Soul Calibur IV Introduces a New Force

OMG and WTF! These where my initial feelings once I heard that Soul Calibur IV was more than just a pleasant dream. Well, that and the discomfort I felt from the mess I produced in my pants once the screenshots finally downloaded. And boy were the three seconds of downloading worth the wait.

Soul Calibur IV looks absolutely stunning! The game is packed with dudes in shiny armor, femme fatales with enormous…weapons (they seem to burgeon with every game) — and did I mention lightsabers? That’s right. As with past installment cameos, Soul Calibur IV is adding everyone’s favorite green Master Jedi, Yoda, and the evil Sith Lord, Darth Vader, as playable characters. Draw your sword, fire up those lightsabers and shield the children’s eyes, Soul Calibur IV is here!

The Soul franchise has always done something fun and unique with its games, providing cameo appearances from fighters from different worlds and universes. This time around, Namco may have outdone itself with the introduction of three lightsaber-wielding heroes and villains from Star Wars. Yoda, Lord Vader and even the Sith apprentice Starkiller have all set out in search of the legendary Soul Sword.

Soul Calibur IV has not only introduced stunning new graphics and drool-worthy characters, but also new gameplay mechanics that aim to please even the most die-hard gamers. SC4 showcases a new armor system that decays for every hit you take; less armor you have, the more damage your character will actually sustain. This mechanic is definitely a step in the right direction for gamers that despise turtle and excessive blocking tactics. Other gameplay features such as cinematic fatality scenes have also been introduced, along with online play — an absolute must if the game wishes to prolong its longevity. The initial release of the game is intended to make its way to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Unfortunately the Nintendo Wii has been left out of this one, although the fate for the system has not officially been sealed.

If you where concerned about your character not showing up, not to worry. The majority of past characters have returned. Fan favorites such as Ivy and Nightmare, among others, will definitely be making a comeback, alongside the new Force manipulating friends. So far the buzz around the Internet has been about the new characters making their way onto their respective systems. Lord Vader with be featured on the Playstation 3, and Master Yoda will find himself frantically pacing around the Xbox 360. Having trained long and hard for Lord Vader, Starkiller is reportedly a cross platform character for both the PS3 and Xbox 360. But no matter what platform or what extra character, the game will definitely deliver.