Soul Calibur IV

Game information:

Soul Calibur IV (SC4) is the latest fighting game in Namco's Soul Calibur series.  The series focuses on various characters' pursuits for the two swords - Soul Edge and Soul Claibur.  Both swords have a tremendous amount of power and ultimately somehow control the fate of the world. 

Unlike other games of the genre, the Soul Calibur series focuses on weapon based combat rather than hand to hand combat.  Each character specializes in a special style of combat.  Some characters use more traditional weapons (ie Sophitia and her sword & shield) while others use more far fetched weapons that aren't so traditional (ie Voldo and his claws).  The game features over 34 characters as well as an additional 50 open slots for custom made characters.

Soul Calibur IV builds upon many of the features prior games in the series included.  The game features a more in depth character creation system as well as new styles of combat.  In addition to this the game introduces a very deep armor system that allows players to fine tune both custom and normal characters.  This armor system allows you to add various skills to your characters as well as adjust their stats. 

Finally Soul Calibur IV also introduces the brand new soul gauge system.  This system penalizes and rewards players based on their performance in combat.  Blocking too much, for example will drive down your soul gauge and leave you vulnerable to a critical finish (a one-hit kill).  On the other hand, if you attack and perform counters your soul gauge will grow and drive down your opponent's gauge.

Soul Calibur IV is definitely a step up from the previous installments.  With more characters, more weapons, online play, and new features this game is to stand champion of 3d fighters for quite some time...well maybe at least until Soul Calibur V comes out...