Kotaku
As we previously announced, the big news out of yesterday's Namco Bandai Editor's Day was the announcement of a street date for Soul Calibur IV: July 29, 2008. Also announced was a special Collector's Edition will be made available on the same date for both the 360 and PS3 versions. The Collector's Edition will come in a tin box and includes an art book, a t-shirt, a poster and exclusive access to downloadable content only available in this special edition. Announced at the same time was the news that the Original Soul Calibur will be making it's way to XBLA.
SC IV was on display for everyone to check out, but much like McWhertor's experience at GDC, there were only a limited number of characters to play with. My choices were a bit different than McWertor's however as I got to pick between Taki, Cassandra, Seung Mina and Hilde. I took Cassandra in hand and roundly bested my opponent (who's name I will leave out to save them embarrassment, but You know who you are!) in three rounds. I was also able to check out a little of Hilde and her shiny armor before i had to give up the controller to the next journo in the long line. I really like her fighting style and plan on exploring them more extensively when the final release happens. Something tells me she will be in my regular roster along with Ivy.
The controls for the PS3 version were tight and familiar and I was glad that they hadn't tried changing them up. The graphics were stunning as always and the really showed off the power of the PS3. A particular favorite was a large round arena with walls of gears and little mechanical men and carousel horses giving one the feeling of fighting in a giant cuckoo clock. The HUD has also received a makeover looking much tighter and sharper than it's predecessors.
So, mark your calendars for July 29th and if you want that Collector's Edition, be sure to pre-order it. I have a feeling they will be going fast. Be sure to check after the jump for a ton of new screenshots featuring Darth Vader and Yoda.
Comments
i just can't get over the pointy boobicles... @:\
SC1 on XBLA. Two of the best FG's ever on XBL?
Will be some good comfort if SCIV ends up sucking, at least the good SC game will be on XBL.
spiky boobs scare me
I wish they would put games like the original Soul Calibur on WiiWare and add online play.
Soul Calibur on XBLA, eh? sounds cool. But no PSN love? I'm sad now. -_-
Anyway, can't wait for this. I'm in the mood to get to the edge of soul, to carry on...
This game has the strangest characters in it.
And what's with the pony???
I really like her fighting style
Ha, yeah, I really like her "fighting style" too. Though I think Taki's and Ivy's "fighting styles" are probably a bit bigge... er, harde... er, perkier?
I really, really wish they didn't do the whole "exclusive character customization pieces" thing for the Collector's Edition.
Because now I have to get it. Vader and bonus content, here we come! XD
SC1 on XBLA?!?!?! We need more DC games on XBLA!!!
@Magic Emperor Anima:
Well, the rumor on the street is that it's coming to PSN too. We'll see if there's any truth to that, although it's a little suspicious that SC is coming to XBLA at all, since it's like 200 or 250 MB over the size limit.
"Soul Calibur will be making it's way to XBLA."
Best news since... i don't know but that is great news!
@Archaotic: I think that stuff will have to eventually make its way to the Marketplace for a fee.
I know I would prefer a later payment for DLC to an expensive special edition.
@Lackshmana:
Perhaps so...we'll see though. I really like the PS3 version's box art...so we'll see if the limited edition's is better or worse. If the limited edition box art sucks, I'll just preorder the regular version.
You have great taste in characters by picking up Cassandra. She's a beast in you know how to use her. I'm curious about how Hilde will play. A Kilik and Cassandra fusion perhaps?
Also, the original Soul Calibur is coming to Live? Well, at least I don't have to play my Dreamcast version anymore. That's excellent news. On a side note, I could have sworn Angol was a centaur till I got a second look. Funny as hell.
I hope Voldo is in Soul Calibur IV.
@Noks415:
He is, and he's as freaky as ever. Never fear.
Lol at first comment and anyway, I love the look of the anime looking chick. I'm getting this for sure.
The ball at the end of her giant stick looks like a moon.
Hmm... could this be a hint at the storyline? It makes the Star Wars characters a reason why might they be in it.
SOUL CALIBUR IN SPACE!!!
Ugh, I wish the Collector's Edition wasn't $80. $70 would be an easy decision. $80 is a hm. But exclusive content other than the regular stuff is way too hard for me to pass up since I have an undying love for Soul Calibur games.
Also, Flynn, I think you left out some things! I read in the IGN preview ([ps3.ign.com]) that the game will feature interactive and destructible environments and... clothing/outfits. Getting hit too much causes clothes to tear and armor to break and this can happen 3 times. This feature is a bit confusing for me due to the fact that from the screens, you can see that certain characters are already barely wearing anything at all. What exactly is there to break and take off? 3 times, no less.
Anyway, they also mention that all characters will have multiple outfits and will be fully customizable. New outfits can be unlocked that actually do strengthen certain characters' stats (although these can be turned off online and offline). They will also include some anime characters in the roster (what?) and will have at least 30 characters in the final game.
@Archaotic: Would hope so. Also, it seems the Collector's Edition will be worth it after all. I wonder how the box art will be.
@Samos42:
Destructible outfits, huh? That's...dear God, I think Itagaki's hijacked the Soul Calibur series for real now.
Has anything new been confirmed about the character creation feature though? I don't care about dressing up the existing cast in silly outfits, I want to be doing it to my own characters.
...although Darth Vader in Cassandra's outfit is both hilarious and horrifying at the same time.
"The HUD has also received a makeover looking much tighter and sharper than it's predecessors."
It looks like those are the same adjectives they kept in mind when doing the costume design for this game.
I am worried about playing with my 360 D-Pad... I have to get used to playing with the analog now.. because I hate the 360 D-Pad..
Talim! Where are you!!?!?
I guess I'll have to find a new favorite character.
@suya123: I'd say it looks a little... mountain-like?
What the hell?
Is that spikey nippled woman wielding a meteor on a stick?
@Archaotic: I'm pretty sure that applies to both character creation and existing characters.
@badasscat:
hey, the art of distraction IS a very valid and effective fighting style.
@Samos42:
Well, as long as they didn't ditch character creation for this perv-fest, I'm cool.
The console exclusive Vader and Yoda is still a joke. I can't wait to see HD Ivy for two reasons, though....
Soul Calibur 1 the good ol dreamcast is officially dead...thanks a whole fuckin lot namco bandai.....could you um please send it to psn also...pretty pwease???
@willyolio:
*mesmerized by the screenshot*
. . . sorry what?
@Archaotic:
A heavily compressed System 12 version, so it won't be as "pretty" as the DC version.
It's the series' only good game IMO, but I'd still rather have the arcade TTT.
I'm after the jump and I don't see any new screens ;-;
"a tin box and includes an art book, a t-shirt, a poster"
I seriously have to pay for all that crap to get the exclusive DLC? Thanks a lot Scamco.
Wait, the original SC is under 150MB? (XBLA game size limit) Talk about getting a lot out of a little.
That's us up to two DC games on XBLA now. Fingers crossed they decide to bring Power Stone over at some point.
So wait, what exactly is contained in this downloadable content? Is it that only people with the SE get to download these, or do they come on the disc already?
This will probably be the deciding factor for me; my 360's not hooked up to the internet and I don't have an XBL account (yes, I know, try not faint) so if this will save me the hassle of having to get an account and all that, then that's great. But if I simply have to have the SE just to download this stuff in the first place, that means it will be yet another collector's edition I can pass up on.
@Archaotic: I think I read somewhere that they're actually expanding it a lot for this one.
@Archaotic:
Oh, IGN claims that it's XBLA exclusive, and it's the DC game. Kudos to MS to securing this exclusive (?)
@SG79:
Well, who knows. I heard both rumors, but I'd prefer it if the game was coming to PSN. The fewer reasons I have to keep my 360, the better. Makes the break-up so much easier.
FYI - galleryPost function isn't working correctly (for me at least).
Tested in Firefox, IE, and Safari.
I HATE ANGOL FEAR. I'm glad she's not actually part of the series. Ugh.
You might want to re-consider writing critical links in with javascript..
Ooh, it's time for me to vent on this game. I've actually gone from moderately annoyed to ***kin' livid in a matter of 1 hour due to the screenshots of this game that are out.
They have taken the brilliant, balanced fighting system of SC1 and 2, and the well-designed, almost realistic styled characters of SC1 and 2 and drove them into the "ocean of shitiness". I can't even look at Ivy, Taki, the spiked bitch (don't know her name, don't care), Sophitia and Cassandra anymore, just because they decided to whore them out this time around. Then we have the whoring-out of Star Wars for no specific reason (at least SC2 had a reason, and chose characters that could fit by a stretch), which wouldn't be too big of a deal if half the fanbase didn't seem to be buying the game JUST FOR THEM. They know this, that's why Vader and Yoda are on the cover.
Then they have a seemingly gimmicky armor breaking system ("Ivy, here I come") and an "finishing move" system that reminds me of the finishing moves in Budokai 3 (which were horrible).
Then there's this.
That's good news.
So.... no Talim on this one huh??? that's sad, really, it was one of my favs, shame.
I have never been a fan of the Special dition of the Games, but this excluive DLC is poking me!!!!!
@cjlopez:
They said a minimum of 30 characters in the final roster. I'm sure Talim, as much as I want her to jump into a volcano with Tira and Xianghua chained to her ankles, will be back by the end of it all.
She looks ALOT like the girl from SGT Frog