SoulCalibur III

"The war between good and evil rages on..."

In my opinion, this is easily the best out of all 3 Soul Calibur games, and the original Soul Blade on PS1. Although it has a few downfalls and some aspects removed, they are replaced with some new and exciting features.

First of all the Graphics: 10/10

I thought that graphics in Soul Calibur 2 were good. Holy crap was I blown away when I saw the graphics in Soul Calibur 3! Not only have the character been upgraded and tweaked to look more realistic and beleiveable, their costumes and weapons have also been changed alot, allowing new styles of your favourite fighter. Personally the new Nightmare is IMO, the best change in costume, he looks just so bad ass and you can see why he is such the great character that he is. Female characters have once again been "exploited", if that is indeed the right word to use, with some, particuarly Taki, looking as if their costume was simply painted on to the naked body. Seriously, look at Taki in the Character info page, there is nothing left to the imagination. However most of the guys seem to have more clothing this time, and all of the weapons have been given a slick new look which adds to the dimension of this great fighting game.

Now the environments. If there was ever a game where you could just sit and stare at your surroundings - it would be this game. The environment details are gorgeous and the lush surroundings really add to the fever pitch in the battle. Namco have gone all out to use the graphic detail that they did, and with all the new environments that they have added, it gives the game dimension a whole new feel. There are also little aspects, like the fact that when you hit the ground it breaks, although as some people have commented, magically "heals itself". However some stages, like Sophitia's which is based on the top of a mountain, show the characters breath. A little aspect, but one which heightens the atmosphere. Overall it is beautiful to behold

Sound and Music: 10/10

Once again Namco have delivered in terms of music and sound. The music used during a battle has been tweaked and various aspects such the classical tone amplified, or been added to in order to make you feel as if you are really in the game. As the battle rages, the music thus adds to it, heightening the experience. In cutscenes the music is still audible in the background, a nice feature most will appreciate. Now the voice acting. Some of these are just terrible. Otheres suit it very nicely. Having the option of using Japanese or English speaking in the options menu does help, try switching between the two to see the difference. It is a laugh to hear some voices tried out though, and some just don't suit the specific character. However some characters have an extended vocabulary (Nightmare, Astaroth), but some, like good old Voldo, are still stuck with strange breathing noises. The noises such as swords clashing, or the scrape of steel as you hit the side of the arena are other nifty little features which tie nicely in. And of course hearing the death screams are always a lovely little bonus after you work your ass off to defeat a certain character!

Characters: 10/10

It seems that not only the graphics have been updated, but also the characters too. There are over 25 different characters, not including all the bonus ones, and your own, should you make one. Namco have brought back some of the old favourites, people such as Li Long and Hwang, although characters you must unlock, the fact that you can add them is a nice detail. And now the fact that you can play as both Siegfried AND Nightmare, rather than just the one combined is also a lovely addition. As mentioned before, the costuming is excellent and some have needed it. Then of course we can't forget the 3 new characters Tira, Setsuka and Zasalamel, the latter of course being (to my knowledge), the first black character in the Soul Calibur series. What I like about SC3 is that it is specfic to PS2, unlike SC2, which moved to XBOX and Gamecube. So there's no Heihachi or Spawn or Link, and no Necrid either. The CAF (Create A Fighter) feature is something I have been waiting for. Although not as in depth as it could be, it is still damn cool to be able to make a character the way you want, how you want, even choosing their weapon style! The fact that Namco put their balls on the line and added this aspect shows commitment to the fans, and seeing as its a relative first for arcade fighters, it is still damn good for a first attempt.

Gameplay: 9/10

Oooo boy, here's the big one, the bulk of any game. The Gameplay. SC3 is unique in some aspects - it can be so fun you don't want to stop, but then out of nowhere turn so incredibly evil that you want to smash your PS2 into thousands of little pieces. Of course it has its high points and its low points. Best to do the high ones first. There is now several new modes added to SC3 - Soul Arena, Chronicles of the Sword, Tournament, Tales of Souls, and of course good old practise (which now has a tutorial!). The old archaic original arcade way of fighting through consecutive battles has been erased - instead in its place comes a new mode where you choose your own path, and go through series of battles set out the way you want. Think Weapon Master Mode from Soul Blade mixed with Arcade mode. Some people hate it, others love it. It all comes down to taste. Myself, I personally think its great, it doesn't get stale, and allows you to do each character a good 4 or 5 times, rather than just once, and giving you the same old ending. Another new feature added that they have brought back from Soul Blade - user activity during cutscenes. During various scenes in the character's story, and including the final cutscene at the end, various moves will appear at the top of the screen. If you manage to pull it off at the final cutscene then you get a different ending. If you manage to pull it off before a fight, you start the fight with full life, rather than with a chunk missing. This can be tricky however, and if you don't get it in time you suffer. However this is why you can play Tales of Souls over and over.

However here's the biggest downfall - the AI. If there was ever AI who made you want to cry in frustration, it would be in this game. What sucks is that Namco have taken out the difficutly option. So as you play it gets harder and harder. Add to the fact that the AI block like b*tches, and somehow always manage to defend everything you throw, yet you barely manage to land a strike, the urge to hurl stuff grows. The final boss is Abyss. However IF you manage to get down to the final battle, and you haven't died during the way. e.g. used no continues, you get to fight Night Terror. Personally, I have completed Tales of Souls with every character and still have yet to fight Night Terror. It gets frustrating and it does get to you. However stick at it and you will succeed (yeah right!). This is why I gave gameplay a 9, I hate the AI. Anyway onto the next mode - Soul Arena. Here you can play various missions, or play the original archaic arcade mode of one after the other battles. The missions are fun things to do, and allow you to take a break and have fun. Through them you can also unlock characters, such as Amy (Raphael's adopted daughter thingy). Practise is pretty much self explanatory, but the tutorial is a nice touch, where Olcadan (some dude with an owl head), shows you the ropes. If you complete them all you get a weapon with that character. Tournament is another nicew feaure where you can play a normal Tourney, or enter the league, working your way up through the ranks.

And the big mode Namco added - Chronicles of the Sword. This mode basically combines strategy RPG with the Soul Calibur you know and love. Some people think this mode was a big mistake, while others beleive it was a good one. Basically, using created characters, you are part of a nation (Grandall), one of 3 (the other two being Dalkia and Halteese), all in a big war. As the cheif commander it is your job to win battles. Basically the aim of each chapter is to control the enemy stronghold, and along the way work up your CAF's stats. I love this mode, it's nice to take a break from the character's stories and do your own thing with characters you have made. As they go up you gain new moves and weapons, and you can even create new characters. Through the game you earn gold, which you spend in shops to buy things such as CAF parts, weapons, and items such as illustrations, movies etc. This is a nifty feature but can get frustrating as the items are hardly cheap, and you have to work your ass off to earn the gold. However the 3 shopkeepers are a nice addition to take your mind of your dwindling gold supply. And of course the Museum, where you can check out all the stuff you have unlocked, etc, pretty standard in most games. Another aspect which sucks is that you can't just fight who you want, one on one. Yep you guessed it, the only way is to fight someone else, VS mode isn't even unlocked unless there is another controller added, and even then you have to fight you friend, not the AI. This doesn't allow for dream fights, and the exclusion of Team Battle is sorely missed. However these are little things which don't take away much from the game itself

Replayability: 10/10

Although you may get frustrated as hell in some fights, there are just so many features and secrets to unlock, you have to keep playing. The various modes mean that if you get bored of one aspect you can move to the next, and the character creation allows for you to create actual real life characters, or even yourself if need be. This game is definetly not a weekend rent, if youi want to fully utilise it and be in it for the long haul then make sure you buy it. And playing with your friends is another way you can utilise the features SC3 throws out there.

So overall I give this game a 10/10. Congratulations Namco, you have had another success. If you love arcade fighters then buy it, if your not so into the stories or fighting as much, then a rent would be fine. I myself love the game and story so renting was never an option. All I can say is that I can't wait for SC4! Have fun and don't forget to pick your sides :)

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 11/28/05