Video Game Review: Stellar Fighting Mechanics Elevate ‘SoulCalibur V’

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CHICAGO – Imagine after a long night of playing one of the many recent “Assassin’s Creed” games that you fall asleep and dream of a world in which Ezio Auditore da Firenze jumps into various game types, including one in which he gets to fight and unleash a series of wicked combo moves on scantily clad and sword-bearing enemies. Welcome to your dreams.

Video Game Rating: 4.5/5.0

Having worked the video game beat for a few years now, fighting games tend to blur together (not unlike racing games). The fact is that there are only so many variations within the limited constraints of the genre. You’ll get an online mode, an arcade mode, and maybe even a story (although it’s unlikely that the story will be engaging in any way…only the recent “Mortal Kombat” broke this mold and was, consequently, the best fighting game of last year). Most fighting games have a similar number of characters, similar graphics engines, and a similar number of combo moves. The best ones are designed to appeal both to casual players and those who want to get deep into character customization. But the truly great fighting games, the ones that stand above, take all of the expected ingredients of the genre and do just a little bit more — slightly better controls, a smarter combo system, more customization. You can’t reinvent the wheel, but you can make it run more smoothly and “SoulCalibur V” runs like a dream. It’s one of the best fighting games of the last few years.

Need For Speed: The Run
Photo credit: EA

Partially because of the limitations of the genre, it can be difficult to review a fighting game. You know what to expect from “SoulCalibur V.” It’s another weapons-based fighting game with fantasy elements, bizarre subtitles, wicked special moves, and the basics of what to expect from the franchise…this time with Ezio. The first “SoulCalibur” game debuted in arcades almost fourteen years ago. This is one of the elder statesmen of gaming, a franchise with hardcore fans and casual ones. Almost everyone who has gamed for even a short period of time has played a “SoulCalibur” game and each new installment generally produces critical raves. “SoulCalibur IV” in 2008 won several awards, including IGN’s pick for Xbox 360 fighting game of the year. Expectations for the follow-up were high. I like this one more.

Need For Speed: The Run Photo credit: EA

Why? That’s where it gets tricky. Fighting games are very subjective. It’s often how they “feel” to the person holding the controller. Are the fighting moves responsive? Are the combos well-balanced in terms of difficulty gradation (with some that can be easily employed and others that need to be mastered)? Do the backgrounds distract or enhance the experience? For me, I popped in “SoulCalibur V” expecting to play for a bit and then take some notes for this review. HOURS went by. And I’m not a huge fan of the fighting genre, but this one sucked me in. There’s something about the fighting game that brings back memories of the arcade, where you could spend hours plunking quarters into the same ruthless machine. “SoulCalibur V” recreates that. It’s addictive.

The reason it’s so addictive comes down to the refinement in every aspect of its development. In particular, the character design is stellar. Each fighter has a unique look, set of moves, and strengths and weaknesses. If you like giant beasts who overpower with size and force, there are characters for you. If you like the pixie-like girls who bounce around before they unleash hell, there are a few. And then, of course, there are the traditional male characters, often shirtless and carrying swords. I loved the deep character choices, made even more remarkable by a “Creation Mode” that basically allows the player to make their own fighters with choices of hairstyle, voice, outfits, equipments, and even the sizes of various body parts. You can then take your freak of fighting online into the new Global Colosseo. I’ve played against a few. Most were clearly not designed by experts.

“SoulCalibur V” picks up seventeen years after “Soul Calibur IV” and features two primary characters in its story — Patroklos and Pyrrha Alexandra. New systems involved in combat include special moves built around a gauge that allows for something called Critical Edge (which is basically a fancier way to say “ass-kicking, super-special move). You’ll want to play through all of the characters just to see all of their Critical Edge moves.

2011 was a relatively predictable year in terms of gaming. I have to admit that I was not expecting my first notable gaming experience of 2012 to be a truly remarkable fighting game, one of the best of its genre in some time. It bodes well for what’s to come.

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com brian@hollywoodchicago.com