One of the best fighting games of all time (Soul Calibur (DC))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	Soul Calibur (DC)
Date:	03/09/09 (8 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great gameplay and characters

Disadvantages: None

Every fighting series had the title that started it all, and whilst a good portion of these games don't get it right on the first try, Soulcalibur on the Dreamcast unequivocably does, and it has even been argued that the numerous sequels (the fourth title most recently coming out last Summer), have, despite vast technological advancement, never lived up to the greatness of the original game, which is among the very few games that IGN have ever given a 10 rating.

What made the game so initially popular was the 8-Way Run system, in which players could actually run in 8 directions, whereas previous fighting games, and still the vast majority today, only allow your fighter to move backwards and forwards. This new system added considerable depth to the game, and of course allowed the player a wealth more freedom.

As with most fighting games, the plot is a mere gloss to the fighting itself. What I was most impressed with, and as has transpired through to the sequels, is the depth of the characters - they all have firmly rooted back stories that haven't been knocked out in a rush, and each character also has their own very individual look and demeanour. Probably my favourite character is Mitsurugi, an Asian swordsman with a slight gruff beard, pony tail, and a lot of testesterone! He has also appeared in all of the sequels.

Like the other games, there's the Arcade Mode, where you fight through seven characters, and on the eighth, you fight the boss. There's also the Mission Mode (which has been hugely expanded in the later games), in which you must battle through various quests, each getting progressively harder.

Thus, Soulcalibur is a revolutionary fighting game that really set the standard for games that followed it that, some would argue, has never really been met. The later games in the series have stuck fairly rigidly to this game's formula, and merely enhanced it with better graphics and other technological flashes. Often recalled as the best fighting game of all time, it's no surprise when this level of depth and care has been applied.

Summary: Magnificent