SoulCalibur VI – Preview (PAX East 2018)
Few games were announced with more fanfare at last year’s Game Awards than Bandai Namco’s SoulCalibur VI. Since the last entry in the series released in 2012, the fighting genre has really been light on releases. Considering SoulCalibur V released to such lukewarm reception, VI will be a crucial release for the genre staple.
The good news is SoulCalibur VI feels a lot more like II and III than some of the more recently releases in the series. Whether you’re playing on Xbox One or PlayStation 4 the controls feel tight and responsive. The move set will be familiar to anyone with experience in the SoulCalibur universe with some key new additions. Press R2 on the Dual Shock 4 or the Right Trigger on the Xbox One controller will issue a Critical Edge move that you can unleash on your foes as your meter grows. Using R1 and the Right Bumper respectively will perform a critical reversal that can be key to your survival. Other new additions include a throw and break attack set of moves that are mapped to the shoulder buttons on the left side of each controller. Parrying is more of a focus this time around and perfected a parry will help you defeat your enemies in a timely fashion.
Fans of the original SoulCalibur will immediately recognize the setting and story as the series returns to the 16th century in an attempt to uncover some hidden truths left unresolved in prior releases.
Characters announced so far are slim, returning contenders include: Ivy, Kilik, Mitsurugi, Nightmare, Sophitia, Xianghua and Zasalamel- as well as two new fighters Groh and the one which is sure to be everyone’s new favorite character – Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher series. SoulCalibur has always been the king of guest appearances and Geralt is sure to be received as one of the most loved that the series has ever seen. As the world waits for any hint of hope that another Witcher game could see light of day, this will help whet the appetite of anyone going through Geralt withdrawal.
As the first entry this generation, SoulCalibur VI does not disappoint visually. Taking full advantage of the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro, SoulCalibur has never looked better. With only two stages available to try at PAX East, we can’t wait to see what other gorgeous locations await us when SoulCalibur VI releases later this year. While there is still no set release date it is hard to imagine a scenario where the game doesn’t ship in 2018.
