REVIEW: Soul Calibur V provides smooth fighting with plenty of choices

TAMPA, Fla. - I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started playing Soul Calibur V this week. I'm not much of a fighting game fan, and I've never played any of the previous games in the franchise. Within a few minutes, I was knuckle-deep in the story mode and pulling off impressive-looking attacks.  Soul Calibur isn't lacking for modes, and fighting fans should certainly take a look at the latest entry in the series.

Soul Calibur V's story takes players back to the 1600s as they follow Patrokolos and his sister Pyrrha while they traverse several incredibly detailed  fighting stages. The quest allows players to play as both heroes, alternating as their storylines eventually come together. The story is presented through unique cutscene styles.  Part of the story is shown through still image drawings, with character voices and sound effects in the background. Just before some fights, cutscenes are presented as movies taking place on the fight stage. Unfortunately, some B-list voice acting and generic music bring down the quality of the story and had me losing interest after roughly a dozen fights. This certainly isn't Uncharted ( http://wfts.tv/zZ22cD ), but it's not terrible by any stretch.

Fighting through the story unlocks new weapons and characters for use during both online and offline play. There are several modes available for offline play, from an arcade-style race against the clock to training and split-screen multiplayer. The fights move along at a pretty quick clip, with three wins out of five required to win the whole bout. Some stages are built on a platform, and if you can knock your opponent off the edge with a powerful attack, the round is over. This adds an interesting tactic for both attackers and defenders. Attackers can maneuver their opponent to the edge then finish things off, while defensive players will have to be mindful of their position at all times. A few times, I was in a fight where I had control and more health left on the bar, but one counter-attack later, I fell off the edge to my doom and a defeat.

The wide array of moves is impressive, but not groundbreaking. Players can launch opponents into the air, but don't expect the 70-hit combos seen in Marvel vs. Capcom. Learning the moves is made slightly easier by a training mode where you can practice your combos and learn new attacks. The game's physics are mostly realistic… if you can look past hundred-pound female characters wielding massive battle axes. Ladies aren't nearly as cartoonish as the Dead or Alive series, both from a wardrobe standpoint and a physics perspective.

Online play ran very smooth in the matches I played. Online options allow for ranked and unranked matches, and players can upload or download replays of their fights. There's also a lobby for groups to chat and setup their own private matches with friends around the world. Although I was occasionally matched up with players who had participated in hundreds more matches than I had, for the most part, Soul Calibur's online play performs very well.

If you don't want to battle as any of the 20+ characters in the game, you can create your own. A nice array of costume and weapon choices are available, however players are not able to fully customize their move set. Instead, you have to choose from the moves of an existing fighter. This isn't a huge gripe, but it's a minor disappointment to see that the extensive clothing and body customization is not carried over to the actual fighting side of things. Custom fighters can be used in any online or offline match, except the story.

Soul Calibur V hooked my interest in a short time and held it for longer than I expected. Fluid fighting and an abundance of fight modes and customization certainly makes this game very appealing for any fight fan, and is worth a look even if giant swords and magical combos aren't your thing.

Rating: 8/10