Amongst my friends, the "proper" way to play Soul Calibur IV is to use the "auto-custom female" random character generator, which develops a character with randomized attributes and gear based on another character's movesets. It's not because the ladies turn out sexy; rather, it's about finding the most ridiculous viking/noble/afro combinations you can with the squeakiest voices possible.

A lot of merit has been made of the Soul Calibur V character creator. I'm interested in using it, along with a new set of moves. But auto-custom female is effectively a definitive part of the Soul Calibur experience for my friends and I. While the ridiculous girth and bust scales make it totally okay for them to remove the gender qualifier, is the auto-custom experience still a part of this game? Otherwise, I actually might hesitate to pick up this game tomorrow, as it does really seem like "just another Soul Calibur game" in most respects.

Also, although I'm sure this question will actually be answered in the review coverage to come, is gear destruction still in the game? Watching a random character's helmet be destroyed only to reveal a massive pink afro was an absolute highlight in SCIV, and I'd like to think that destructible gear is still in the game.

@Little_Socrates said:

Amongst my friends, the "proper" way to play Soul Calibur IV is to use the "auto-custom female" random character generator, which develops a character with randomized attributes and gear based on another character's movesets. It's not because the ladies turn out sexy; rather, it's about finding the most ridiculous viking/noble/afro combinations you can with the squeakiest voices possible.

A lot of merit has been made of the Soul Calibur V character creator. I'm interested in using it, along with a new set of moves. But auto-custom female is effectively a definitive part of the Soul Calibur experience for my friends and I. While the ridiculous girth and bust scales make it totally okay for them to remove the gender qualifier, is the auto-custom experience still a part of this game? Otherwise, I actually might hesitate to pick up this game tomorrow, as it does really seem like "just another Soul Calibur game" in most respects.

Also, although I'm sure this question will actually be answered in the review coverage to come, is gear destruction still in the game? Watching a random character's helmet be destroyed only to reveal a massive pink afro was an absolute highlight in SCIV, and I'd like to think that destructible gear is still in the game.

I dont know if auto-custom is in the game. but from what i've seen of from streams and videos of people who got the game early there is gear destruction. But your 'just another sc game' assessment is kinda true. Although there are some things in it that make it different from the past installments, including a "super bar" similar to other fighters that allows you to do powered up specials and 'super moves'.

If you arent familiar with him, youtuber and fighting game player Maximilion( http://www.youtube.com/user/Miles923) did a 3 part series, covering general gameplay, and online, with a little dabbling in create-a-character, although all he really did was character color alterations.

@Phished0ne: Great to hear that gear destruction is back! I'm expecting to really get replies tomorrow on the auto-custom options.

Yes, Random Original Character is there for both Male and Female.

@JJOR64: TIME TO GO BUY THE GAME.