TL;DR
Soulcalibur VI brings back the arcade excitement of the beloved 90s fighter with stylish weapon-based combat and a strong roster, including a guest appearance from Geralt of Rivia. While it offers accessible gameplay and a new Reversal Edge system, its single-player modes, particularly the campaign, suffer from lengthy loading and dialogue, disrupting the fast-paced action. It's a solid revival for fans of the genre, though some technical hiccups and design choices in its solo content hold it back from perfection. Discover if this return to form is worth your time – read the full review to find out!
Soulcalibur (also stylized as Soul Calibur) was a standout title on the SEGA Dreamcast, considered by many to be one of the best fighting games of the 90s. However, two decades later, the series has faced challenges in maintaining its prominence, while its counterpart, Tekken, has seen greater success (particularly with its latest iteration, Tekken 7). Now, Soulcalibur VI arrives on modern consoles, reigniting the feeling of arcade excitement. The game delivers a stylish experience comparable to the series’ arcade heyday. But how relevant is this for players unfamiliar with the classic arcade experience?
Geralt from the Witcher games makes an appearance and offers a compelling playstyle.
Soulcalibur VI, like Tekken, is developed by Bandai Namco, and the two franchises share some common ground. Both are fighting games with a distinct Japanese aesthetic, emphasizing fast-paced, engaging gameplay. More recent iterations provide reasonable accessibility for newcomers while offering a high skill ceiling for dedicated players. Soulcalibur VI distinguishes itself with its focus on weapon-based combat and special attacks. Similar to Tekken 7, a story mode allows players to explore the backgrounds and development of iconic characters such as Kilik, Sophitia, and Mitsurugi. Even Cervantes, the ghost pirate and original wielder of Soul Edge, makes a return. A notable addition this year is Geralt of Rivia from the Witcher series, voiced by Doug Cockle and featuring his signature moveset. This collaboration between Bandai Namco and CD Projekt Red, the developers of the acclaimed role-playing game, adds an interesting dimension to the roster.
The story mode features numerous dialogue-heavy scenes that can feel protracted.
Soulcalibur VI offers a generally accessible fighting game experience. While the game features a comprehensive array of attacks, special moves, and counters, players can achieve a degree of success through skill, timing, and, to some extent, luck. A new Reversal Edge system introduces a rock-paper-scissors mechanic that provides initial entertainment, although similar systems have been implemented in titles such as Injustice 2. The game allows players to jump directly into local or online battles, which represents the core of the experience: fast-paced arcade-style matches against other players. Two single-player modes are also available: the aforementioned story mode and a campaign mode that allows players to create a custom warrior and embark on an adventure with RPG elements like experience points, gold, and magical items. While the campaign mode presents an interesting concept, its execution is hampered by frequent and extended loading times (the game was tested from a physical disc; digital versions installed on an SSD may offer improved performance) and lengthy dialogue sequences that disrupt the game’s fast-paced nature. Although these sequences can be skipped, their prominence raises questions about the design choices for this mode. The inclusion of an adventure mode that primarily consists of static images and dialogue feels somewhat at odds with the game’s core arcade experience.
From a technical standpoint, the game is generally sound. The battle environments are visually appealing, though the resolution appears somewhat low on the PS4 Pro. The gameplay flow is smooth, minimizing the impact of occasional texture inconsistencies in the backgrounds. The audio features classic melodies and character voice lines that, while potentially repetitive, are characteristic of the genre and contribute to the overall atmosphere. The online component functions reliably. The primary technical drawbacks are the slightly low-resolution backgrounds and the frequent, lengthy loading times. A patch to address these issues would be a welcome improvement.
In conclusion, Soulcalibur VI is a competent fighting game that captures the essence of what made the original memorable. While its cultural impact may not be as significant today, the game offers a satisfying experience for fans of the arcade fighting genre. Players who enjoyed previous installments or are fans of fighting games like Tekken will likely find this title to be a worthwhile purchase (particularly in digital format). The development team should, however, reconsider the design of the single-player campaign in future iterations, perhaps drawing inspiration from the Tekken team’s approach: focusing on frequent combat, concise cinematic cutscenes, and minimal dialogue.
