Written by Alexander O. Cuaycong and Anthony L. Cuaycong
Title: Soulcalibur VI
Developer: BANDAI NAMCO Studios, Dimps Corporation
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
Genre: Fighting
Price: $59.99
Also Available On: Steam, XB1
As the latest release in the immensely popular series, Bandai Namco's Soulcalibur VI marks its debut in current-generation consoles — to significant buzz, and with reason. It does so in grand fashion; even as contemporary gamers may see it heading off the beaten path, longtime fans will find it just as appealing as its predecessors. It has implemented changes to its core design, but stays true to its roots. It proudly presents its heritage with the same rousing soundtrack, the usual excited voiceovers, and the easy-to-dig-into weapon-based combat while using the Unreal engine for the first time. Six years may have passed since its predecessor littered store shelves, but under Project Soul’s steady stewardship, it reintroduces its name with confidence.
In line with previous titles in the franchise, Soulcalibur VI follows the story of the dreaded Soul Edge, a blade whose lust for blood is satisfied in the hands of a warrior aptly named Nightmare. With the narrative woven through various timelines, players are able to appreciate their quest for the weapon from different perspectives by taking on the causes of available characters. Parenthetically, 20 are on the roster from the outset, a privilege longtime followers will appreciate. And of the number, three are new to the series, among them Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher franchise.
Soulcalibur VI takes a novel approach, but does it well in the context of its Soul Chronicle story mode. The main plot can easily be followed by going through key events, but there are various side stories to negotiate as well. Meanwhile, Libra of Souls, the second story mode, allows tailor-made characters to craft their very own experiences within the context of the lore; it’s remarkably in-depth, its compelling nature stunted only by the extent of creativity displayed during customization. Every aspect of the characters — from their base fighting styles to their accessories to their appearances — can be fabricated as deemed fit.
Certainly, there's a significant amount of content to sift through. The plot is typical Soulcalibur, melodramatic and often over the top but no less engrossing, thanks in no small
measure to the mechanics that it incorporates. As with any other three-dimensional fighting title, players are free to select a character from a diverse batch; each has his or her own strengths, weaknesses, weapons, and movesets. While these seem standard fare at first glance, Soucalibur VI exhibits a peerless fluidity of combat. The usual array of vertical and horizontal actions blend with kicks, throws, and guards, albeit with distinctive twists. The incorporation of Reversal Edge, a defensive option over parrying that employs a rock-paper-scissors design in determining outcomes, significantly alters fundamentals.
The addition of the Soul Gauge likewise modifies dynamics in Soulcalibur VI, allowing for a healthy degree of back and forth. While dealing and taking damage, characters fill up a meter through which they can perform either a Soul Charge (to buff up future attacks) or a Critical Edge, an extremely fast and flashy finishing move that can otherwise deal a heavy amount of damage. It may seem complicated, but practice does make perfect, ultimately enabling players to strike the right balance between skill and patience.
Technically, Soulcalibur VI is a marvel, offering precise movement and controls and pushing the action with nary any lags. Characters look and sound good; visual and audio cues are in sync with the gameplay, and it combines excellent voice acting (whether in English or Japanese) with top notch music designed to keep players immersed on developments within the game. If there’s any minus, it’s in the occasionally uninspired backgrounds. And perhaps due to all the programming demands it makes, load times, even on the PlayStation 4 Pro, can take a while.
In any case, Soulcalibur VI delivers on its promise, providing hours upon hours of fun via Soul Chronicle and Libra of Souls. And while it also boasts of Arcade and Training Modes, it best generates replay value through its multiplayer component. In this light, the base game gets players to learn character combos and master their styles for online play. Creditably, matchmaking is efficient with stable connections, presenting little to no lags during remote battles. Which makes it a definite recommend as the best in the series by far.
THE GOOD
- Outstanding visuals with smooth, crisp, and consistent framerates
- Introduction of Soul Gauge and Reversal Edge improves upon already-solid fighting mechanics
- Robust character editor augments a diverse roster off the bat
THE BAD
- Nonexistent voice acting in Libra of Souls
- Training Mode goes through the basics, but little else
- A number of playable characters hidden behind a paywall
RATING: 9/10
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