Soulcalibur Legends - first look

By Eric Bratcher
published

We preview the sharp-edged fighting series' first mummy-carving foray into action adventure land

Admit it, Wii owners: the moment you got a glimpse of the fake-but-stunningtrailer for Soulcalibur IV, you felt like you'd been rammed in the gut with the game's trademark giant-ass demon sword. Your lip quivered, your eyes filled with tears like a PSPleft at homeand you stammered out something about wanting to play as Link again, like you could in SoulCalibur II. Sorry kid; your system just can't handle these graphics.

But don't feel too left out in the cold, because Namco Bandai is making you your own special game, Soulcalibur Legends. It may not be as well-endowed as the 360/PS3 beat-down (Feel that? It's the sword twisting in your belly), but with Wii-specific controls and what looks to be a much greater emphasis upon plot, this is destined to be the most unique SC game yet conceived.

We'll get the big thing out of the way first: Legends is a third-person action game, rather than a one-on-one fighter, and will star at least three series regulars: the katana-wielding ronin Mitsurugi; hot goth dominatrix-with-a-chain-sword Ivy; and everyone's favorite gigantic broadsword slinging knight: Siegfried. The storyline takes place between the first and second arcade games (Soul Blade and Soul Calibur), and chronicles Siegfried's search for the fabled mystical demon sword - and his resulting transformation into the vile, villainous Nightmare.

Eric Bratcher
Eric Bratcher
I was the founding Executive Editor/Editor in Chief here at GR, charged with making sure we published great stories every day without burning down the building or getting sued. Which isn't nearly as easy as you might imagine. I don't work for GR any longer, but I still come here - why wouldn't I? It's awesome. I'm a fairly average person who has nursed an above average love of video games since I first played Pong just over 30 years ago. I entered the games journalism world as a freelancer and have since been on staff at the magazines Next Generation and PSM before coming over to GamesRadar. Outside of gaming, I also love music (especially classic metal and hard rock), my lovely wife, my pet pig Bacon, Japanese monster movies, and my dented, now dearly departed '89 Ranger pickup truck. I pray sincerely. I cheer for the Bears, Bulls, and White Sox. And behind Tyler Nagata, I am probably the GR staffer least likely to get arrested... again.