There is a soft spot in my heart for a good fighter. Sometimes even a super cheesy one. From the ultimate untouchable classic of Marvel Capcom 2 all the way down to the Dead or Alive series, fighting games have been something that I’ve always looked forward to. As for the Soul Calibur series, I’ve enjoyed the arcade version and it was a dream come true to play link on the cube.

So let’s get down to business; how does this game fair compared to the other current gen fighters. By far this one is one of the best. They did something that I think the other companies need to consider. The unlockables weren’t impossible to get. The characters took about 2 rounds in story mode. The costumes and accessories were a bit harder to get but that’s the point. They aren’t requirements to play the game and is more of a bragging right. The character creation mode really makes the game though. There is a grip of different costumes and looks to make the perfect unique character. I found this to be one of the most fun ways to play. Nothing like getting your ass handed to you by Sailor Moon or taking some guy out online with the “Power of Greyskull” (yes He-Mann was made). The developers also manage to include Star Wars characters this time around. Eh they’re alright. The Apprentice is a bad ass and Yoda sounds great in Japanese As for the customization, I think they missed one thing with having the Star Wars characters. It doesn’t seem you can create your own Jedi. I think this game would have made new grounds if that were possible.

This is one of the nicest looking fighters I’ve seen in a while. The speed also makes this game stand out. The graphics are great and the game feels fast paced, always nice combination especially in fighters. The character models look great as well, when in character creation mode you can really see the model options that you have to work with. From all the characters I’ve made they are astounding. The armor looks really cool especially with all the lighting effects that are present in the game.

The in game sound is pretty much standard. There is a bonus point that goes to it simply for having the Japanese voices as an option. The music is standard soul caliber tunes and still sounds nice. The battle record music is by far the best out of the bunch. I found myself checking my record just to hear the tune. One of the lamest fighting songs they have in the game though goes to Star Wars. I love the opening credits but that doesn’t really make me want to fight. Luckily though, they added Duel of Fates (essentially the “One Wing Angel” of the Star Wars Universe) which made up for the other song choice.

Overall if you like fighters this game is right up your ally. The unlockables and achievements aren’t ridiculous and it makes for a fun game. The Star Wars thing is a little strange but the Apprentice rules.