Namco Bandai announced Soul Calibur V at its Dubai showcase earlier this month and described the fifth entry into the core Soul Calibur series as a "true sequel". With fighting games thriving thanks to the efforts of Capcom with Street Fighter IV and Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, Arc System Works' BlazBlue and Namco Bandai's own Tekken now is the perfect time for the next chapter in the tale of souls and swords to be told.

 

Namco Bandai kept its cards close to its chest when discussing what's in store for fans. Beyond the confirmation that it will be arriving on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in 2012 it only talked about a few story and gameplay details.

 

SOUL EDGE

According to producer Hisaharu Tago Soul Calibur V will take the series into a new era by starting a brand new story arc that takes place 17 years after the events of Soul Calibur IV. It will feature a roster comprised of a mixture of familiar faces and a set of entirely new characters representing a new generation in the story.

 

Even Soul Calibur fans will admit its story is quite convoluted, over the years the legendary blade of evil Soul Edge, which has been the focal point of the story, has been wielded by maniacal pirate Cervantes, ill-fated knight Siegfried, his evil incarnation Nightmare and somewhere along the line a 'holy blade' called Soul Calibur appeared to create a balance.

 

In the fifth game Namco Bandai is starting a new chapter to bring in new players. Since the events of Soul Calibur 4 Siegfried has relinquished the blade, though he'll still appear in the game albeit slightly aged. The sword has since managed to make its way into the hands of Patrokolos, the son of Sophitia Alexandra.

 

Free from the grasps of the two hulking knights the blade has changed in appearance, transforming from the massive, two-handed weapon into a smaller one-handed blade. Like his mother before him Patroklos' destiny is intertwined with the swords and Soul Calibur V's story follows his journey as a wielder of the cursed weapon.

 

Tago has said he feels that previous games felt too heavy and that the fighting system in Soul Calibur IV can be summed up by three words: lighter, faster, sharper. Fans of the heavier characters such as Astaroth shouldn't worry however, the goal relates to how easy the mechanics are and how the core fighting experience will feel.

 

The producer promises a smoother, more fluid style of combat since the team has removed the input lag between a button press and an on-screen reaction, which means moves are instantly executed for a quicker, snappier combat experience.

 

Namco Bandai is well aware of what makes the Soul Calibur identity, so far the series has seen characters such as Tekken's Heihachi, Todd McFarlane's Spawn and Yoda crossover into the series and it has said the latest instalment will once again feature guest characters. Key modes such as create a character and online battles will also return overhauled and improved.

 

It's clear Namco Bandai knows it needs to take steps to freshen up Soul Calibur to have it compete with big shots such as Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. The new story, new set of characters, revamped fighting mechanic and promises of new and tweaked older gameplay modes suggests we might be in for something a little different from the fighter.

 

source wikipedia

 

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