Overview
Some old facesSoulcalibur III is a 3D historical-fantasy weapon-based fighting game developed by Project Soul and published by Namco for the PlayStation 2 on October 25, 2005. An enhanced version, titled Soulcalibur III: Arcade Edition, was released for arcades (using PS2-based Namco System 246 hardware) on April 3, 2006.
The fourth main entry in the Soul series of fighting games, Soulcalibur III features a full-fledged character creation system (known as Create-A-Soul) and numerous single-player game modes (including the story-based "Tales of Souls" mode, the strategy-RPG "Chronicles of the Sword" mode, and the endless "World Competition" mode). It is the last game in the series to be released in arcades (and, unlike previous entries, appeared in console first).
Although Soulcalibur III does not contain a guest character in the main roster (which would be a common trend in the series starting with Soulcalibur II), players can unlock pieces to re-create KOS-MOS from the Xenosaga series in Create-A-Soul mode.
Characters
New Additions
Returning Characters
Create-A-Soul
Create classes from Pirates to Ninjas. Soulcalibur III introduces a character creation system, known as "Create-A-Soul", that allows players to create their own fighter (including appearance and fighting style).
After choosing the gender of each new characters, players choose an occupation that restricts their weapon discipline. Players start with only one weapon based on their occupation, and unlock a new weapon at 10 and 20 levels. At level 30, they unlock two "Souls", which are direct movesets of characters from the main roster.
- Barbarian (Iron Sword, Grieve Edge, Wave Sword, Soul of Astaroth, Soul of Nightmare)
- Dancer (Tambourine, Steel Fan, Grieve Edge, Soul of Voldo, Soul of Xianghua)
- Monk (Nunchaku, Staff, Grieve Edge, Soul of Kilik, Soul of Maxi)
- Ninja (Kunai, Katana & Shuriken, Sickle, Soul of Setsuka, Soul of Taki)
- Saint (Staff, Dagger, Steel Fan, Soul of Talin, Soul of Zasalamel)
- Thief (Dagger, Wave Sword, Sickle, Soul of Tira, Soul of Yun-seong)
By leveling up characters with certain occupations, players unlock new occupations for use on new characters:
- Assassin (Wave Sword, Iron Sword, Chinese Sword, Soul of Lizardman, Soul of Tira)
- Gladiator (Sword & Shield, Wave Sword, Grieve Edge, Soul of Rock, Soul of Seong Mi-na)
- Knight (Lance, Iron Sword, Rapier, Soul of Raphael, Soul of Siegfried)
- Pirate (Chinese Sword, Rapier, Iron Sword, Soul of Cervantes, Soul of Ivy)
- Sage (Chinese Blade, Sword & Shield, Staff, Soul of Cassandra, Soul of Sophitia)
- Samurai (Katana, Katana & Shuriken, Sickle, Soul of Mitsurugi, Soul of Yoshimitsu)
The final occupation that is likely to be unlocked is the Swordmaster, who can equip any weapon from the start (at the cost of not being able to unlock any Souls).
Optionally, players can alter the appearance of each character in the main roster.
Tale of Souls
The cutscenes look great!SC2's one player Arcade mode had almost no story, except for the ending of each character's mode (which was done with a few illustrations and text.) There was one outcome, and no story while you were playing. All you did was fight people over and over until you beat the last one.
SC3's Tales of Souls mode, however, is nothing like this. It is a vast improvement.
Every character gets a unique storyline, and you get to see where they go and how they get wrapped up into the main plot. Everybody's plot is all going on at once, so what you're doing is seeing the story from a different perspective; you're seeing where the character you chose went and what they did.
The adventure will follow the Soul Edge and Soulcalibur, the evil and good swords.
During this adventure, there are many interactive cutscenes. These cutscenes will show your character's personality more. It will show how all the characters interact, meet, become friends, or become enemies.
Also, this mode is not linear. If you play as the same character twice, different things will occur and the ending may change. For example, you may have to quickly input commands during the cut-scenes, like in Resident Evil 4. These events could alter the storyline.
There are also be a variety of challenges that give you one shot to beat a specific event, which could unlock some cool stuff.
What's best about this is that you could play through the same character's game multiple times and see different things. This, combined with how many characters there are, allows you to have a great experience.
Chronicles of the Sword
Introduction:
This is the first Soul Calibur to feature an RTS element. Chronicles of the Sword mode is a brand new mode for Soulcalibur III. It is a real time strategy mode that also has the classic Soulcalibur fighting added with it. You play as your own CAS character (or others the game gives you), and use strategy to defeat the opposing armies and to clear your objectives.
As you keep playing your character gains more experience and gets more powerful. You choose how to direct your men (and women) into combat. You can make units. Not only are you playing in a brand new story, but the classic characters, such as Mitsurugi, can show up as well here and there.
Story:
This is yet another tale of souls and swords...
Player Devolopment
Once, there existed on a great continent three countries-- The Grandall Empire, the Kingdom of Dalkia, and the Halteese Republic. The Kingdom of Dalkia and the Halteese Republic waged a great war against one another for countless years. The Grandall Empire stayed out of the conflict, amassing their army quietly. Then, the impasse was suddenly broken as the Dalkian Kingdom declared war on Grandall Empire. Amidst the conflict and conspiracy, a new republic, Maletta, emerged... At the time, the great tactician Chester, who instigated the conflict which later came to be known as the Mantis War, had no yet appeared in the annals of history. And the individual who was to be a key figure in the war was a mere cadet in the Grandall army...
Chosen by history, a man becomes a hero.
Engraved into history, a hero becomes a legend.
--14th century troubadour song
Transcending history and the world, a tale of souls and swords, eternally retold.
--A story from the end of the Middle Ages, author unknown
Some call it the ultimate sword. Some described it as a demon sword in which a powerful spiritual power dwelt. Some said it was the sword of heroes, the savior of kingdoms... Numerous rumors and legends surrounded Soul Edge, but its true nature was that of a cursed sword that devoured human souls.
It was originally a single sword created by the hand of man. It was merely a warrior's tool, possessing no will of its own. But the sword bathed in the blood and hatred of countless battles throughout its dark history, and eventually came to emit an evil aura. It learned to devour souls as it rest the flesh of men, and its power steadily increased.
In one age, a hero acquired Soul Edge. With his iron will, he controlled the sword freely and brought peace to the violent land. He was revered as a king.
In any age, however, there are those who resent great men. The one who took Soul Edge out of envy was none other than the king's own son. Sadly, his soul stolen, he became a puppet to the sword's dark will. The king fought against his son. At the end of their fearsome battle, the king's desperate blow shattered Soul Edge, but also took the life of his son.
When the chaos subsided, the source of the conflict, Soul Edge, had disappeared.
The king was tormented by remorse. Most would have submitted to the overwhelming grief, but the king did no such thing. The abominable Soul Edge would certainly appear again, bringing tragedy with it.
This ill omen steeled the king's resolve. For the sake of the world as well as his own redemption, he vowed to create a holy sword that could fight against the evil blade's powers. With the aid of the greatest sage of the era, the king began work on his grand plan.
Purifying fragments of the cursed sword that he still had, the king finally succeeded in creating the holy sword, Soul Calibur. But it cost him his life.
A sect of guardians was created to carry out the late king's will. These guardians lived in seclusion, passing down the sword secretly from generation to generation in preparation for the day when Soul Edge would unleash its fury. Each time the sword fell back into the hands of powerful warriors and those with evil intentions, Soul Calibur appeared to prevent the cursed weapon from committing unspeakable atrocities.
Stories of the never-ending struggle between the two swords were passed on from one generation to another, giving birth to countless legends and fairly tales.
Time passed, and it was now the end of the sixteenth century.
Over the long years, the two swords had increased their power. Now, they had appeared once again upon the stage of history.
During the course of their conflict, Soul Edge was shattered and Soul Calibur was contaminated with evil energy. The will of the cursed sword appeared to have burned out, but in reality, it had merely been reduced to a smoldering ember. The life of the holy sword, too, was thought to have withered and died, but it was quietly burbling like a spring at the bottom of a deep abyss. Even now, the ancient swords were awaiting the change to regain their true power.
There was a young knight who had been controlled not merely once but several times by the evil sword. When he broke that curse and stabbed through the heart of the cursed weapon with the holy sword, the gears of fate began to creak into motion. A new page would soon be written in the tale of the two swords, opposite in power and bound by destiny...
Hear with your ears the best things; look upon them with clear-seeing thought, for decision between the two Beliefs, each man for himself before the Great sonummation, bethinking you that it be accomplished to our pleasure.
Soundtrack
Disc One
| 1. | "Hour of Destiny" | 運命の満つる時へ | 3:50 |
| 2. | "Lorekeeper" | 伝承は語る | 1:24 |
| 3. | "History Reckons" | 歴史の舞台へのいざない | 1:33 |
| 4. | "Fearless Eyes" | その瞳に恐れの色なし | 2:33 |
| 5. | "Call of the Ancients" | 古の呼び声 | 2:20 |
| 6. | "Time Marches" | 刻まれゆく時の果て | 2:23 |
| 7. | "Wings of Despair" | 翼持つ死の遣い | 1:40 |
| 8. | "The Blade Seeker" | 死線を征く者 | 3:01 |
| 9. | "Pure Breeze" | 穢れ無き風の調べ | 2:07 |
| 10. | "Face Your Fate" | 目を逸らさずに | 2:14 |
| 11. | "Confrontation" | 対決 | 2:30 |
| 12. | "The Evil Moon" | 禍月の夜 | 2:35 |
| 13. | "Bred from the Gap" | 狭間より湧き出でし者 | 1:49 |
| 14. | "Sail Over the Storm" | 荒海を超えて | 2:44 |
| 15. | "Blind Loyalty" | 迷い無き忠誠 | 2:36 |
| 16. | "The Cursed Image" | 呪われし心象 | 2:13 |
| 17. | "The New Legend" | 新たなる伝説 | 2:10 |
| 18. | "Labyrinth of Moonlight" | 月光の迷宮 | 3:36 |
| 19. | "Through Molten Caves" | 灼熱の地脈を抜けて | 2:34 |
| 20. | "No Regrets" | 悔いることなき道行き | 3:08 |
| 21. | "Ephemeral Dream" | 儚く散るが故に | 2:18 |
| 22. | "Endless Warfare" | 果て知らぬ野望 | 2:32 |
| 23. | "Water Dance" | たゆたう水の舞 | 2:53 |
| 24. | "Courage Ablaze" | 炎より勇なる者 | 2:12 |
| 25. | "Beyond the Horizon" | 地平線の果てに | 2:40 |
| 26. | "If There Were Any Other Way" | 非情なる運命の絆 | 1:51 |
| 27. | "Forsaken Sanctuary" | 忘れられし約束の地 | 2:05 |
| 28. | "Catastrophe" | 滅びの宴 | 2:08 |
| 29. | "World Distortion" | 歪み崩れゆく世界 | 2:10 |
Disc Two
| 1. | "Tales of Souls" | ある魂の遍歴 | 1:25 |
| 2. | "Eternal Wayfarer" | 広大なる世界を巡り | 1:27 |
| 3. | "The Ordeal" | 試練の旅路 | 1:21 |
| 4. | "The Intruder" | 聖域侵犯 | 1:21 |
| 5. | "Under a Black Curse" | 黒き呪詛を辿って | 2:43 |
| 6. | "Tenderness" | ぬくもりの記憶 | 0:45 |
| 7. | "The Oath" | 明日への誓い | 1:00 |
| 8. | "Teardrops" | 哀しみの雫 | 0:46 |
| 9. | "Gaze from Hell" | 煉獄の凝視 | 0:46 |
| 10. | "Crisis" | 迫り来る危機 | 0:31 |
| 11. | "Frailty, Thy Name Is..." | 弱き者、汝の名は… | 2:38 |
| 12. | "Fatal Chain" | 断ち切れぬ鎖 | 0:57 |
| 13. | "Tiptoe" | 抜き足差し足 | 0:31 |
| 14. | "Peaceful Days" | 安らぎの中に | 2:46 |
| 15. | "Memento" | 想い出の欠片 | 0:52 |
| 16. | "Armed with Valor" | その身に纏うは武勇の装束 | 1:27 |
| 17. | "Battle for the Crown" | 栄冠を求めて | 1:35 |
| 18. | "The Gemstones" | 英雄の原石たち | 0:56 |
| 19. | "Radiant Souls" | 煌めく魂の諸相 | 1:45 |
| 20. | "The Lost Chronicle" | 失われた年代記 | 1:06 |
| 21. | "The Die is Cast" | 賽は投げられた | 1:58 |
| 22. | "Approaching Tempest" | 争嵐の予兆――出撃 | 1:23 |
| 23. | "Symphony of Swords" | 剣たちの奏でる戦律 | 2:47 |
| 24. | "Nameless Calamity" | 名も無き戦火 | 4:55 |
| 25. | "Upon My Soul" | この宿命に誓って | 3:08 |
| 26. | "Crimson Feast" | 血戦 | 4:43 |
| 27. | "The Hollow Delusion" | 虚妄の帳 | 3:26 |
| 28. | "Value of Tranquility" | 平和の価値 | 1:12 |
| 29. | "Path of Destiny" | 運命は己が胸の内に | 6:31 |
| 30. | "Healing Winds" | 戦士を癒す風 | 3:25 |
| 31. | "Peaceful Days (Piano Version)" | 安らぎの中に（ピアノバージョン） | 2:58 |
| 32. | "The Oath (Guitar Version)" | 明日への誓い | 0:57 |
| 33. | "Healing Winds: Reprise" | 戦士を癒す風 | 2:00 |
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