Soul Edge
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| Soul Edge {{#if:{{{image|}}}|<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">{{{image|}}} | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Namco {{#if:{{{publisher|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Publisher(s)<td>{{{publisher|}}} |
| Release date(s) | 1995 (Arcade) |
| Genre(s) | Versus Fighting |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer {{#if:{{{ratings|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Rating(s)<td>{{{ratings|}}} |
| Platform(s) | Arcade {{#if:{{{media|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Media<td>{{{media|}}} |
Soul Edge (Soul Blade in Europe, North America and Australia) is the first installment in the Soul series of fighting games. It was initially released in the arcades in 1995. It was later ported in 1996 to the Sony PlayStation where it is usually referred to as Soul Edge Version 2. The PlayStation version was released in North America under the Soul Blade title. Soul Edge has been largely overshadowed by its sequel, Soul Calibur, which has been the moniker of the series since 1999.
Soul Edge is the name of the demonic sword, which the game revolves around.
It was the second 3D fighter to feature characters that fought with weapons. While putting weapons in fighters was not a new concept (Samurai Shodown is an example of a 2D fighter with weapons). Apart from the aesthetic benefits, giving the characters weapons allows for a greater diversity between them, meaning there is someone for every play style. One excellent concept of weapon-based combat implemented by Namco is the major factor that range has in gameplay. The slower, longer ranged characters try to deliver their heavy blows from a distance whereas the quicker, faster characters try to get in as close as possible and deliver quick-hitting attacks. All characters have moves that work at varying ranges though, so longer ranged characters can also hit surprisingly quickly and lesser ranged characters will get in the opponent's face within the blink of an eye if the enemy is careless.
Soul Edge is the name of the demonic sword at the center of the Soul series' story. Currently, it is in Siegfried's possession, but when the series began, it belonged to Cervantes.
Contents |
The Soul series
All games in the series before Soul Calibur III were originally arcade games, subsequently being ported to home consoles as follows :
- Soul Edge (1995) - Arcade only.
- Soul Edge: Version 2 (1996) - Arcade and PlayStation (Released as Soul Blade in USA and Europe).
- Soul Calibur (1999) - Arcade and Sega Dreamcast.
- Soul Calibur II (2003) - Arcade, PlayStation 2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.
- Soul Calibur III (2005) - PlayStation 2.
- Soul Calibur III: Arcade Edition (2006) - Arcade only.
The ported versions are known for their extra features, including new characters, weapons, new costumes, art galleries, martial arts demonstrations and involved single-player modes, when compared to the original arcade versions. For example, Seung Han Myong was not featured in the arcade version of Soul Edge, and in home versions there was an RPG single player type mode titled "Edge Master" where the player could unlock various items including weapons for the default characters.
The original cast of characters
Soul Edge introduced many characters still familiar to players today, especially the series' main character--who serves as both a protagonist and an antagonist throughout the series' history--Siegfried Schtauffen; as well as its token samurai and ninja, Mitsurugi and Taki, respectively. The original roster of eight characters available in the Arcade of the first game in the series are as follows:
- Li Long - Nunchaku
- Seong Mi-na (spelled Seung Mi Na until Soul Calibur III) - Zhǎnmǎdāo
- Heishiro Mitsurugi - Katana
- Nathaniel "Rock" Adams - Moon Axe
- Siegfried Schtauffen - Zweihänder
- Sophitia Alexandra - Sword and Shield
- Taki - Tantō
- Voldo - Dual Jamadhar Katars
There are also 2 characters who must be first unlocked to be playable:
- Cervantes de Leon - 2 Long Swords
- Hwang Seong-gyeong (spelled Hwang Sung Kyung until Soul Calibur III) - Jian
One of the series' main attractions was that it was one of the first fighting games to feature detailed accounts of the individual fighters' motivations and common relations in their quest to achieve a common goal for varying purposes. Many players appreciate Namco's ability to introduce new characters to the series with interconnected storylines such that every character is linked to another somehow, with connections growing larger as the series progresses and the characters accomplish new tasks in the events of the story.
Fighting engine
Soul Blade's fighting engine is almost unrelated to Soul Calibur's fighting engine. First of all, the 8-Way Run is non-existant, and instead the characters can sidestep at either side by double-tapping up or down. Also the jump, which in Soul Calibur is more like a hop, moves the player higher into the air, even allowing it to pass above the opponent. There's no Air Control, Okizemi or Guard Break attacks. One of the most known difference is the Weapon Gauge. This bar was found under the character's lifebar and was like the weapons' resistance. Each time the player blocked an attack, the bar would deplete, and if its totally empty, the character would lose his/her weapon, forced to end the match unarmed. Though this is an original idea, unfortunately the unarmed movelists are equal for every character. Another thing missing from Soul Calibur's engine is when two character strike at the same time, "locking" weapons. In those situations, those who pressed the right button would have the advantage. This works similar to a rock-paper-scissor game.
Character's moves are executed and feels like Namco's Tekken series. Each characters has in his or her arsenal one or two unblockables attack, recognized for his slow start-up time and imposibility of being blocked. Also each character is capable of doing one or two Critical Edge attacks, which consisted on a long series of linked hits, who usually end in a strong high attack. Those moves require the input of a special combination of two parts (they're activated pressing "A+B+K" together, and if it connect, the player has the chance of extending the combo with a character-only sequence, who must be imputted during the attack). This attacks depletes 1/3 of the Weapon Gauge when used.
All the levels don't present any wall, much like the first Soul Calibur, and Ring-Out are only able to do from an attack; the player cannot Ring-Out for themselves.
Soul Edge Version II / Soul Blade
| Soul Edge: Version II (Soul Blade) {{#if:{{{image|}}}|<tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center;">{{{image|}}} | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Namco {{#if:{{{publisher|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Publisher(s)<td>{{{publisher|}}} |
| Release date(s) | 1996 (Arcade) December 20, 1996 (JP/PlayStation) 1997 (US and EU/PlayStation) |
| Genre(s) | Versus Fighting |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer {{#if:{{{ratings|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Rating(s)<td>{{{ratings|}}} |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, PlayStation {{#if:{{{media|}}}|<tr><th style="background-color: #ccccff;">Media<td>{{{media|}}} |
A year later, Namco released a fixed version of the arcade labeled "Soul Edge: Version II". The new version updated the character's movelist, being Hwang the one who changed most, since in the first arcade he was merely a copycat of Mitsurugi's movelist, without unique features. In Version II he's given an unique movelist that split him from Mitsurugi. Later this version was ported to the Sony Playstation home console, and was labeled Soul Blade in America and Europe. The home version kept the original roster of 8 and added both Cervantes and Hwang as character unlocked since the start. 2 other secret characters were included:
- Seong Han-myeong (spelled Seung Han Myong until Soul Calibur III) - Dao
- SoulEdge - 2 Long Swords
And along with them, 3 "alternative" outfits for Siegfried and Sophitia:
- Siegfried! - Siegfried when possessed by Soul Edge in his Bad Ending.
- Sophitia! - Sophitia without armor.
- Sophitia!! - Sophitia using a one-piece swimsuit.
Making a total of 15 selectable characters (though 3 were just copycats). The original 10 selectable characters also received a new PSX-specific outfit, chosen from various works sent by fans, giving each one a total of 3 different costumes, plus 2 color variations for the 1P and 2P costumes.
The Playstation version added the standard "Arcade" mode (where the player fights 10 random battles to face Cervantes and SoulEdge at the end), "VS" mode, "Survival", "Time Attack" and "Training" modes. Among the new features there is a mode called Edge Master Mode, which worked as a "Story Mode". The mode presents the selected character's story as a book, while the player moves in a map to various locations and fights the characters, usually with handicap rules. Generally each "Chapter" of the book rewards the player with a weapon.
Another of the new features in the home version is the inclusion of 8 "Extra Weapons", which have different designs and statics, composed of Power (inflicts more damage), Defense (receives less damage), Strength (damage dealt to enemy's weapon gauge), Durability (ressistance of player's weapon gauge) and Weight (changes character's speed), and often an special ability (like damage through defense or life recovering).
And last, one of the most unique features in this version is the inclusion of 3 different in-game soundtracks to choose from: the Arcade soundtrack, a remix of the Arcade soundtrack called Arrange Soundtrack and the Khan Super Sessions, made expressely for the home version.
Box art
 Box Art of Soul Edge for PS1 JPN. |
 Box Art of Soul Blade for PS1 NTSC. |
 Box Art of Soul Blade for PS1 PAL. |
Taglines (spoken by the narrator in the game)
(Note: the following is based on the arcade version)
"Transcending history and the world, a tale of souls and swords, eternally retold." (title screen)
"The heroes finally meet under the star of destiny." (gameplay demonstration) <p>"Welcome, to the stage of history." (character selection screen - this tagline was carried on to Soul Calibur III at the main menu, or the mode select screen.) <p>"The legend will never die." (game over screen)
External links
- Soul Archive
- Soul Edge entry on the Killer List of Videogames
- Template:Moby game
Template:Soul seriesde:Soul Blade fr:Soul Edge it:Soul Blade
ja:ソウルエッジ