SOULCALIBUR V (PS3)
Developer: Project Soul
Publisher: NAMCO BANDAI Games
Genre: Action \ Fighting
Platforms: PS3, X360
Price (As On 02-Mar-2012): Rs 3000 (Letsbuy.com)


In this season of sequels, NAMCO BANDAI has expanded the popular Soul series with a new iteration. SOULCALIBUR V ships with a lot of firsts and the promise of an exciting story mode. The graphics have been spruced up as well. Does this instalment make enough of a case to torment our fingers for endless hours? Well, that's what I'm here for.
 

Let’s fight!

Combat Mechanics
The fighting system includes horizontal, vertical, low, high, middle attacks, and several permutations and combinations of moves therein. The basics can be learnt along the way with a few fights. It may, however, take many fights before you can master combat. Gameplay mechanics are pretty slick.

The Critical Gauge system gives you enough freedom to experiment with different blows and attacks. It is essential that you get this gauge worked out to unleash the Brave Edge or Critical Edge moves, or execute Guard Impacts. These are various combat moves form the SOULCALIBUR series, for the uninitiated. A flaw with this set-up is that you can only use either these attacks or Guard Impact when the Critical Gauge bar is filled. I sure would have loved some variation.
 

Whose side are you on?

All this complexity makes Guard Impacting an earned privilege. It also influences the use of Critical and Brave Edge moves, adding a strategic layer to the gameplay. Nevertheless, this arrangement is far from interesting in the middle of an intense battle. SOULCALIBUR's guarding mechanism seems too restrictive, because some guarding moves can only be executed a couple of times before using them again. This restriction sometimes even lasts till the end of the round.


Lousy Storytelling
If last year's Mortal Kombat is anything to go by, there's hope for the fighting genre. On the flip side, it isn't the easiest thing to do, as Marvel Vs Capcom 3 exemplified in pretty harsh terms. SOULCALIBUR V conveys the same message in a disappointing story mode that overshadows the legacy of the legendary sword.

In this narrative lasting not more than three hours, you play as Patroklos through most of the game. In a quest to save his malfested sister Pyrrha, you also get to step into the shoes of Z.W.E.I and Pyrrha herself. None of these characters manage to impress though. Additionally, poorly crafted cutscenes tend to dampen your enthusiasm.
 

Stories sketched on ancient parchment? That sounds interesting.

Kung Fu Fighting!
The single player campaign starts off with simpler fights, but there's barely any time to grasp Patroklos's moves. This fact is compounded by the presence of alpha versions of Patroklos and Pyrrha, featuring different sets of moves.

No sooner than your fingers start adapting to a character's style, you're transformed into another for a couple of battles. When you are back to being Patroklos, Pyrrha or Z.W.E.I, it's time to unlearn and relearn. This can get on your nerves during the last two battles where opponents possess higher levels of expertise.

While the story mode has no replay value, the developer seems to have paid little attention to offline play. However, Arcade and Legendary Souls deliver compelling fights, in contrast to rest of the content. The former lets you play six consecutive fights that help character progression. Legendary Souls is similar, but much harder. You won't believe the amount of time it takes to accomplish the first win.
 

The nightmare is— well, not such a nightmare.

The best part of the game is its online play. It's all about showing off your moves while executing tricks against skilled players. You can list your PSN friends as rivals, and compare stats. Besides, the lobby window lets you watch others battle it out till it's your turn in the arena. Let's be honest, nothing makes games more interesting than kicking some real human ass across continents.


Crossover Characters
This SC title features a huge list of playable characters, some of which make a debut with this iteration. However, you barely feel a connection, unless you work hard on a few characters and turn them into solid warriors of your liking. This is mainly because most of these characters show little individuality. Ezio Auditore looks pretty good with his weapons from the Assassin's Creed universe, but he still didn't impress me.
 

Ezio Auditore abandons all pretense of stealth.

For those who love finer aspects of a game's look, the character animation and backdrops are a treat to watch in SOULCALIBUR V. Bright colours and clean lines do the trick on the visual front. Some arenas have been designed with a lot of attention to detail, while others are not that impressive. Nevertheless, the same can't be said about the voice acting and dialogues — both of which have been better forgotten.


Could Have Been Better
There's no doubt that developers can do more with the fighting genre. Like other titles in the recent past (with the exception of Street Fighter IV and Mortal Kombat), SOULCALIBUR V tries to capture a fighter's spirit but doesn't quite reflect his full potential. No amount of slick graphics can save the game, thanks to its disappointing story mode. Project Soul's gamble with Guard Impacting causes further damage. This is definitely not a worthy successor to the franchise then.


Gameplay And Design: 3.5/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 3/5
Mojo: 3/5

Overall Rating: 3/5

TAGS: Gaming, PlayStation, Sanali