Namco Bandai have slaved over hot computers for a very long time to bring us Soul Calibur IV. The creative team behind the game have been known to go on a bit about how this version would represent a major evolution in the beat-em-up game genre. The inclusion of iconic combatants such as Darth Vader and Master Yoda would certainly indicate the aspirations of the team but tragically, or oddly at least, Yoda and Darth are unable to duke it out at any stage whatsoever in the current version of the game! Fans of the series will no doubt instantly recognise a number of familiar characters, along with a selection of new ones, but most notable of these are the aforementioned Stars Wars characters.
It is immediately apparent that the game's very slick graphics, superb sound and generally great atmosphere cement the game's position in the modern marketplace and also serve to preserve the spirit of the Soul Calibur series. The game does offer a story or singleplayer mode that is rather simplistic and feels somewhat under-developed, however this aspect was never going to be a major selling point. Each fighter boasts an impressive array of moves which need to be learned and mastered but regrettably the good old button mashing system often seems to work just as effectively as well-timed combos.
The Tower of Lost Souls mode presents a better option than the story mode, pitting you against groups of adversaries and demanding you complete tasks which reward you with better weapons and armour. Characters can be customised to your heart’s content and used in both online and offline matches and online play features both ranked and unranked match play. The soul-gauge system is a great innovation which inhibits unsporting behaviour by destroying armour as a penalty to relying on a single offensive or defensive move for too long. Soul Calibur IV is by no means a classic but scores very highly in most departments.
For fans of the series it is pretty close to being a must-have and newcomers will enjoy a moderate learning curve. The seemingly freestyle combat is enjoyable to pick up and play and the game in general has a high fun factor. Whether Namco Bandai deserve the credit they’ve petitioned so hard for is another matter altogether!
8/10
