Soul Calibur VI is the most anticipated fighting game to come out in years. While Soul Calibur V was met with some disappointment from the fanbase, the latest installment in the classic franchise promises to bring the series back to form. With exquisite (yet not too complicated) combat, a plethora of game modes, and numerous customizable options, Soul Calibur VI sets itself up to be the ultimate Soul Calibur game.
There are two single-player modes in Soul Calibur VI: Libra of the Soul and Soul Chronicle. Soul Chronicle is a more traditional campaign telling the story of the Soul Edge, which incorporates all 20 playable characters from the game. Libra of the Soul tells the story of a character of your own conception as you embark on an adventure to dispel various Astral Fissures in order to sustain your own life force. Depending on the choices you make throughout your adventure, your soul teeters on the brink of being either good or evil, and different opportunities throughout the campaign arise depending on which side you lean toward. While it seems somewhat inconsequential in the long scheme of things, it does make a difference when it comes to the end of the campaign. The story is told through voiceovers, text, and drawn cutscenes (mostly) and isn’t the most eloquent, but it works. The music is top-notch. The only complaint I would have is that the story isn’t incredibly engaging, but given the amount of content, this seems inconsequential; it is a fighting game after all. Libra of the Soul can be somewhat repetitive, but there’s a lot to do and it teaches you the fundamentals of combat, which is quintessential before running into online or versus play. It incorporates RPG elements. Your character can level up, purchase/be awarded various weapons, equipment, and items. Libra of the Soul is the true campaign, while Soul Chronicle is for traditionalists. Either way, Bandai Namco gives a plethora of options.
The gameplay in Soul Calibur VI is some of the best in the series. While you could probably button mash your way through a match, the mechanics are much more in-depth than that. This makes the game accessible to newcomers of the series and veterans alike. Going through the tutorial, I found myself having to go back numerous times in order to remember the intricacies of certain moves and counters. There are basic horizontal and vertical attacks, but that’s not all. The newest feature combat-wise is a move called Reversal Edge. Upon this attack, your sword will clash with the enemy’s and depending on what attack you choose to make in your follow-up attack (horizontal, vertical, or another option), you could either end up dealing a plethora of damage or take damage from an attack you initiated; it’s like rock, papers, scissors. It’s a calculated risk in which you can reap rewards or leave yourself vulnerable not only to additional damage but to an enemy’s potential combo as well. There’s also the guard edge, which can be difficult to time correctly but when pulled off, can lead to a nice counter.
Every character’s weapon has various pros and cons, giving the game variability. This is evident in Libra of the Souls, where you have access to every classification of weapon in the game. This allows you to experiment and see what works and what doesn’t work, from a players perspective. Some weapons are offensive, some are more defensive-minded, and others are balanced between the two. This is one of the many reasons why starting out with Libra of the Soul is very important, as it not only introduces you to the mechanics of the game, but it also allows you to get accustomed to the multitude of weapons available. While some weapons may look incredible on paper, in practice they can be less than ideal depending on what they’re matched up against. It gives the game balance and causes you to choose your moves carefully.
Soul Calibur VI also includes a versus, arcade, and online mode with 20 players to choose from, including Geralt, from The Witcher. Each plays flawlessly and gives you the ability to either play at home with friends or online. Arcade mode pits you against eight successive fighters while versus is merely one-and-done.
Soul Calibur VI is one of the best entries in the series. It offers you a plethora of content, especially single player, and introduces new gameplay mechanics such as the Reversal Edge, which is a gamechanger. It’s easy for newcomers and veterans to pick up alike with its seemingly simple yet ultimately intricate combat. Libra of the Soul, while repetitive, is the perfect introduction into the Soul Calibur VI world. Whether you’re playing by yourself or with friends, Soul Calibur VI is the ultimate weapons-based fighting game as well as one of the best entries in the series, and makes a name for itself as one of the best fighting games of this console generation.