiar if you know anything about fighting games. You would be right in that assumption, but the Soul Caliber franchise is so much more!

Veterans and newcomers will be impressed with the evolution of this series.

Soul Calibur VI Graphics

Now, for those experienced in the song and dance of the Soul Caliber world, I digress back to the one at hand, Soul Calibur VI.  The game, as one would expect, is gorgeous. Characters feature massive detail and the animations run smoothly. Battle stages and backgrounds feature tons of little things and unfortunately can be distracting in battle. Characters feature higher resolution textures than ever before. The colors are more vibrant and the details more noticeable. The weapons have features and additions you can’t miss. Everything looks smooth and clear, fighters have intense facial expressions and transition from one to the next with fluidity. The game is fast and smooth. None of us will know until after the release but it appears that Soul Caliber is returning to its roots with some upgrades. The Unreal Engine 4 helps give this game the beauty and stunning quality it deserves.

In-game graphics look absolutely stunning, though chaotic action can be a bit distracting.

Soul Calibur VI Roster

New characters are also available for play in Soul Calibur VI. Four new characters appear on the roster and a guest character as well. 
A full list of released characters is:
Mitsurugi
Sophitia
Nightmare
Chai Xianghua
Kilik
Ivy
Zasalamel
Siegfried
Taki
Yoshimitsu
Maxi
Groh
Geralt of Rivia
Talim

Tira, from Soul Calibur III will also be available as a pre-order download or as part of the season pass. She was introduced in III and features her own style of fighting.

Tira shown here from her reveal trailer.

Character creation is back in Soul Calibur VI as well. This is one of my favorite parts of the game by far. You can equip items you have unlocked on your fighters. Some are completely expected items that prove useful for combat, some are just for fun. Who doesn’t want to fight with a donkey headed boxer short wearing hooved nightmare? I know I do! Bandai has also announced that created characters will be available as playable characters in online gameplay in both casual and ranked matches. Creating characters is fun, if not a bit funny at times, but don’t expect any new moves from these. The characters all use the move sets from the other fighters with just one exception. Your fighter can be set to fight like Devil Jin from Tekken.

Soul Calibur VI Developer

Bandai Namco is well-known for their ability to make a beautiful and engaging game. Soul Calibur VI is no different here. “Our priority when developing the game first and foremost is creating something that’s fun and engaging for the player to experience. We want to make a solid game,” Motohiro Okubo of Bandai Namco and the current producer of the Soul Calibur series told VG274 in an interview. “I think the esports scene is a very community-driven group, especially in fighting games,” Okubo stated. “Even now, a lot of the big tournaments and competitions are run by the community. If by making a great game there’s then a voice from the scene that says ‘hey, we could use this as a good, very competitive game,’ then that might be the trigger for us thinking about and talking about what kind of support we can offer.”

Gamers should able to appreciate the heart and soul put upon on this game.

Soul Calibur VI Price

As expected, Soul Calibur VI comes in at your typical game price of $59.99 when it first released. More than we would all like to pay, but the price has dropped to $20 as of today. So, the question I am here to answer is: Is it worth it?
Soul Calibur VI Before you buy review
8/10

Pros

• Great graphics
• Awesome stages
• Fun, smooth, and engaging combat
• Weapons are interesting and highly detailed
• Character Creation
• Multiplayer
• New Fighters

Cons:

• Not a lot of story

So, is there anything to complain about regarding this newest installment in the world of Soul Caliber? Not Rreally. I noticed that the story endings leave you a bit wanting. This is a bit disappointing, but not really surprising. Soul Calibur's stories have never really been the main feature of the game. The endings tend to consist of drawings and some text. However, I want to note that in no way does this lack take away from the game play. So, with that said, the complaint is very minor. The game itself, appears nearly flawless. Namco, keeping up with its past has created yet another arcade-style fighting game coming right in your living room, and they have done so with perfection. The game play is smooth, the art is beautiful, the weapons and characters are exciting, and the fighting system is amazing. All in all, this is the absolute best fighting game I have seen in years. This being the first Soul Calibur in 6 years is kind of a big deal, and Bandai Namco has made it worth the wait. With style and refined gameplay, new characters, it is going to be a game that shouldn’t be missed by any fighting game fans. My score for this newest Soul Caliber is a 8/10!

Now who is ready for some fighting?!?!

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