Soul Calibur IV

Soul Calibur IV - (PS3, Xbox 360)
Developer: Namco
Format: PS3, Xbox 360
Genre: Beat-em'up

A long time coming - but well worth the wait!

The first outing on the Xbox 360 and PS3 for Soul Calibur and by all accounts it's a cracker! The classic-beat'em up series from Namco has been polished to within a millimetre of its button bashing life and looks as good as any bruiser we've seen out there.

Slick combos, interactive landscapes and devastating weaponry are the order of the day. An all-new online mode brings the long awaited multiplayer longevity to the game and if that wasn't enough the Xbox 360 version gets Yoda whilst PS3 owners have Darth Vader to play with. Soul Calibur and Star Wars - does it get any better?

Well actually, it does. Namco has taken the considerable development time it has allowed itself, to dig a whole new level of gameplay into this long standing bruiser. Soul Calibur IV comes complete with some of the most advanced character creation features we've seen.

Players can select or modify a multitude of items to create a one-off fighter tailored to your specifications. A clever skill points system that encourages an almost RPG-like feel means you can tweak physical attributes such as Impact, Boost, Power and Special Will alongside equipment swaps, wardrobe outfits and even speech modification! The character you can create can even be played online - and, get this, even viewed in some of the many cut scenes!

If that wasn't enough you can even build your own fighter from the ground-up. Suddenly having a character that you've invested time and effort in brings a sense of urgency and value to each fight. When such attention to detail is wrapped inside a fighting mechanic as highly responsive and visually attractive as Soul Calibur IV, you have a stone cold classic fighting game on your hands. A worthy addition to any fight fans' collection.

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