As sharp as ever.
The soul is burning and no cream is necessary. Soulcalibur finally returns after a solid hiatus. The sixth numbered entry in the series sparks its first outing on these new consoles, and it feels like a return to form. Instead of moving forward this entry instead feels like the rebirth with plenty of returning characters, tons of modes, and of course hideous creations thanks to the customization options. The series is back and it feels like it never left. Soulcalibur VI is the entry fans have deserved for years.
The sixth entry in the series seems well aware of why people fell in love with the original games. Soulcalibur VI re-tells the story of the original game in a new light. The eight way run returns. The game feels great to just jump into. Controls are spot-on, combos are simple, and pulling off super and flashy moves is super simple. This means anyone can hop in and have a great time. This is what made Soulcalibur so popular amongst non-fighting game players. This entry brings that idea back and combines it with plenty of content to appease fans of the series.
MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4
Price I’d Pay: $59.99
The story mode is broken down into separate timelines. There is a core story that follows specific characters, telling the story of soul and swords. Then each playable character has a series of fights along that timeline. There is a ton to do here. The cut scenes are mostly done with static images and text boxes, but there are a few actual scenes that play out the story. It is cool, but I will admit I started thumbing through it at some point. The story goes weird places, as the Soulcalibur story usually does.
There is another narrative-driven mode called Libra of Souls. Here I created my own character and went through a series of missions similar to previous entries. There are modifiers for each encounter. I could level up my character and weapons as well as finding new ones and even items to use before fights. Again, the story feels arbitrary here. It falls off fairly quickly. There is also exploration to perform. This mode feels reminiscent of the mission mode from previous games.
Then battle mode offers up the normal modes. Versus, arcade, and of course online. The online matches felt good for the most part. Being able to create characters and battle them online is a blast. Arcade mode doesn’t have traditional endings sadly. There is only one unlockable character and Tira is available for those that pick up the season pass right at the start, which I am never a fan of. Still the roster includes the main names we have all come to love such as Sophitia, Voldo, and even Geralt as the initial guest character.
Combat feels great. All the old systems return including Critical Edge super moves which are flashier than ever. Guard Impact returns and feels great when pulled off. The new mechanic is called Reversal Edge. This plays out like a game of rock, paper, scissors where characters clash and then can pick an attack or dodge to see who gets the advantage. It is a neat mechanic, but feels very exploitable. It is too simple to trigger and get out of a great combo being performed. It can ruin a game at some levels, but assuming pro players will find ways to make it work in practice.
Again, the regular combat just feels great. I was able to hop right in and start pulling off moves. It has been a while since I dove into a Soulcalibur game and VI made me feel right at home. I wish there was a command training option for more advanced combos, but the training mode comes with explanations that I could practice.
Soulcalibur VI is a great way to bring back the franchise. There is a ton of content to be found and outside of a few omissions, the roster is great. Character creation leaves the door open for plenty of interesting designs. The Xbox One version had a few loading hitches and issues, but it never hindered my enjoyment. For anyone who grew up playing the original in dorms with friends, this is the first entry to capture that magic in years. The soul still burns, and it burns hot.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
