Soul Calibur Review
With SoulCalibur IV coming so soon, it seems like a smart idea for Namco to dish out a classic version of its revered fighter, but despite how well the original SoulCalibur holds up almost a decade later, it feels like an awkward release.
With no online play or widescreen support, and everything unlocked “out-of-the-box”, it’s a wonder why anyone would purchase this version, despite being one of the most inspirational fighters ever, when the “big” version of what is essentially the same game is out less than a month later.
Still, there’s enough in the game to satisfy fighting fans- plenty, actually. The amount of content in the game is kind of mind blowing, considering how limited many current games are: the variety of fighting modes on top of the campaign and a dozen or so characters make it all feel worth the ten dollar price tag; even though SoulCalibur is hampered by 4:3 sidebars, the increased resolution and smooth-as-butter animation still impress; the deep combo system and still-brilliant fighting mechanics will tickle nostaligia bones while still somehow feeling fresh.
There’s a ton to enjoy, and even if the release comes at kind of a funky time, it’s worth checking out the roots - well, the roots that made the series popular - of the SoulCalibur series, and anyone who’s never played the original game owes it to themself to see where the upcoming sequel came from. They’ll have a great time in the process, too.
