Soul Calibur 5 Teased – We Kinda Yawn
Namco announced, and followed up with a teaser trailer, that Soul Calibur V (that’s 5 for you non-Romans) will be making it’s way to the Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2012. The Project Soul team returns to the Stage of History and promises new warriors and new gameplay.
“The SOUL CALIBUR® series continues to be one of NAMCO BANDAI Games’ most cherished franchises,” said Carlson Choi, vice president of marketing NAMCO BANDAI Games America. “SOUL CALIBUR V will continue to advance the series’ legacy of white-knuckled weapon-based combat, gorgeous graphics and groundbreaking features that will amaze newcomers and long-time fans alike.”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbIjwEHgtbc
The story takes place 17 years after the last title and follows Patroklos, the son of Sophitia and, once again, focuses on obtaining/destroying that never-say-die evil sword with the creepy eye.
Here’s my thing. The Soul Edge/Calibur fighting games have always topped my list. These were the games my like-minded friends (i.e. most of the Media Geeks writers) would flock to one another’s house for. The characters, the graphics, the sound, the fight mechanics. They all made for a very solid fighter that never seemed to get old. Just like me though, it did. Sure, it’s possible I’m getting harder to please as I get older, but a few new fighters, arenas and fight modes aren’t really piqueing my interest.
They promise to expand the character creation modes, but I would counter that with: drop character creation altogether. For some reason, changing the clothes and face of an existing fighter, perhaps to put yourself in the game or perhaps to see He-Man take on Skeletor, doesn’t seem to have the weight of customizing a model for a shooter or MMO.
While we’re on the subject of wishes, for Voldo’s sake, BRING BACK 8 on 8 TEAM BATTLES. I can almost guarantee you the devs are going to include a fighter swap system that Marvel Vs Capcom games and now Mortal Kombat use relatively effectively, but not since SC2 have players been able to battle 1 on 1 with 8 different characters, progressing down the list as each gets picked off until there’s one man standing.
But besides all that, it’s just hard to find interest in a series that has never really reinvented itself. Oh, it’s gotten progressively better from a technical standpoint, but the fun factor has never really changed.
So, Namco, you’ve got a year. Wow me.
Editor’s note regarding teaser: Worst. Lip Sync. Ever.
