SoulCalibur IV Comments by Richard Leadbetter

blig_merk,

Come on dude, lets not start the bickering again

blig_merk

i dont think they are biased.they just review the edition with the biggest installed base.simple as that.

Um, is Kilik in this one?

@blig_merk

lol, which version do you think they were sent? 8)

I'd like Soul Calibur to copy the tag team and the multi-levelled stages of Dead or Alive, but even without it SC is fun for new players and veterans and that makes it my favourite fighting game.

blig_merk

no trophies support.

"They review the 360 version when the internet concencus is the Ps3 version is superior."

I suppose you know for a fact that they have been sent a PS3 version as well but chose not base their review on that, right?

EDIT: Don''t you worry though; the next face-off will fix this little injustice :)

Probably because of the instal make the game feel slightly smoother. The games are the same though - which version is reviewed doesn't matter, if you have both machines pick the one with the pad or online system that you prefer to use.

To the one that was wandering if SC4 requires installation... NO there is an optional installation that speed up loading time, but you don't have to use it...

Serraphin! Optional install I believe on this one...

blig_merk:Eurogamer are biased. They review the 360 version when the internet concencus is the Ps3 version is superior.

jeez man, do you do nothing but complain about this site?? they've stated time and time again that publishers always send them the 360 version, so that's the version they review. then later (after they've got the ps3 version), a comparison article goes up that explains the differences. oh i forgot, you don't like the fact they do comparisons either...

They are basically the same barring different SW specials... this is what it is like nowadays, one review really does fit all.

Not unless you want to sit at home for some hot pause action, analysing the graphics in depth.

Shit, i got the Hori EX2 for my 360 but no peeps to play it with online, on the other hand i got virtual buddies on the psn but don't have a joystick,although the d-pad is fantastic for beat em ups...

What to do,what to do... :)

Seriously now lads,what i'm most interested in is whether (on the PS3) the game uses GLOBAL servers or REGION specific ones (like Tekken DR).

I can't even begin to describe how shit it was for VF5 online trying to find a lobby with a good connection (ie, european lobbies).
Sometimes having region specific servers works better (lag-wise)...

PS: How big is the install? Shitty 40 Gb model you see...

interesting question KLEM.i would like to know too if it uses global or region servers.from my experience it has lag problems.

hello stelara!tora thimithika oti eisai esy!

@evilfoxhound : Thank you very much mate for the info ,i only got 9Gigs left on the HD, shitttttttt :)

I played it for 3 days lads on my 360,the loading times are super fast, i can't imagine how much more faster they could be on the PS3...

If anyone's up for some good matches on the PS3 send a PM on EG so we could exchange Psn Ids.

Cheers

PS: guys, the game is fecking cheap on the X360 (region-free vers.), only 20-somethin' pounds, ruuuuuuuuuuuuuun !

PS2: Ela re Tony ! I sent you a Pm mate,check it out...
Well, it's easy to understand if it has region or gloabal servers,if the ping is 9 out of 10 times sky-high it means (usually) that you're playing with peeps far away from you (America, Asia) - that - or it could also mean that the game has shitty net-code or that your connection is fecked =D

Punch! Kick! It's all in the mind!

okey stelara!i will check it tonight.bye mate.

For those interested, Gamestation seem to have new Hori EX2 sticks for £19.99.

At least my local one did anyway \o/

The character creation in this game is just pure win.....I WANT IT NOW!!! why the hell US always gets things faster...even with region free PS3 games LOL...sad :/

that blig dude is obsessed with 360's. Take a look at his post history, you wont find a post that doesn't have the word "360" in it.

lol MGS4 blows this away too yet they both get 8.

Skywise - "How come the best fighting game by far gets only an 8? :S"

Because it's not VF5?

"lol MGS4 blows this away too yet they both get 8. "
That comparision makes no sense, imho. It's like comparing bikes with cars.

Anyway, although I can see plenty of improvement on the coments section, the bullishing "PS3 is da clever, 360 is da shooter, oh my god da evil!" thingy is disapearing and yet the "let's rush to see the score and then scream OH DA BIAS!!! Ridicule! MGS IS DA BESTEST and yet this gets more score, oh oh oh!" is spawning quite frequently.

I think they need to remove cheap last bosses from fighting games

As good as MGS4 then?

Virtua Fighter 5 is less fun than the Dead or Alive 4 demo in the opinion of my cousins and me. I think only people who started at VF 1 or VF 2 might get some enjoyment out of it

Have any of you actually read the 1up review? Thought not. Both the PS3 and the 360 scored an A. Not an A+ vs an A. Just a plain jane A. The READER reviews gave the PS3 version an A+ vs a 360 A. That's reader reviews. Fanboy voting. As to what 1up had to say when comparing versions...

"As of this moment, the PS3 version has the technical edge, since it allows you to install to the hard drive for faster loading times -- but with the upcoming Xbox 360 update that allow gamers to similarly install any game they want, it's almost a moot point. The Xbox 360 version's advantage rests with its exclusive guest Star Wars character, Yoda. The PS3 version is saddled with Darth Vader, but Yoda is the better character of the two, as he's sprightly and nimble, as opposed to the slow and lumbering Vader."

Every other review has been much the same. The general consensus is not that the PS3 version is better, but rather that the games are all but identical.

Why no mega-boob screenshots on Eurogamer?! I'M DISAPPOINTED

/takes fapping elsewhere

"I think only people who started at VF 1 or VF 2 might get some enjoyment out of it"

WRONG, wrong, wrong

it just takes dedication, time and patience, something i admit some people just do not have. but to question the fact that people are able to get into and enjoy the game at the 5th installment is a bit far fetched.

VF5 IS the toughest fighting game to get into, but that is because it is the most balanced, most technical, and most demanding fighting game there is. those however are also the reasons why it is clearly the best for the dedicated fan.

i rented this out earlier from my work, feels a bit sluggish compared to the earlier games but might still be a bit of fun in the right crowd.

the dedication, fun and patience is there, but VF 5 wasn't even a tiny bit fun in the first weeks. In contrast to every other fighting game I know. Also it feels very sluggish, like you're never in control of the characters.

Edit: I'm going to stop the anti-VF5 rant now. I;m just curious if there are people out there who like it and who haven't played the first 2 parts

I've preordered the ps3 version, according to Ign (non fanboy's, unlike euro369gaymer) Yoda is broken, he's too small, hard to hit and cannot grapple (not even against another Yoda), a shame though, I was thinking of picking up the 360 version sometime too.

Although both versions are identical ( minus the exclusive character), euro369gaymer will say the 360 version is better.

wingzerosys: Are you 10?

^You're pathetic.

I don't deserve the game cos I wanna play as Vader? Try and stop me.

Just because Yoda is shit/broken, doesn't mean I can't use Vader.

I got SC II for Link, big fucking deal.

We'll take that as a yes.

What kind of innovation do you expect? Look at it like you would look at a sports game. You don't expect innovation in Pro Evo now do you? Besides, the soul gauges are a HUGE change. A lot of characters got some work done on their moves and some even got new stances. Seriously, what would you want more? An entirely different game?

The single player is just for the heck of it. The real game is about going mano a mano with your friends. The online mode is decent, but lag will always be a presence. I do agree that the lobby system is ridiculous.

We'll take that as a yes.

Definitely.

Link, Spawn, Hiehachi (sp), Apprentice/Star Killer, Vader and Yoda are just guest character's which don't really belong in SC, but seeing as there added, why not use em.

Heck Yoshimitsu from the Tekken series was added in SC, he doesn't really fit but he's now a regular.

SSB:Brawl is a Nintendo beat em up, they added Sonic and Snake.

DOA 4 added a female Spartan (Nicole) from the Halo series.

I wouldn't be surprised if a guest character shows up in a future Tekken.

So if you cannot stand them, ignore them, I however, will use them.

This is admittedly a very subjective opinion, but I really think that visually the series has gotten more ugly with each iteration. Certainly, the texture quality and overall fidelity has improved each time, and the environments are unarguably the best looking they've ever been. My problem is with the characters themselves. I think that it's Namco's constant push to make everything look more 'realistic'. To me the characters were more appealing visually in the original.

Then again, the fact that I'm wired up wrong and find huge flabby fat-sack boobs to be a major turn-off probably doesn't help.

Vast selection of single-player modes? The story and arcade modes are the same really, only story has a 20sec cutscene at the and takes about 5 minutes to clear, and the Tower of Lost Souls is just grinding harder and harder matches with stupidly high difficulty levels higher up, and the descent is just the same only you can't die. And you only unlock more fancy stuff for your character anyway, and if you ascend the whole tower, you even get a Congratulations in the end, but that's about it. Sure, customizing "skills" gives it another angle, but it's far from fun anyway, it's just something you must do to survive for more than 1 match in the Tower. To get the best out of the gear you need to combine different outfits anyway, so your character still looks like Urkle in the end.

And online, now that's a blast. Kilik and Mitsurugi one-button mashers who "fight online just to win". Not what I'd call a fun time.

@NegativeZero

Then again, the fact that I'm wired up wrong and find huge flabby fat-sack boobs to be a major turn-off probably doesn't help.

To be fair, there is a half naked pirate and Voldo in his SM gear for guys who like teh gheyness. So you've been catered for quite generously I'd say ;)

@Richard Leadbetter

Firstly I'd like to say, great review, a real pleasure to read but I really don't like the idea that certain games seem to get marked down for lack of 'innovation'. I mean,, the review was basically shining, your only gripe seemed to be that (game play-wise) little has changed, the thing is, I seriously reckon the average SC fan would tell you that this is a good thing. No need to fix it if it's not broken and all that jazz. Just look what happened with FFXII! They tried to be 'innovative' with that and completely ruined what could have been a great game but because of said (awful) innovation, EG gave the game a totally ludicrous and undeserved 10/10! Anyway, reading the words of your review, rather than just going by the number at the bottom, I know this game will be 10/10 for me (and many others) so I'm still happy and all is good :)

usual CG intro

So no real-time intro editor like the first one then? :(

i hope you can still change the dialog to japanese as the voice acting is terrible
streetfighter 4 needs it too
i also hope i can change maxis elvis quif
its a must buy for me either way.

So Mitsurugi's a "one button masher" character is he?


I know for a fact I'd thrash your ass with him every day of the week using proper moves.

It would be awesome if they added a way to throw characters floating mid-air. I would launch Yoda into air with an upwards slash and grab him while he's falling down for a nice combo.

"VF5 IS the toughest fighting game to get into, but that is because it is the most balanced, most technical, and most demanding fighting game there is."

I love VF5, but you're wrong.

The most balanced, it could be. But most technical and demanding is SFIII Third Strike.

But SC renders SF and VF utterly pointless anyway so why the debate. Any game where up = jump is wrong.

NegativeZero: I think SC2 was visually the most "stylish" installment in the series. Too bad it was also a step backwards in terms of competitive gameplay.

I still can't decide which version to get :(

The decision has come down to XBL vs d-pad.

@Zuiyo

yeah i forgot to mention i was talking about 3d fighting games as i consider 2d fighting too different to really compare properly.

"Any game where up = jump is wrong."

you should probably have checked your facts with this statement regarding VF before you brought it up as it isn't true. up sidesteps or triggers defensive move when done at the right time.