Soul Calibur V (360/PS3)

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

It's almost here! I'm pretty excited, and although I don't expect everyone here to share my enthusiasm, I figured I'd post some stuff I've been reading/viewing in anticipation for this weeks release.

This is perhaps the biggest shake up the franchise has seen since it moved from edge-to-calibur (actually, it's probably bigger). The mostly useless critical finish from Soul Calibur IV is absent, and several new systems have been introduced in its place. Those include Critical Edge, Brave Edge, a revamped Guard Impact, Just Guard, and Quick Step. Unlike Critical Finish, each of these systems change Soul Calibur at its core. They've pushed the pace in this game tremendously.

HateSpeech from 8WayRun posted some great impressions of the game from one of the many tests Namco hosted over the last few months. These impressions were of a pre-release version of the game, but not much has changed:

II. Gameplay

Each new SC installment has its own distinct game feel, and this is certainly no exception. The new mechanics—Quickstep, BE moves, Critical Edges, Just Guard, and guard breaking—contribute to this greatly, but it’s equally a product of freer movement, innovative stage ideas, and intelligently tweaked movesets. Many returning characters return with largely familiar moves intact, but their properties are such that they often have very different applications within the new overall game engine, and it feels good. Move lists are shorter overall, but that does not seem to impact the game’s overall depth. The characters I examined mostly lost redundant or “fluff” moves, and the core of what remains is solid and allows for broad-stroke experimentation.

From a competitive standpoint, SC5 rewards activity and punishes passivity, both on offense and defense, and it does so in ways both apparent and subtle. Thanks to guard breaking and chip damage on throw escapes, simply holding block becomes a good way to get oneself in quite a bit of trouble. Instead, the game rewards active commitment to defensive options such as crouching, stepping, jG, evasion, and so on, each of which involves accepting a certain degree of risk.

Similarly, when pressuring an opponent, the most rewarding offensive options also involve committing oneself. Damage on moves like 2A, 2K, and other minor pokes seems greatly reduced and most AA and BB attacks are also underwhelming, damage-wise, rendering them useful primarily in checking an opponent. In order to access major damage, it is usually necessary to make a read and put yourself out there.

...

VII. The Grand Philosophical Question: Is It Fun?

Hell yes.

As of right now, the game’s a breath of fresh air. It looks great, it sounds great, and it certainly appears to have a lot of potential for deep, nuanced play. We never truly know what we’re dealing with until everyone has had a few months to really dig into things, but as of right now I have exceedingly high hopes.

The rest: http://8wayrun.com/threads/hate-speech-hands-on.95...

Here are a couple videos of Justin Wong tearing this poor guy apart with Xiba. It's early, but his experience in the genre gives him a pretty clear advantage (he's not too fast for her, he's too fast for you):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PImlazbo9vk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLsApdXR6lk

Some more of bloodburgers videos: http://shoryuken.com/2012/01/29/soul-calibur-v-mat...

I don't see a lot of BE use, or Just Guard.. but.. it's early. A lot of people seem to be approaching this game like it's just another Soul Calibur, instead of trying to embrace the new systems. I expect this to change pretty quickly. Here's a great breakdown of JG and how it works and why it has the potential to be so fucking good!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0L4j82SMog

Reviews:

So far, only Famitsu is in -- 9/9/10/9 [37/40]

Resources:

http://8wayrun.com/
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46012...

En réponse à

[img]http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/7607/008nox.jpg[/img]

It's almost here! I'm pretty excited, and although I don't expect everyone here to share my enthusiasm, I figured I'd post some stuff I've been reading/viewing in anticipation for this weeks release.

This is perhaps the biggest shake up the franchise has seen since it moved from edge-to-calibur (actually, it's probably bigger). The mostly useless critical finish from Soul Calibur IV is absent, and several new systems have been introduced in its place. Those include Critical Edge, Brave Edge, a revamped Guard Impact, Just Guard, and Quick Step. Unlike Critical Finish, each of these systems change Soul Calibur [i]at its core[/i]. They've pushed the pace in this game tremendously.

HateSpeech from 8WayRun posted some great impressions of the game from one of the many tests Namco hosted over the last few months. These impressions were of a pre-release version of the game, but not [i]much[/i] has changed:

[quote]II. Gameplay

Each new SC installment has its own distinct game feel, and this is certainly no exception. The new mechanics—Quickstep, BE moves, Critical Edges, Just Guard, and guard breaking—contribute to this greatly, but it’s equally a product of freer movement, innovative stage ideas, and intelligently tweaked movesets. Many returning characters return with largely familiar moves intact, but their properties are such that they often have very different applications within the new overall game engine, and it feels good. [b]Move lists are shorter overall, but that does not seem to impact the game’s overall depth. The characters I examined mostly lost redundant or “fluff” moves, and the core of what remains is solid and allows for broad-stroke experimentation.[/b]

[b]From a competitive standpoint, SC5 rewards activity and punishes passivity,[/b] both on offense and defense, and it does so in ways both apparent and subtle. Thanks to guard breaking and chip damage on throw escapes, simply holding block becomes a good way to get oneself in quite a bit of trouble. Instead, the game rewards active commitment to defensive options such as crouching, stepping, jG, evasion, and so on, each of which involves accepting a certain degree of risk.

Similarly, when pressuring an opponent, the most rewarding offensive options also involve committing oneself. Damage on moves like 2A, 2K, and other minor pokes seems greatly reduced and most AA and BB attacks are also underwhelming, damage-wise, rendering them useful primarily in checking an opponent. [b]In order to access major damage, it is usually necessary to make a read and put yourself out there.[/b]

...

VII. The Grand Philosophical Question: Is It Fun?

[b]Hell yes.[/b]

As of right now, the game’s a breath of fresh air. It looks great, it sounds great, and it certainly appears to have a lot of potential for deep, nuanced play. We never truly know what we’re dealing with until everyone has had a few months to really dig into things, but as of right now I have exceedingly high hopes.[/quote]

The rest: http://8wayrun.com/threads/hate-speech-hands-on.9547/

Here are a couple videos of Justin Wong tearing this poor guy apart with Xiba. It's early, but his experience in the genre gives him a pretty clear advantage (he's not too fast for [i]her[/i], he's too fast for [i]you[/i]):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PImlazbo9vk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLsApdXR6lk

Some more of bloodburgers videos: http://shoryuken.com/2012/01/29/soul-calibur-v-matches-featuring-mad-catzs-markman-ts-sabin-eg-justin-wong-and-mr-wizard/

I don't see a lot of BE use, or Just Guard.. but.. it's early. A lot of people seem to be approaching this game like it's [i]just another[/i] Soul Calibur, instead of trying to embrace the new systems. I expect this to change pretty quickly. [b]Here's a great breakdown of JG and how it works and why it has the potential to be [i]so fucking good[/i]![/b]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0L4j82SMog

Reviews:

So far, only Famitsu is in -- 9/9/10/9 [37/40]

Resources:

http://8wayrun.com/
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=460121

GriftGFX

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

The official strategy guide:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Calibur-Official-Guid...

Learn to understand the game at its deepest level with our comprehensive move list. Put together by some of the world’s best players, the frame data and properties of every single attack are revealed in full, giving a complete insight into the way each character is designed to be played.

Sample: http://www.future-press.com/SC5_Mitsurugi.pdf

...this actually looks pretty solid. The day one patch has me concerned about how accurate the frame data will be.. but it seems like an above average guide.

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GangstaNip

Inscrit depuis 7455 Jours

This will get me off of KOFXIII for a while. Don't know if i'll show up at midnight or not, depends if im tired or no.lol.

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GriftGFX

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

Posté par GangstaNip

This will get me off of KOFXIII for a while. Don't know if i'll show up at midnight or not, depends if im tired or no.lol.

I actually just canceled my best buy pre-order in favor of hitting up Target after work. They're giving away $20 gift cards for any US posters interested in the game.

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Isomac

Inscrit depuis 7346 Jours

I ordered the game today. Grr for Grift hyping it for me so much.. I hope my 38€ wont go to waste.

En réponse à

Hail to the king, baby!
Victory needs no explanation, defeat allows none.

Megido

Inscrit depuis 6904 Jours

I'll totaly get it sooner or later. I've got it pre ordered but if i actually buy it or not depends on a job intervue. If i get the job, day 1 :)

En réponse à

Nerd Rage

GriftGFX

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

Posté par Isomac

I ordered the game today. Grr for Grift hyping it for me so much.. I hope my 38€ wont go to waste.

It won't!

Posté par Megido

I'll totaly get it sooner or later. I've got it pre ordered but if i actually buy it or not depends on a job intervue. If i get the job, day 1 :)

It's funny.. I was totally passive about this release until a few weeks ago. I was worried that the game would be seriously dumbed down, but it doesn't appear to be at all. There are still just frame moves (I've even heard some say they're even more strict), and there are loads of new systems (including the awesome-in-theory just defend) that all seem to be adding to the game, unlike SCIV's silly critical finish moves. A few characters got cut down a little more than others (Ivy lost her whip stance completely I believe), but I am still pretty dang hyped.

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GriftGFX

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

Currently live and some of these guys are actually pretty good.

http://www.twitch.tv/8wayrun

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IRAIPT0IR

Inscrit depuis 6286 Jours

Thats a great ass!!

En réponse à

Real Madrid C.F. fan.

ManThatYouFear

Inscrit depuis 7522 Jours

Posté par IRAIPT0IR

Thats a great ass!!

as posters go.. i gotta admit thats ace :D SNATCH!

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PSN:ManThatYouFear
GT: ManThatYouFear
Real Life: ThatTwat

GriftGFX

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

Oh, and as MTYF mentioned in what's up, there are official arcade sticks.

Hori on top, Madcatz down the bottom. I haven't seen much info in the way of pricing or components on the Hori stick.

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Megido

Inscrit depuis 6904 Jours

I hate the hori button layout for 360. Why!? WHY!?

Who the f**k plays with that kind of buton setup? Their PS3 sticks are sligtly less retarded, why do they do taht to 360!?

Oh, never mind, even Mad Catz tarded it up with this editon. I guess you have atacks at the top rown and then bock with your thumb or something? Eh, bloody awkward and it makes it a tedious fucking chore to play with other players in other games because you need to reconfigure the controls whenever somebody with a regular stick wants to play.

En réponse à

Nerd Rage

ManThatYouFear

Inscrit depuis 7522 Jours

129.99 is best i found price wise so far, seems to be the given rrp.

This or more weights for my gym

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PSN:ManThatYouFear
GT: ManThatYouFear
Real Life: ThatTwat

GriftGFX

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

Yeah, Soul Calibur typically uses four consecutive (albeit in a slightly curved row) buttons. My DOA stick has the same layout (well, six buttons, but thumb+top row on the face buttons). I don't really mind it at all. If it were different, you'd just have to reconfigure buttons for Soul Calibur, wouldn't you?

It sorta makes sense to me. I don't typically used stacked button layouts in 3D fighters. SNK's fighters use a consecutive row too. Lots of games utilize different layouts and you're going to have to reconfigure buttons on a bunch of sticks because the default layouts are designed for the gamepad and not any standard stick layout.

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Megido

Inscrit depuis 6904 Jours

Well in all the games i play i use the standard buton layout found on the SFIV TE sticks. Works fine in Tekken, SC, VF, SF, KoF and everything else i've tried. MK aside becasue it has the most retarded control scheme ever, even with a regular pad.

En réponse à

Nerd Rage

GriftGFX

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

How does that button layout work for VF? Seems like VF would work more immediately with the DOA/SC layout to me. In fact, I'm certain VF5 works perfectly with my DOA4 stick too w/o reconfiguration. Hell, how does it work with Soul Calibur without reconfiguration? Or are you just not using the A/Thumb button for block? I don't really see the big deal either way. It takes all of 30 seconds to reconfigure your button layout.

I'm picking up my copy right after I'm done working for the day.. and then it's on to unlock Pyrrha Omega! I saw her do Cassanda's annoying little foot stomp in a stream last night and I got giddy. I'm so glad some Cassie moves made it into the game somewhere.

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Megido

Inscrit depuis 6904 Jours

Posté par GriftGFX

How does that button layout work for VF? Seems like VF would work more immediately with the DOA/SC layout to me. In fact, I'm certain VF5 works perfectly with my DOA4 stick too w/o reconfiguration. Hell, how does it work with Soul Calibur without reconfiguration? Or are you just not using the A/Thumb button for block? I don't really see the big deal either way. It takes all of 30 seconds to reconfigure your button layout.

I'm picking up my copy right after I'm done working for the day.. and then it's on to unlock Pyrrha Omega! I saw her do Cassanda's annoying little foot stomp in a stream last night and I got giddy. I'm so glad some Cassie moves made it into the game somewhere.

I use X for block, square for horisontal, triangle for vertical and circle for kick. Works just fine. I have quick access to all buttons, and SC doesn't exactly require you to roll off all three attack buttons after eachother. Same with VF. Block with X, punch wiht square and kick with triangle. If i don't remember it all wrong. Was a long time since i played VF last :P

En réponse à

[quote=GriftGFX]How does that button layout work for VF? Seems like VF would work more immediately with the DOA/SC layout to me. In fact, I'm certain VF5 works perfectly with my DOA4 stick too w/o reconfiguration. Hell, how does it work with Soul Calibur without reconfiguration? Or are you just not using the A/Thumb button for block? I don't really see the big deal either way. It takes all of 30 seconds to reconfigure your button layout.

I'm picking up my copy right after I'm done working for the day.. and then it's on to unlock Pyrrha Omega! I saw her do Cassanda's annoying little foot stomp in a stream last night and I got giddy. I'm so glad some Cassie moves made it into the game [i]somewhere[/i].[/quote]

I use X for block, square for horisontal, triangle for vertical and circle for kick. Works just fine. I have quick access to all buttons, and SC doesn't exactly require you to roll off all three attack buttons after eachother. Same with VF. Block with X, punch wiht square and kick with triangle. If i don't remember it all wrong. Was a long time since i played VF last :P

Nerd Rage

GriftGFX

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

Story mode.. is uh.. silly. The dude on the 8wayrun stream who said it took five hours was exadgerating though. It takes less than two, and that's if you watch all the cinemas (and most of them are animated story boards). Now to really dig into this. I needed to unlock Pyrrha O first.

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GriftGFX

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

After experimenting quite a bit with both Pyrrha's, I can safely say that I still want Cassandra back. Omega has a little Cassie in her, but not enough. The two version are basically just more awesome versions of Sophitia. Then again.. that's what Cassandra is. I don't particularly care about all of that though. I miss a bunch of her moves and set ups and stuff. Give me DLC Scamco. :P

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GriftGFX

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

So far online is really easy in the casual match ups.. I've only encountered one guy who was destroying everyone in my lobby, and it was a Voldo player who was not shy about how good he is. Voldo is friggin tricky.

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GangstaNip

Inscrit depuis 7455 Jours

Have not played online yet, probably will be a couple of weeks before i do. Hearing mostly great things about the online outside of the random disconnect complaints. I can deal with that if thats the main issue. As long as the lag is to a minimal. I haven't gotten the chance to play much of it yet due to trying out other game demos and me being sick. However, i think im going to try to main Natsu as im really liking the moves for her. Mitsurugi and Cervantes are past favorites as well that im going to try to get back into using. I wasn't a fan of SCIV and III to be honestl but im impressed with this one already in comparison to those.

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GangstaNip

Inscrit depuis 7455 Jours

Its weird cuz this game has a lot of mixed reviews and negative ones too. Some how im viewing it different on those terms, as i didn't like IV for some reason, maybe i didn't lay it enough or something.

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Megido

Inscrit depuis 6904 Jours

You can't ever trust reviews of fighters. First of to really judge i you ca't just play it for 5 hours and declare this or that, then i doubtmany reviewers are "hard core" enough to be able to acurately review a game like this anywy. I mean, i've read reviews tha declare it borked and unbalanced beyond belief, but seriously...you can't judge that this early. So yeah, i'm just going to asume that it's no worse than 4 until the community declares otherwise. Let's come back and have a look after a few months, when everybody has had time to really get in to the game. Then we'll know what's what.

Then again if you just look at the feature set and single player bullcrap, most reviewers are probably right. It's just that they often miss the most important bit: the game system.

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Nerd Rage

Megido

Inscrit depuis 6904 Jours

Too late to edit, crap :P

Anyway a quick look at Metacritic suggests that most critics like it. An average of 82 and nothing below 70 is fairly good.

En réponse à

Nerd Rage

GriftGFX

Inscrit depuis 7578 Jours

Posté par GangstaNip

Have not played online yet, probably will be a couple of weeks before i do. Hearing mostly great things about the online outside of the random disconnect complaints. I can deal with that if thats the main issue. As long as the lag is to a minimal. I haven't gotten the chance to play much of it yet due to trying out other game demos and me being sick. However, i think im going to try to main Natsu as im really liking the moves for her. Mitsurugi and Cervantes are past favorites as well that im going to try to get back into using. I wasn't a fan of SCIV and III to be honestl but im impressed with this one already in comparison to those.

Go online! There are a ton of scrubs online. I've encountered like one good dude in an ocean of bad ones. I think I actually improved my game almost immediately online. Real people help.

The quickmatch AI is good though--actually better than most online players I've encountered so far :D

Posté par Megido

You can't ever trust reviews of fighters. First of to really judge i you ca't just play it for 5 hours and declare this or that, then i doubtmany reviewers are "hard core" enough to be able to acurately review a game like this anywy. I mean, i've read reviews tha declare it borked and unbalanced beyond belief, but seriously...you can't judge that this early. So yeah, i'm just going to asume that it's no worse than 4 until the community declares otherwise. Let's come back and have a look after a few months, when everybody has had time to really get in to the game. Then we'll know what's what.

Then again if you just look at the feature set and single player bullcrap, most reviewers are probably right. It's just that they often miss the most important bit: the game system.

The single player modes in this ARE really weak. The online functions have improved dramatically though and the actual game is awesome. A lot of the reviews are bullshit. IGN basically said, "more of the same," without acknowledging that this is the biggest do-over for Soul Calibur in a very long time (maybe ever). SFxTekken will review better because of all of the things I hate about it--the grinding and collecting of stupid customization options. Ew. Screw that.

My god that Voldo was a troll.

En réponse à

[quote=GangstaNip]Have not played online yet, probably will be a couple of weeks before i do. Hearing mostly great things about the online outside of the random disconnect complaints. I can deal with that if thats the main issue. As long as the lag is to a minimal. I haven't gotten the chance to play much of it yet due to trying out other game demos and me being sick. However, i think im going to try to main Natsu as im really liking the moves for her. Mitsurugi and Cervantes are past favorites as well that im going to try to get back into using. I wasn't a fan of SCIV and III to be honestl but im impressed with this one already in comparison to those.[/quote]

Go online! There are a ton of scrubs online. I've encountered like one good dude in an ocean of bad ones. I think I actually improved my game almost immediately online. Real people help.

The quickmatch AI is good though--actually better than most online players I've encountered so far :D

[quote=Megido]You can't ever trust reviews of fighters. First of to really judge i you ca't just play it for 5 hours and declare this or that, then i doubtmany reviewers are "hard core" enough to be able to acurately review a game like this anywy. I mean, i've read reviews tha declare it borked and unbalanced beyond belief, but seriously...you can't judge that this early. So yeah, i'm just going to asume that it's no worse than 4 until the community declares otherwise. Let's come back and have a look after a few months, when everybody has had time to really get in to the game. Then we'll know what's what.

Then again if you just look at the feature set and single player bullcrap, most reviewers are probably right. It's just that they often miss the most important bit: the game system.[/quote]

The single player modes in this ARE really weak. The online functions have improved dramatically though and the actual game is awesome. A lot of the reviews are bullshit. IGN basically said, "more of the same," without acknowledging that this is the biggest do-over for Soul Calibur in a very long time (maybe ever). SFxTekken will review better because of all of the things I hate about it--the grinding and collecting of stupid customization options. Ew. Screw that.

My god that Voldo was a troll.

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