SoulCalibur 6 is a continuation of the popular series of arcade fighting games in the Japanese style. The game features a new defensive mechanic that allows you to use shields to block attacks. In addition, the fights combine high dynamics and spectacular cinematic scenes. The main storyline develops parallel to events already known from other parts. The main character becomes a victim of the next owner of the "Soul Edge," but survives, and then begins a long journey of revenge against the new owner of the cursed blade.
SoulCalibur 6 is a reboot of the arcade fighting games of the Soul series, with an anime and fantasy visual style. The developers have returned the franchise to its roots to reveal hidden truths and attract new players. If the project is not successful, it will be the last in the series.
Unlike other fighting games, SoulCalibur characters use melee weapons as their primary means of combat, with hand and foot movements complementing the process. This combination is made possible by the polished combat system, flawless gameplay, and interaction with the environment.
A new feature of the game is the Reversal Edge system, which initiates a slow-motion exchange of blows with just one button. The damage is determined by a complex formula based on the "rock, paper, scissors" principle. Another new mechanic is the Lethal Hit, which allows you to launch your opponent into the air with certain actions.
In keeping with the spirit of the times, each character has unique abilities that distinguish their fighting style from templates and stock characters.
SoulCalibur 6 includes many successful combat mechanics from previous games:
- Armour Break looks new — a strong blow destroys elements of the opponent's armor, so that by the end of the battle, they can be stripped down to their underwear;
- Guard Impact has returned in its original form, and it can be used without spending points;
- Critical Edge has remained almost unchanged, familiar from SoulCalibur 5;
- Soul Charge has returned from the third part in a completely reworked form. It allows some characters to transform into alternative versions of themselves, unlocking special abilities.
Backstory of the Game World
The events of the SoulCalibur series take place in an alternate reality of our world, in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, revolving around a pair of mythical swords — the cursed sword "Soul Edge" and its counterpart called "SoulCalibur."
The plot of the sixth part specifically develops between 1583 and 1590, but since it is a reboot, it retells the events that occurred in these 7 years from a new perspective, supplementing them with new stories and characters. Overall changes in the plot are made to launch a new chronology.
During the campaign, the player explores an extensive game world presented as a global map of the planet. The journey covers Asia, Europe, and America, with the hero visiting various places — from forests and mountains to villages and cities. All of this is presented as battle arenas in the corresponding themes.
The character editor's capabilities are extensive — 16 races, numerous body, face, and clothing adjustment sliders, as well as the formation of a unique fighting style. You can create Sonic, Thanos, Shrek, Spider-Man , and many others.
The primary parameters of a fighter are determined based on the type of race, after which you can choose the preferred weapon (from nunchucks and halberds to various swords) and select a fighting style. Some can even stun the enemy with their enormous "device."
SoulCalibur 6 offers 18 canonical characters — you can play them in various game modes. In addition to the well-known heroes from previous games in the series, there are three new ones. There are also guest characters — Geralt from The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt or 2B from NieR Automata.
The main character of SoulCalibur 6 is a character created by the player to go through the campaign. The main plot develops parallel to the events known from other parts of the series and is presented not by the usual CGI cutscenes but in the spirit of the early games in the series — text on the screen. There are also in-engine dialogues.
The player's character becomes a victim of the latest owner of the "Soul Edge" but survives and then begins a long journey of revenge against the new owner of the cursed blade. To do this, they first fight regular enemies under the guidance of a mentor, and once they have mastered all the abilities, they battle powerful foes.
They are opposed by a new character named Azwel. He seeks to "save" humanity and can summon weapons from thin air to use in crazy combinations.
The plot of SoulCalibur 6 is quite deep and can be compared with some JRPGs — there are main and side quests, a role-playing system with "loot" and "leveling up", hiring additional fighters, and dialogues with multiple response options. There is also a "good/evil" system that affects the ending.
For fans of the series, the developers have created a story mode. These are separate mini-campaigns consisting of 2-4 missions dedicated to the well-known heroes of the SoulCalibur series. Each fighter has been given a new storyline in the game chronicle, never before published. For newcomers, the mode is useful as it reveals important events, and fans can simply reminisce about the past.
SoulCalibur 6 offers rich and very complex modes, so we will only list them:
- In "Arcade", you can train against bots on 8 different arenas, and at the end, a boss awaits the player, chosen from 5 possible options (depending on the selected difficulty);
- "Versus" allows you to create a custom fight against a player or computer and also choose the difficulty;
- Regular online matches are battles between characters, where victory or defeat does not affect anything but allow you to warm up your fingers in fierce battles with a person;
- In ranked online matches, for each victory, the player receives points that move them up the ranking. There is a leaderboard for each region.
The combat mechanics and player capabilities in SoulCalibur 6 greatly depend on the modes, and they are most fully revealed in multiplayer. There, innovations such as block and counterattack, and booster abilities will come in handy. Бои в онлайне требуют выверенных тактических действий и не так аркадны, как в одиночной игре или кампании.
- Игра яркая, динамичная, с глубокой боевой системой и широким разнообразием;
- Бои каждый раз проходят по-разному — меняются условия арен, состояние героя, тип ударов и другое;
- Всю справочную информацию по персонажам (внешний вид, характеристики, стиль ведения боя, комбо и движения) можно посмотреть в отдельной части игры — «Музее».