Game Review: Soulcalibur (XBLA)
July 6, 2008 by Will Snizek
[ad#ad-1]
Title: Soulcalibur
Original Release: 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast™
Current Release: July 2, 2008 (Xbox LIVE Arcade) 800MP
Developer/Publisher: NAMCO BANDAI Games America
I was very excited when they added the original Soulcalibur or SoulCalibur (noobs spell it Soul Calibur with the space btw) to the Xbox LIVE Arcade. While the game is certainly a rewarding download, I have to warn the old school Soulcalibur fans of what the game is actually missing in this review. When I see a retro game reborn on the XBLA, I typically expect updated graphics, updated sound and a few extras added to freshen up the title. Notice the word “extras” because Soulcalibur doesn’t seem to have any. With that said, Soulcalibur was defiitely a needed title on the arcade. We already had a little taste of Street Fighter and Mortak Kombat, so it was fitting that we’d eventually get what I consider a better fighting game in Soulcalibur. Old school fans of the arcade or SEGA Dreamcast version will still find some value from this $10 download, unless you still happen to have your Dreamcast or an arcade machine with the title loaded on it. In that case, there would be no reason in the world to pick this up. One bonus of picking this title up is the fact that it’s a great way to get geared up for Soulcalibur IV which I can tell you will be awesome.
Gameplay
Nothing is new here. They really didn’t change a thing when it comes to gameplay and that was probably a wise choice. The moves are all the same. You simply have to take a little time to adjust to the 360 configuration and after a few minutes you are on your way. If you can’t remember the old moves, you can press Start in a match and the option to look them up appears. Unfortunately, perhaps the most important aspect of the original Soulcalibur was completely left out. There is no ‘Mission Battle’ which completely ruins the fun of having to unlock different characters and outfits, etc. In this game, you start out with everything unlocked. There’s also no online modes which is a bit of a let down, but we knew this would be the case long before it released. Rumors have stated that these things were left out due to Microsoft’s limit on file size. Despite the negative aspects of the game, it’s a pleasure to realize that Soulcalibur can really go down in history as a “timeless” classic. It’s just as fun as it was 9 years ago.
Graphics
The graphics are about what I remember from the original. It looks like they might have polished them a bit, but you are still playing it in the original 4:3 aspect. There’s no option to stretch the game to fit your widescreen television, so that’s certainly a negative aspect. The only other thing to mention concerning visuals in the game is that Voldo’s horn-shaped codpiece is still there. I believe it was removed from the U.S. Dreamcast version, so at least there’s something in there that’s kind of new. I’m not sure why you would care about that, but I already know there are some people out there who do care…
Audio
The game does sound a little better than the original, but there’s nothing of note to add in this section.
Replay Value
Despite lacking any kind of online multiplayer, the game still provides the same experience of the original. It’s a lot of fun playing on your own and is especially a great download if you have local friends who will come over and battle with you. If you don’t have any friends, the game could wear thin after a week or two.
Uniqueness
Unfortunately, there’s nothing of high value when it comes to uniqueness. They at least added an extensive leader-board to the game, so you can at least see how well your friends from far away are doing.
How It Matches Up…
If you still have a SEGA Dreamcast, the original title is superior, but only by a slim margin.
Closing Comments
The best way I can possibly describe ‘Soulcalibur’ for the XBLA is that it’s a slimmed down version of a really awesome game. Despite the weight, it’s still a pleasurable experience that anyone can enjoy. At times it may be a little too much button mashing going on for skilled fighters, but it’s perfect for noobs or people like myself who play fighting games casually. For 800 MP, it was certainly worth it…
Comments
Feel free to leave a comment or two or three...
and oh, if you want a snazzy thumb to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!