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'{{For|the video game series|Soul (series)}} {{Infobox video game |title=SoulCalibur |image=[[Image:Soulcalibur.jpg]] |caption=North American Dreamcast cover art, featuring the trio of protagonists: Kilik, Maxi (to the left) and Xianghua |developer=[[Namco]] |publisher=Namco<br>[[Namco Bandai Games|Namco Bandai]] <small>(XBLA, iOS)</small> |producer=Yasuhiro Noguchi |producer=Hiroaki Yotoriyama |composer=[[Junichi Nakatsuru]]<br />Akitaka Toyama<br />Yoshihito Yano<br />Takanori Otsuka |release='''Arcade'''<br>July 30, 1998<br>'''Dreamcast'''<br>{{vgrelease|JP= August 5, 1999}}{{vgrelease|NA= September 9, 1999}}{{vgrelease|EU= December 1, 1999}}'''XBLA:'''<br>July 2, 2008<br>'''iOS:'''<br>January 19, 2012 |ratings=[[Computer Entertainment Rating Organization|CERO]]: B <small>(XBLA version)</small><br> [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]]: T |genre=[[Fighting game]] |modes=Up to 2 players simultaneously |cabinet=Upright |arcade system=[[Namco System 12|System 12]] |display=[[Raster graphics|Raster]], 640 × 480 pixels (Horizontal), 65536 colors |picture format=[[480p]] (EDTV)<br>[[480i]] (SDTV) |platforms=[[Arcade game|Arcade]], [[Dreamcast]], [[iOS]], [[Xbox Live Arcade]] }} {{nihongo|'''''SoulCalibur'''''|ソウルキャリバー|SōruKyaribā}} is a weapons-based 3D [[fighting game]] developed by [[Project Soul]] and produced by [[Namco]]. It is the second game in the [[Soul (series)|''Soul'']] series, preceded by ''[[Soul Edge]]'' (1996). Originally released in arcades in 1998, it ran on the [[Namco System 12]] hardware. In 1999 it was [[Porting|ported]] to the [[Dreamcast]] with improved graphics and new features and became available on [[Xbox 360]]'s [[Xbox Live Marketplace]] in 2008. It is widely regarded as one of the best Dreamcast games and was one of the critically best received fighting games of all time. ==Gameplay== [[Image:Soul Calibur DC.jpg|thumb|left|A screenshot of the Dreamcast version, showing [[Nightmare (Soulcalibur)|Nightmare]] fighting [[Sophitia Alexandra|Sophitia]]]] {{further2|[[Soul Edge#Gameplay|Gameplay of the first game]]}} One of the biggest innovations introduced by ''Soulcalibur'' to the gameplay system of its predecessor, ''[[Soul Edge]]'', is the eight-way run. Previous [[3D computer graphics|3D]] fighters had only limited movement along the third [[Coordinate axis|axis]], with sidesteps and rolls providing useful but unsustained lateral movement. In ''Soulcalibur'', simply holding down a [[joystick]] direction causes the character to run in that direction, giving the player a sense of freedom and deepens the strategy of the game. ''Soulcalibur'' also improved gameplay with "forgiving buffering", executing the input for one move before the player's character has finished recovering from their previous move, and leads to executing a quick succession of moves (other fighting games such as the ''[[Tekken]]'' and ''[[Virtua Fighter (series)|Virtua Fighter]]'' series have relatively strict buffering requirements, meaning expert timing is required to pull off many combinations, but ''Soulcalibur'' features much more lenient timing to successfully execute a buffer). Finally, the Guard Impact offensive blocking maneuver shown in ''Soul Edge'' was given a deeper range of techniques in ''Soulcalibur'', allowing players to push back or redirect attacks past themselves as well as swatting away an opponent's weapon to stun them. ===Characters=== {{Main|Soul (series)#Featured characters|l1=Soul series characters}} ''Soulcalibur'' was originally planned to be a dramatic overhaul, featuring only a few select characters to be carried over from ''Soul Edge''. However, nine of the 11 characters from ''Soul Edge'' ended up carrying over to ''Soulcalibur'' by the time the roster was finalized in the Dreamcast version, with an additional ten new characters joining the ranks (in the [[South Korea]]n version of the game, [[List of Soul characters#Mitsurugi|Mitsurugi]] was replaced by an English-Japanese swordsman named Arthur<ref>{{ko icon}} [http://www.gamemeca.com/preview/view.php?gcode=review&gid=119124 소울칼리버3(소울칼리버 3) - 게임메카], GameMeca, 04.11.2005</ref>). As with many fighting games, many of the new characters were heavily styled after already existing characters from the franchise. For example, new character [[List of Soul characters#Maxi|Maxi]] has a fighting style and moveset influenced by ''Soul Edge's'' [[List of Soul characters#Li Long|Li Long]] (the only of the original starting characters not to return). In fact, ''Soulcalibur'' only added one original playing style, belonging to [[Ivy Valentine|Ivy]]. New characters Xianghua, Maxi, Arthur/Yoshimitsu, Astaroth, Kilik, Nightmare and Lizardman were based upon existing characters Hwang, Li Long, Mitsurugi, Rock, Seong-mina, Siegfried and Sophitia. Consequently, Namco has been working since ''Soulcalibur'' to gradually separate the individual styles of the characters in order to make each one unique. ==Plot== The mystical sword of the legends, the "Soul Edge", ended up in the hands of the dreaded pirate [[Cervantes de Leon]] of Spain. For the next 25 years he stayed dormant on the remnants of a Spanish port town, taking the souls of those who reached him during their search of the sword. His reign of terror was soon to start, but through the joined efforts of Greek divine warrior [[Sophitia|Sophitia Alexandra]] and Japanese [[kunoichi]] [[Taki (Soulcalibur)|Taki]], he was stopped and killed, with one of the twin Soul Edge blades being shattered in the process. As it was about to tear itself apart, young Prussian knight [[List of Soul characters#Siegfried|Siegfried Schtauffen]] approached the port town and battled Cervantes, whose corpse had been momentarily reanimated through Soul Edge's will. After emerging victorious, Siegfried's attention turned unto the sword. The moment he took the hilt of the cursed blade, Soul Edge released a bright column of light into the sky. This was known as the "Evil Seed", bound to bring calamity and death in its wake. Three years after those events, Soul Edge uses Siegfried as its host, and now Siegfried is [[Nightmare (Soulcalibur)|Nightmare]], a knight wearing azure armor and sporting a hideously deformed right arm. Europe plunges into a vortex of slaughters as he and his followers claim souls to strengthen the blade in its weakened state. Unknown to them, a group of warriors met on their journey to stop Soul Edge, and with them three sacred weapons join once again. ==Development== After releasing ''Soul Edge'', Namco took some time to evaluate what had made the game successful before jumping into development of its follow-up. Producer Hiroaki Yotoriyama decided to give the sequel a new name instead of just calling it ''Soul Edge 2'' in order to have a fresh start and take the series in a new direction. The name ''Soulcalibur'' is a [[portmanteau]] of the word ''soul'' (as in Soul Edge) and [[King Arthur]]'s sword [[Excalibur]] (ultimately, the name would be used within the game's universe for the holy weapon which would counteract Soul Edge's evil). Inspired by an internal Namco prototype featuring a character able to run openly in a field, the eight-way run system was implemented. Upon application, the development team was surprised at how well it meshed with their fighting system, and decided to build the rest of the game around it. During development they worked closely with Namco's ''Tekken'' development team, sharing ideas and research. Yotoriyama felt that with that cooperation and partnership, they were able to develop "the greatest weapon-based fighting action game in the world".<ref name="makingof">{{cite journal |journal=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=55 |title=The Making of Soul Calibur |pages=53–54 |month=August |year=2008}}</ref> Yotoriyama has described the game's concept as expressing "fun and diversity in weapon combat", citing the contrast in how one weapon would affect gameplay compared to another and how they would react to each other upon clashing. Each character's fighting style was designed to revolve around their weapon, though he noted that because of the differences they experienced difficulty in balancing the gameplay. He described the availability of movement in comparison to ''[[Tekken 3]]'' as a large contrast between the two series and more tactical, and emphasized how it interacted with the game's "ring out" feature.<ref>{{cite web |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20010709095517/www.soulcalibur.com/edgesl/interview.html |url=http://www.soulcalibur.com/edgesl/interview.html |archivedate=2001-07-09 |publisher=[[Namco Bandai Games]] |title=Interview with Yotoriyama-San |accessdate=2009-09-18}}</ref> Each character in ''Soulcalibur'' was designed around the idea that they could be viewed as a real person could,<ref name="play1">{{cite journal |journal=[[Play (US magazine)|Play Magazine Presents Girls of Gaming]] |issue=1 |year=2003 |page=34}}</ref> and to this end, motion creator Masataka Ishiguro emphasized the arm and leg movements for each character in relation to their weapon, wanting players to "feel the individual motions and the realism within the game"<ref>{{cite web |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20010709095207/www.soulcalibur.com/herohstr/interview.html |archivedate=2001-07-09 |accessdate=2009-09-18 |url=http://www.soulcalibur.com/herohstr/interview.html |title=Interview with Ishiguro-San |publisher=[[Namco Bandai]]}}</ref> The team for the arcade version of ''Soulcalibur'' consisted of roughly 60 people working on Namco's [[Namco System 12|System 12]] hardware, while the team developing the home port was reduced to about forty. Given a deadline of seven months to coincide with the North American launch of the Dreamcast, the transition was difficult for the team, due to the differences in hardware. However, due to the similar capabilities and limits of each system, content was left intact between the two versions, with Yotoriyama feeling that the team was "obsessed" with giving their best effort for the port. The biggest technological change to the Dreamcast port was to render all of the game's stages in full 3D polygons, whereas the far backgrounds in the arcade original were flat, two-dimensional images. Additional content was also added to the game to ensure replay value, based on researching other fighting games marketed at the time. Many of the team's ideas that they were unable to incorporate into the port were eventually used for later games in the series.<ref name="makingof"/> ==Ports== ===Dreamcast=== ''Soulcalibur'' was released in Japan for the Dreamcast on August 5, 1999; and in North America as a [[Launch game|launch title]], on September 9, 1999. The North American Dreamcast version of the game removes one of Voldo's suggestive [[codpiece]]s featuring a bull. However, the codpiece is present in the European and Japanese versions, as well as the North American [[Xbox 360]] version. The European Dreamcast version was distributed and advertised by [[Sega Europe]].<ref>[http://dreamcast.ign.com/articles/070/070046p1.html IGN: Sega Europe To Distribute Soul Calibur<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The Dreamcast version of ''Soulcalibur'' is one of the first examples of a home conversion of a game being graphically superior to its original arcade counterpart. Among the differences were the improved graphics (including the addition of 3D backgrounds), tweaked gameplay, new game modes, new costumes, and the inclusion of an extra character, Cervantes de Leon. The Dreamcast version features new modes such as the Team Battle, Survival and the Training Mode. In Missions Mode the player completes various missions to attain points, which can be used to buy various art and costumes. Another feature added is the artwork section, containing official artwork, fanart and high-res pictures. Also unlockable are a "liquid metal" version of the characters' costume and a "Battle Theater" mode, plus a way to modify the opening introduction theme by changing the characters appearing in it, and an "Exhibition Mode" displaying characters performing their [[kata]]s (in Mission Mode it is possible to add more characters to the "Exhibition Mode", such as Taki and [[Seung Mina]]). ===Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade)=== In 2008, [[Namco Bandai Games]] announced a port of ''Soulcalibur'' would be released for the Xbox 360. The port was based on the European Dreamcast version<ref>[http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/soulcalibur/882151p1.html GameSpy: Soulcalibur XBLA Interview - Page 1<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and was made available for download on [[Xbox Live Arcade]] on July 2, 2008.<ref name="XBLA">{{cite web|url=http://www.namcobandaigames.com/news/press/press/284/page/1|title=Namco-Bandai ''Official press release''|date=2008-04-16}}</ref> While the game included [[high-definition video|HD]] updated graphics and various Live leaderboards, online play was absent which makes it an exception amongst most games ported to Xbox Live Arcade. Other features from the [[Dreamcast]] version (Museum, etc., with the exception of Mission Battle) are also in the game. While the intro is removed from this port, the intro music is still in this port. All content is unlocked by the start of the game. ===iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch)=== On January 19, 2012, Namco Bandai released a port of ''Soulcalibur'' for [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]'s [[iOS]] platform. Game modes in this version include Arcade, Time Attack, Survival, Extra Survival, Practice, and Museum mode. The game was released as a Universal App to run at native resolutions on [[iPad]], [[iPhone]] and [[iPod]] touch.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} ==Reception== {{VG reviews |GR = 96.26% <small>(Dreamcast)</small><ref name="gr DC" /><br/> 78.91% <small>(XBLA)</small><ref name="gr XBLA">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox360/945861-soulcalibur/index.html|title=SoulCalibur for Xbox 360|publisher=GameRankings|accessdate=9-12-09}}</ref> |MC = 79 <small>(XBLA)</small><ref name="mc XBLA">{{cite web|url=http://apps.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbox360/soulcalibur|title=Soul Calibur (Xbox360) reviews|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=9-12-09}}</ref> 72 <small>(iOS)</small><ref name="mc iOS">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/soulcalibur|title=Soul Calibur (iOS) reviews|publisher=Metacritic|accessdate=1-29-12}}</ref> |1UP = B- <small>(XBLA)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3168525&p=4|title=Soul Calibur XBLA Review|publisher=1UP.com|accessdate=9-12-09}}</ref> |EGM = 10/10 <small>(Dreamcast)</small> |EuroG = 8/10 <small>(XBLA)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/soulcalibur-review?page=2|page=2|title=SoulCalibur Review - Page 2|publisher=Eurogamer|date=4 July 2008|accessdate=9-19-09}}</ref> |Fam = 40/40 (Dreamcast)<ref>ドリームキャスト - ソウルキャリバー. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.36. 30 June 2006.</ref><ref name="Fam DC"/> |GI = 9.25/10 (Dreamcast)<ref name="GI review">{{cite web|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4244 |title=Game Informer Magazine - Soulcalibur Review|publisher=Game Informer|date=October 28, 1999|accessdate=9-21-09 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20000527190742/http://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4244 |archivedate = May 27, 2000}}</ref> |GamePro = {{Rating|5|5}} <small>(Dreamcast)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/1709/soul-calibur/|title=Review Soul Calibur [Dreamcast]|publisher=GamePro|date=November 24, 2000|accessdate=9-21-09|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080921215134/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/1709/soul-calibur/|archivedate=2008-09-21}}</ref> |GSpot = 10/10 <small>(Dreamcast)</small><ref name="GSpot DC"/><br/>7.5/10 <small>(XBLA)</small><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/dreamcast/action/soulcalibur/review.html|title=Soul Calibur for Xbox 360 Review|publisher=GameSpot|date=7-08-2008|accessdate=9-13-09}}</ref> |IGN = 10/10 <small>(Dreamcast)</small><ref name="IGN DC"/><br/> 8.1/10 <small>(XBLA)</small><ref name="IGN XBLA">{{cite web|url=http://xboxlive.ign.com/articles/885/885060p1.html|title=IGN: Soulcalibur XBLA Review|publisher=IGN.com|date=6-27-2008|accessdate=9-12-09}}</ref> |GI = 9.25/10 <small>(Dreamcast)</small><ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20000527190742/http://www.gameinformer.com/reviews/review_detail.cfm?ITEM_ID=4244 Soul Calibur: The #1 Accessory for Dreamcast], GameInformer.com, October 28, 1999</ref> |GameFan = 98/100 <small>(Dreamcast)<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20000615135816/http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=1250&t=r GameFan - REVIEW for Soul Calibur]</ref> }} The Dreamcast version of ''Soulcalibur'' sold in excess of one million copies.<ref>{{cite web |author=Yukiyoshi Ike, Sato |url=http://www.gamespot.com/dreamcast/action/soulcalibur/news.html?sid=2447323 |title=Soul Calibur Sells 1 Million |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |accessdate=2009-09-13 |date=1999-12-15}}</ref> It won the 1999 [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] [[Game Critics Awards|Game Critics Award]] for Best Fighting Game and the 2000 [[Interactive Achievement Award]] for Console Game of the Year.{{Citation needed|date=January 2012}} The game received the perfect 10/10 scores from [[GameSpot]]<ref name="GSpot DC">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/dreamcast/action/soulcalibur/review.html|title=Soul Calibur for Dreamcast Review|publisher=GameSpot|date=8-09-1999|accessdate=9-13-09}}</ref> and [[IGN]],<ref name="IGN DC">{{cite web|url=http://dreamcast.ign.com/articles/160/160953p1.html|title=IGN: Soulcalibur Review|publisher=IGN|date=9-20-1999|accessdate=9-12-09}}</ref> and being the second game ever to get a perfect 40/40 by Japanese gaming magazine ''[[Famitsu]]'' (the first being ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'').<ref name="Fam DC">{{cite web|url=http://dreamcast.ign.com/articles/069/069143p1.html|title=Soul Calibur Perfection|author=IGN Staff|publisher=IGN|accessdate=9-26-09}}</ref> As of 2009, game review aggregator website [[GameRankings]] has the Dreamcast version ranked as the fifth best-reviewed game of all time, as well as being the highest scoring title in the fighting game genre.<ref name="gr DC">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/dreamcast/198705-soulcalibur/index.html|title=SoulCalibur for Dreamcast|publisher=GameRankings|accessdate=9-12-09}}</ref> ''Soulcalibur'' was named as the number one best Dreamcast game by ''[[Game Informer]]'' in 2007.<ref>Game Informer, Issue 166, February 2007. Page 116</ref> In 2009, IGN also ranked ''Soulcalibur'' as the fifth best Dreamcast game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://games.ign.com/articles/102/1021451p5.html|title=The Top 25 Dreamcast Games|page=5|publisher=IGN|date=2009-09-11|accessdate=2009-09-19}}</ref> In addition, it is often considered to be one of the greatest games on all platforms, including: *''Game Informer'' in 2001: The Top 100 Games of All Time (74th place).<ref>{{cite web|author=''Game Informer'' staff|title=The Top 100 Games of All Time|work=[[Game Informer]]|publisher=Game Informer Magazine|date=August 2001|url=http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/11/16/game-informer-s-top-100-games-of-all-time-circa-issue-100.aspx|accessdate=2010-03-13}}</ref> *IGN in 2003: Top 100 Games (38th place).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top100.ign.com/2003/31-40.html|title=IGN's Top 100 Games 40-31|publisher=IGN.com|accessdate=9-20-09}}</ref> *IGN in 2005: Top 100 Games (43rd place).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top100.ign.com/2005/041-050.html|title=IGN's Top 100 Games|publisher=IGN|accessdate=9-19-09}}</ref> *IGN in 2006: Readers' Choice The Top 100 Games Ever (sixth place).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top100.ign.com/2006/001-010.html|title=IGN Readers' Choice 2006 - The Top 100 Games Ever|publisher=IGN|accessdate=9-19-09}}</ref> *''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' in 2006: The Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time (22nd place).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/features/egm-200-greatest-videogames|title=The Greatest 200 Videogames of Their Time|page=9|publisher=1UP.com|date=2-02-2006|accessdate=9-20-09}}</ref> *[[UGO.com]] in 2010: Top 25 Fighting Games of All Time (second place).<ref name=ref4>{{cite web|first=Marissa|last=Meli|title=Top 25 Fighting Games of All Time |date=2010-07-08 |url=http://www.ugo.com/games/top-25-fighting-games-of-all-time?page=5|publisher=UGO.com |accessdate=2010-07-09}}</ref> *''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' in 2011: The 50 Best Fighting Games of All Time (fifth place).<ref>Peter Rubin, [http://www.complex.com/video-games/2011/03/50-best-fighting-games/soulcalibur The 50 Best Fighting Games of All Time], Complex.com, March 15, 2011</ref> In 2005, GameSpot ranked ''Soulcalibur'' as the sixth best launch title yet, calling it "not only one of the greatest launch games or one of the greatest fighters, but one of the greatest games ever. Period."<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/features/best-launch-titles-6134761/?page=2 Best Launch Titles, Page 2 - GameSpot.com]</ref> {{-}} ==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.soulcalibur.com}} *{{GameFAQs|id=198705}} * [http://www.iappsarena.com/2012/02/soulcalibur-review.html Soulcalibur iOS Review] {{Soul series}} [[Category:3D fighting games]] [[Category:1998 video games]] [[Category:Arcade games]] [[Category:Dreamcast games]] [[Category:Interactive Achievement Award winners]] [[Category:IOS games]] [[Category:Soul series games]] [[Category:Versus fighting games]] [[Category:Video game sequels]] [[Category:Video games set in the 16th century]] [[Category:Xbox 360 Live Arcade games]] [[ca:SoulCalibur]] [[da:Soulcalibur]] [[de:Soul Calibur]] [[es:SoulCalibur]] [[fr:SoulCalibur]] [[ko:소울칼리버]] [[it:Soulcalibur]] [[nl:Soulcalibur]] [[ja:ソウルキャリバー]] [[pl:Soulcalibur V]] [[pt:SoulCalibur]] [[ru:Soulcalibur]] [[simple:Soulcalibur]] [[sv:Soul Calibur]] [[zh:劍魂]]'