July 28 - August 1

The first hint of the coming game buying season hits this week with Soul Calibur IV, our Game of the Week.

I'm still a little off on the mythology that introduces Yoda and Darth Vader into the Soul Calibur universe, if it is complex enough to be considered a 'verse. But, honestly, I've shut down the parts of my brain that would be troubled by such franchise synergy in what I hope is a permanent way. I am willing to accept it as a cross-polination experiment, like trying to make a botanical hybrid from an Orchid and a stalk of corn, that can be judged on the merits of its own success. I'm not even going to scowl at my television when Vader's lightsaber is parried by what appears to be ordinary metal.

I vowed to put all that reality nonsense aside on this series when I watched my wife play an old Dreamcast version, and get deeply involved in a way that she has never since been with a game. I've never seen her as invested in the digital experience as when she leapt to her feet and yelled "get up and fight, Female Doggo!" at her temporarily stunned avatar. A moment doubly humorous if you've met Elysia. Because of that, Soul Calibur will always get a pass from me.

PC
- Beijing 2008
- Deadliest Catch: Alaskan Storm
- Everlight: Magic & Power
- Ford Racing Off Road
- Legend: Hand of God

PS2
- MLB Power Pros 2008

Xbox 360
- Soul Calibur IV
- Spectral Force 3

PS3
- Soul Calibur IV
- PixelJunk Eden

Wii
- King of Clubs Mini-Golf
- MLB Power Pros 2008
- Summer Athletics: The Ultimate Challenge

Comments

Looks like there's not too much I'm interested in other than Pixeljunk Eden (July 31st) and maybe Spectral Force 3. It was originally released in Japan in 2006, but it's not like we have many strategy RPGs for the 360.

I don't know why people are so troubled about the story of Star Wars characters fighting Soul Calibur characters, and the lack of realism of a light-sabre being blocked by giant wooden poles and razor-edged hoola hoops. In Soul Calibur 2, you could use Link to smack people with a bug-catching net, and nobody cried foul. Everyone just laughed and played and pretended they didn't feel funny in the pants whenever Voldo was on screen.

If they try explaining the tale of how Yoda and Darth Vader came to be in the Soul Calibur universe I'm gonna want an explanation of why they were split between consoles.

Soul Calibur is a great party game. Nothing is as much fun as watching your opponent throw his controller in rage after you thoroughly trounce them using Raphael, with his caustic taunts and smart-arse dodges punctuating the whole battle.

Purple_Haze wrote:

If they try explaining the tale of how Yoda and Darth Vader came to be in the Soul Calibur universe I'm gonna want an explanation of why they were split between consoles.

Simple.

Yoda wanted nothing to do with Vader back before he even learned to use the force. The fact that young Anakin had more mitichlorons, and ostensibly more powerful force abilities, was irrelevant. He was too young and too fearful to be allowed to play with the other Jedi. Yoda saw that Vader had the potential to bring balance to the Force, but seeing as how the good jedi were already in charge, why would anyone want balance?

Hence, Yoda sticks to the older, more established XBox360 while Vader migrates to the (allegedly) more powerful but younger and possibly evil PS3.

Oh yeah, and they XBox360 is white and the PS3 is black, which in the Lucasverse means the Xbox360 is good and the PS3 is evil.

;-P

I think the XBox also has more green lighting, making it a natural fit for Yoda.

After checking out the demo, I'm down with PixelJunk Eden. Experimental, unique, and something I've already played a bit with the wife.

Soul Calibur just makes me sad. It reminds me that college is long gone and, with it, the group of guys I needed to make fighting games worth the full price of admission.

JoeBedurndurn wrote:

I think the XBox also has more green lighting, making it a natural fit for Yoda.

But the XBox turns red when it goes bad, like Vader's saber.

nsmike wrote:
JoeBedurndurn wrote:

I think the XBox also has more green lighting, making it a natural fit for Yoda.

But the XBox turns red when it goes bad, like Vader's saber.

Yes, but the advertisements for SC4 all specify that Yoda's soul contains Hope, as in "I hope I don't get the red ring of death."

Vader's soul contains fear, as in "I fear that Sony's management of the PS3 will fail and leave me with a $400 paper weight."

Geometry Wars 2 should be dropping on the 360 on Wednesday. Local, not online co-op, but it still looks like lots of crazy fun.

Still on the fence for Soul Calibur. Loved the Dreamcast version, bought 2 on the 'cube but never really got into it. Gameplay-wise, it sounds like this iteration is a return to form, but the character designs make me...uncomfortable.

You picked the PS3 version over the X360 version!? BIAS!!!!

LobsterMobster wrote:

You picked the PS3 version over the X360 version!? BIAS!!!!

Vader, dude.

I can understand why people are so upset at this idea. It comes off as an old cliche "another nail in the coffin". Coffin of what? Why their own psuedoscience religion that was stabbed deep in the heart by the mention of metaclorians. What they fail to realize is that mythical Force we all remembered was killed by The Maker's own greed for sequels, and artistic self one up menship. Put more plainly, SciFi fans, and watch not just for entertainment but for a glimpse into a possible future. And when a game or anything for that matter violates their reality bubble that likes to imagine it could be real, they get upset. And I for one can understand, but I lost my faith in the Force when young Anikan Skywalker said the M word.

PS. Gungho is that you?

4dSwissCheese wrote:

Gameplay-wise, it sounds like this iteration is a return to form, but the character designs make me...uncomfortable.

Wear looser pants.

For anyone choosing their console SC4 because of Vader or Yoda, rumor has it that the other one will be DLC after a few months, so that both versions will have all the same fighters.

I played a little Soul Calibur IV last night at a friend's, and it felt the same as always: bad story, horrible writing, too much oogaba, and new characters. The Apprentice though is awesome.