Invalid characterset or character set not supported Soul Calibur Legends!





Soul Calibur Legends!
May 09, 2007

See 1UP if you're confused.

One of my first thoughts way back when the Wiimote was unveiled was about Soul Calibur. Although the general consensus among hardcore gamers was that fighting games were impossible with the new control scheme, I wasn't so sure. After all, they're hardcore gamers, what do they know? But anywho, fighting games always had some rather complex control schemes, what with quarter circles and tapping and all sorts of ridiculously long combos. Considering fighting game nuts have an entirely different language to speak about their moves than us lay people, it seemed to me that it would be an ideal genre for innovation. And since Soul Calibur was at least halfway there, relying more on timing and defense than massive combos and being a series that wimpy little newbies like myself could enjoy without being "good", it seemed an ideal testing ground for the new control scheme.

And now it seems that my hypothesis shall be tested, sort of. And now that it's announced, I can't really argue with the idea of an action/adventure game. That way, some of the more complex controls can be dumbed down while still maintaining the essence of at least intermediate level Soul Calibur fighting. The emphasis on timing and the like can still be present, combos and multiple moves can still be present, but one doesn't have to memorize 1000 different moves and stances and so forth. Assuming this is, in fact, how they will present it, it will be the perfect test on how a flick of the wrist will translate to fighting game moves. Since I've been expecting this for over a year now, I'm optimistic.

On the other hand, I don't exactly get along with 3D games very well. I pray the camera is very workable. Otherwise I may be screwed. One of these days I ought to play Prince of Persia or something just to get practice...

The announcement seems to suggest, but doesn't outright say it, that the Soul Calibur team themselves is behind this. Definitely a reason to be optimistic here. This would prevent a situation like that PS2 Tekken spinoff or Virtua Fighter Quest. It also means it'd be a team that A) has talent graphics-wise for all those visual-obsessed folks, B) can create complex AI and fighting moves, and C) should remain true to the styles of the fighters. Perhaps the closest parallel so far is Ninja Gaiden (although not a ripoff of DOA, both are made by the same team and I believe use the same engine). Since NG has quite a bit of respect, I'm hoping for a similar situation here. And since SC is 10000 times better than DOA, that should bode well for SC Legends, right?

For those worried that it might be "kiddified", no worries. IUP has some artwork, and it's definitely in the vein of the regular series. Again, a good sign.

1UP also says the story will focus on Siegfried but has multiple characters to play as. I'm a bit worried about this, to be honest. I have no desire to play as Siegfried at all. I'm hoping then that there aren't required characters at various points (or if there are, that it's a fairly small portion of the game), and that we have a wide variety of people to choose from. Personally, if I can play most of the game as Raphael, Xianghua, or Seung Mina, I'll be happy.

Another reason to be optimistic: it's exclusive and a spinoff of a popular GC game. In other words, it has the potential to be a popular new franchise for Namco, which means it would behoove them to pay attention to it and insure that it is of the finest quality. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part. Still, one would imagine this game has a decent budget behind it, which is never a bad thing.

And for those who would rather have SC4, I say bah. I know I'm probably the only one who thinks this way, but I have SC2. Why would I need another one? Getting the same quality of play of Soul Calibur in a new setting and new situation though, that's something worth getting excited about. And I am. I honestly think this is my most hyped for Wii game at the moment. I can't wait to hear more about it.

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Genj Genj - May 09, 2007 (04:31 PM)
And since SC is 10000 times better than DOA

Is this a joke or are you really just that far from the Brotherhood of the QCF+P?
honestgamer honestgamer - May 09, 2007 (04:57 PM)
Good Soul Calibur is a beautiful thing indeed. Good Dead or Alive is also a beautiful thing, but mostly because of the boobs. Soul Calibur II trumps any Dead or Alive game. It's simple, really.

(But I still like Dead or Alive.)
Genj Genj - May 09, 2007 (05:35 PM)
DOA is one of the most misunderstood series ever. So many foolish people talk about the boobs as if that's the game's #1 feature and the rest of the game is shallow and unplayable. I don't know where this comes from because it has just as many moves as Tekken or Soul Calibur and an excellent counter system. Like Zig (I believe) said, it's great that counters aren't too difficult to execute because then everyone can stop cheapos that use the same moves over and over again. Even then, the AI is sure to destroy button mashers once you set it to at least medium. SCII's AI was brain dead - even on the harder difficulties you could keep using the same move and come out on top. That and it stole wall attacks from DOA except they felt very shoddy and successfully pulling one off was far too inconsistent. SCII had bouncing breasts (and JIGGLING ASSES) too but it doesn't matter because everyone picks on DOA.

Yeah, if you're not a huge fighter fan, I can see you digging SC more because of its atmosphere and big weapons and you can win easily. But if you're calling it 1000 times better, there's a good chance you're just riding the wave of "omg boobies = no gameplay mirite?"
jiggs jiggs - May 09, 2007 (05:59 PM)
i like DOA better. it's much more entertaining when your knock your opponent towards oncoming traffic then getting run over by a car and boobs are also a +
Felix_Arabia Felix_Arabia - May 09, 2007 (07:18 PM)
Let's not forget that Taki and Ivy had some huge titties in SC2, and Link had quite a bulge (as did Taki!).
mariner mariner - May 09, 2007 (07:50 PM)
Man, sarcasm just doesn't work on the internet sometimes...

Needless to say, the SC >>>> DOA comment was not meant to be taken literally. The fact that I have never once given even the slightest bit of attention to the XBox should have been the first clue to that. The fact that, as Genj correctly guessed, I'm not a fighting game fan and thus have no authority to speak on the subject should have been the second.

The amount of time I have spent on fighting games not named Street Fighter, Smash Bros, or Soul Calibur (clearly, the key to success in the fighting game genre here is to have your title start with an S) is probably no more than an hour total. So no, I have no clue how great DOA is. All I know is that in the 15 minutes I played it didn't click. Soul Calibur did. With multiple characters, no less (more than I can say for Street Fighter). And even if it did, DOA is certainly not worth buying a console for me, so what does it matter? It can be the greatest game ever as far as I'm concerned. But Soul Calibur can be played without being a fighting game fan and without button mashing, and that's good enough for me. And hopefully Legends will be even better.

So quit yer bellyachin' and quit talking about breasts and start caring about a game that we know practically nothing about!

(and yes, that's sarcasm too =P)
Genj Genj - May 09, 2007 (08:11 PM)
Needless to say, the SC >>>> DOA comment was not meant to be taken literally

Hence, the "is this a joke" comment. The second thing was a response to Venter's "mostly because of the breasts" comment if you didn't realize.
carcinogen_crush carcinogen_crush - May 09, 2007 (09:12 PM)
Nothing, and I repeat, nothing. . .is quite as sexy as Taki's third big 'toe'. Seriously. I drool.

But as a game, it feels like the most shallow of any. Specifically, any Soul Arena challenge in SCIII set to Very Hard difficulty.

I mean, I'm no fighting game master, but seriously. The AI counters every single move.

But playing through the main games, you just need to lure someone to an edge and V + H them until they fall to their death.

DOA has always been something of a gem to me. The gameplay is blazingly fast, and the AI is 'skilled', but never quite seems like a computer that knows your every step in advance. Compared to the speed of say, VF or Tekken, it's so much of a blessing.

Plus, boobs and upskirt shots = rock.
Felix_Arabia Felix_Arabia - May 09, 2007 (09:48 PM)
That's it. There needs to be a newer, ultra shiny Choaniki fighting game on the 360. And there will be plenty of crotch shots.
Genj Genj - May 09, 2007 (09:53 PM)
Only if someone's victory pose was a 360 enhanced version of this:

radicaldreamer radicaldreamer - May 09, 2007 (11:58 PM)
Well there's an obvious reason you would need an SC game other than SC2. SC2 doesn't have Siegfried (as Siegfried). Siegfried is pretty much the main reason to play any Soul Calibur game.
carcinogen_crush carcinogen_crush - May 10, 2007 (08:23 AM)
NO WAY!

Mitsurugi all the way!

radicaldreamer radicaldreamer - May 10, 2007 (02:35 PM)
I guess I can't discount Mitsurugi too much since he runs straight at people with guns and kills them with a SWORD.

But he's still not as badass as Siegfried, or even Ivy and Cervantes.

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