Review

Soul Calibur V review

Our Soul Calibur V review returns a split-decision in its bid to recapture the series' mystique with remnants of the past holding back a strong return to the stage of history.

Garnett Lee

February 1, 2012 1:00 PM

I count Soul Calibur as pretty much my favorite fighting game. "Pretty much," because at this point, its hold on that spot comes from sentimentality for the first two entries in the series. Over the third and fourth outing, its grip grew increasingly tenuous. I wasn't alone in that thought. The developers promised a return to what made the original games legendary. In seeking that elusive quality, Soul Calibur V counts nothing as untouchable--neither the character roster nor the game's fighting system systems. Even with the groundwork for a return to form laid by these bold moves, Soul Calibur V's bid to recapture its mystique renders a split-decision. It took a little getting used to, but the revisions to the core fighting system make amends for the many missteps of the prior two games. I started, as many likely will, with a quick dip into Arcade mode just to see how the game felt. It left me with one overwhelming impression. This game is fast--very fast, and smooth. It took a few rounds to get my mental metronome running at the right tempo to match, but once I did that mesmerizing ballet of armed gymnastics I craved started happening. Then, the whole thing came to a screeching halt. While it looked like Soul Calibur, things weren't always translating to the screen as I expected. I kept attempting the signature Guard Impact, with its telltale flash of green. But, it's been moved to make room for one of Soul Calibur V's big additions, a new technique named Just Guard. Just Guard offers a compromise between the significant advantage a successful Guard Impact offers and the vulnerability of a whiff. Executing it "just" as an opponent attacks results in an opening to counterattack, but missing only leaves the defender with their guard down. It almost sounds too good, except that it takes precise timing to get it right. On the other hand, Guard Impact feels like it's back to being a little more lenient. Guard Impact has me figuring out new tactics in battle. Guard Impact burns up a charge from the redesigned Critical Gauge. That, in turn, limits my offensive options. Soul Calibur V adds what the game calls a "Critical Edge," a feature that will be quite familiar to fans of 2D fighting games. Following the classic formula for "Supers," once the meter has at least one full charge, inputting two quarter circles forward and attack launches a character's signature super attack. Comforting as this mechanic may be for some, I found it disruptive to Soul Calibur. The Critical Edge abruptly interrupts an otherwise fluid combat system, as everything comes to a screeching halt while its dramatic animation plays out. Even the game's gymnastic holds stay within the rhythm of the fight; Critical Edges do not. My unrest grew as it became increasingly clear that some characters--seemingly similar to old favorites--were definitely not the same. This won't present an issue to newcomers, but as a longtime follower, this had me miffed. This is Soul Calibur FIVE, with the expressed intent of recapturing the glory days. Either give me those characters, or don't. Relatives that sort of look like the characters I know and love but don't really play like them only disappoint. Spending some time with the new roster has somewhat tempered my response. Among them, I have to call out Z.W.E.I. While I was initially skeptical, I enjoyed combining his slick close range swordplay with his wolf powers. Calling in a wolf spirit, he mixes things up and can handle situations at a little longer range. But rather than being one of the joys of Soul Calibur V, learning the new moves and characters proves a chore and highlights many of the game's weaknesses. The story mode completely misses the opportunity to be a training ground; instead, it attempts a dramatic tale, at which it fails. The linear story follows the story of another newcomer named Patroklos. Many of the playable characters appear as merely one round opponents, to be defeated and summarily forgotten. There are other modes, like Arcade, in which to get familiar with the characters. However, the classic approach of having each character progressing through an increasingly difficult path through the rest of the roster to reach the final boss would have been right at home here.

Siegfried as strong as ever

The story mode also serves as an example of the overall lack of polish in Soul Calibur V's presentation. Its storybook page sketches lack character, and come across as barely storyboards waiting to be made into cinematics. There are a few of those as well, but the in-game characters arguably look better. Mercifully, the narration and voice acting can be switched over to Japanese, avoiding the painful English voice work. It's the same for other details throughout the game. Menus and navigation feel like an anachronism, and nothing is more startling than the bare bones system text that pops on the screen. I might be inclined to think of it as charm, were it not for the sense that these remnants of the past continue to hold Soul Calibur V back. I come to Soul Calibur for dramatic, dynamic, heart-racing one-on-one combat. To that end, the work put into improving online play appears to pay off in Soul Calibur V. In matches the first night the game was widely available, I had no trouble getting smooth fights against players with three or four (out of four) bars showing for their connection strength. With its virtual arcade mode of winner holding serve while challengers rotate in, I can easily see myself hopping in on a semi-regular basis. After Soul Calibur 3 and 4, I wanted to just go play 2. After 5, I remember what made 2 great. That's a helluva step forward, finally. For multiplayer, online or off, friendly or competitive, Soul Calibur V hits the combination of tactical options and fluid pace of play that requires nearly instinctual decision making. Learning the ropes in single-player, though, requires dedication to deal with an inferior training system, and the story mode is best left forgotten. Soul Calibur V makes a strong return in the ring, just don't look around too much between the fights.

[This Soul Calibur V review is based on the Xbox 360 version of the game, provided by publisher Namco Bandai.]

Garnett Lee

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February 1, 2012 1:00 PM

Garnett Lee posted a new article, Soul Calibur V review.

Our Soul Calibur V review returns a split-decision in its bid to recapture the series' mystique with remnants of the past holding back a strong return to the stage of history.
- Techy007
  
   reply
  February 1, 2012 5:27 PM
  
  There is a spelling error on the image on the article it says
  
  "Soul Caliber V Review The soul burns stong again"
  - Garnett Lee
    
     reply
    February 1, 2012 5:45 PM
    
    So sad this is the lone comment on the game.
  - Techy007
    
     reply
    February 2, 2012 4:18 AM
    
    That said I love Soul Calibur!
- ashkie
  
   reply
  February 1, 2012 5:47 PM
  
  I bought this game. My soul still burns.
- Dr_Tran
  
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  February 1, 2012 5:58 PM
  
  On my 2nd day with SC5, I have mixed feelings on this game.
  
  I agree with the review that faster combat and better online features are the highlight. Also better character customization but I've just started to really unlock items.
  
  Cons include terrible story mode that I finished in a couple of hours. I'm also a bit annoyed at the new characters, and would rather have the old cast in here.
  
  But the number one sin I'm not sure I can forgive is how dumbed down some of the movesets are. I've been a Mitsurugi player since SC1 and they really watered down his command list, removing a lot of his moves and my favorite stance (Relic) entirely.
  
  I plan to keep playing and see how it pans out but man, it's hard to get over the changes to my main.
- JeanLucAwesome
  
   reply
  February 1, 2012 8:55 PM
  
  Good review Garnett.
  
  I never played 4 but Soul Calibur 2 and I spent a lot of time together and I'll say gameplay wise SCV is a real treat.
  
  I agree with your points on story mode and I'm also surprised at what little info they gave about the new characters and the lack of character specific endings in arcade mode doesn't help either.
  
  But what baffles me the most is all the missing characters, some of who's fighting styles aren't even represented by the "new generation" so I was hoping to find some of them, any of them as un-lockable but instead all the empty slots where filled with 3 mimics and 2 "alpha" versions of characters already in the game.
  
  It's also missing some modes like team battles, I would have gladly waited for a 2013 release cause I just can't help but feel it was a bit rushed not to coincide with the releases of SFXTK and Tekken Tag Tournament 2.
- razorblade79
  
   reply
  February 2, 2012 3:37 AM
  
  I hate the lag the european release gets :( won't be shipped until monday. I really love how every review compares it to part 2 since that was my favourite as well. I thought 4 was really the low point of the series.
- kingdepork
  
   reply
  February 2, 2012 3:47 AM
  
  Played a few XBL games. Getting my fucking ass kicked here. It's fun to play with the quick play mode/story. But you lose all will to play when you realize you're a button hitting monkey.
- HL3dsx
  
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  February 2, 2012 4:27 AM
  
  Ugh they cast that one voice actor chick as Ivy.. now everytime I hear her speak shes going to sound like that dragon from WoW "FOOOOLS!" Aka Sheva, aka the Yarl of Whiteruns protector etc etc etc ugh.