SoulCalibur III

"Wow... Just wow..."

First off, I'll admit that I LOVE the Soul Calibur series. Always did. That said; I still like to think that I look at things from an objective point of view. I consider myself a connoisseur of fighting games, 2D and otherwise. The Soul Calibur series has always been my favorite. I was extremely excited to get my hands on this installment.

Let's move on:

Story: 8/10
It's a fighting game. Don't expect anything to blow your mind. The Siegfried/Nightmare situation is quite interesting, and other aspects of the story are quite strong, especially considering that this is a fighting game. A nice addition is that the story mode is actually a story, complete with walls of text from time to time. It's good to finally know why you're going through the world beating up people. For those of us that prefer a story, this game could easily keep you interested for a while.

Graphics: 9/10
My eyes grew wide when I saw the opening movie. The environments are spectacular, and the character models are top-notch. There's not much I can say about this besides that the game is gorgeous. On the Create-A-Character side of things, they are a bit blander than the standard character models. But seriously, considering the sheer amount of options you have, do you expect them to look as spectacular as the others? I didn't even notice the graphical difference until I looked harder. I took off a point because of this, but really, you'll barely notice.

Sound: 10/10
The soundtrack is awesome, and the announcer rocks. Some of the English voices could use some work, but even these are quite tolerable. If you must, feel free to turn the language to Japanese. It doesn't sound so bad when you can't understand it. But really, listening to the fighters will quickly fade into nothingness as you're caught into the heat of battle. The weapon effects are ever-present, and accurate at that. The music on each stage is very different from the other stages, but all of it is awesome. The sound really comes into play during the battles themselves, and you'll be engulfed in ecstasy as you hear the sounds of war.

Gameplay: 10/10
Words cannot describe the sheer enjoyment this game provides. If you are awake, you will be playing this game, or at least waiting until you can. The story mode has so many branching paths you'll likely never unlock them all on your own. Chronicles of the Soul provides a refreshing challenge and brisk change of pace. CotS is incredibly addicting. I was playing it before writing this, and spent two hours just trying to stop. It's that addictive. The Arena is cluttered with a slew of unique matches, all of which are enjoyable. Granted, the difficulty is rather advanced, but this is not a problem after a while. Shortly after you lose your eighth match in a row, you'll realize that you JUST NEED TO PRACTICE. Seriously. I've been an expert for years, but got schooled in my first set of fights in story mode. Learn to Guard Impact, and do it often. Tutorial is there for a reason, use it. The Story mode is monumentally fun. Finally being able to pick your own path is glorious, and you'll find yourself agonizing over each decision. Should you stay or go? Land or sea? You never know what awaits you at each step, and the anticipation alone makes the story mode worthwhile. You'll also never get tired of learning new techniques. Showing off your new move to your friends never grows stale, especially when you use it on them to show them just how much better you are.

Content: 10/10
There is so much stuff here, you'll feel tiny. At first glance, it's a standard fighting game: a few characters to unlock, a few modes. Easy, right? NEVER. I doubt anyone will ever unlock everything there is to be had. If you love collecting things, you'll spend weeks simply trying to unlock that next piece of art or that certain event. Good Luck.

The Create-A-Character is just as extensive. At first it too looks basic. Then you visit the shop. The initial list is huge, and grows even larger. If you can imagine it, you can create it. If you can't imagine it, you can create it. It's insanity. Nothing beats the feeling of finally unlocking that one piece you need to complete your Robotic Ninja from Deep Space Five. Even if the customization for created characters grows stale (it won't), you can even go and change the colors of the standard characters outfits as well. The surprising amount of detail, customization, and unlockable content in this game is both amazing and welcome.

Control: 10/10
Yes, it's on the PS2 controller. This is no big deal. If you care about this so much, get an arcade stick. That's not the point. The point is that I've never once been disappointed by the controls. Even the most advanced combo is extremely simple once you break it down into its basic parts and realize that even the most advanced technique is easily pulled off. Take some time to explore, and you'll realize that every movement is extremely intuitive. Half the time, I don't even realize that I have a controller in my hand. The controls are responsive, easy to learn, and can cause insane amounts of damage in the hands of an advanced player. What more could you ask for?

Replay: 10/10
YOU WILL PLAY THIS AGAIN. And again. And again. And again...

You get the idea. There's not much else I can say to prove the point, but you will play this game for endless hours. You will eat, sleep, and dream Soul Calibur 3 for months. You may as well disconnect your phone and break up with your boyfriend/girlfriend right now.

Bottom Line: 10/10
I haven't been this awestruck by anything in quite a while. I can't believe I actually took time off to write this. If I wasn't in need to sleep ever few days, I would never stop playing. This game is spectacular. I gave it a ten, and I almost never give tens.

If you've read this far, you need to stop right now and go play this game. Rent it, buy it, steal it, PLAY IT.

Seriously. Go buy this game. Do it now. Right now.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/05