Soul Blade
From Soulpedia
| Soul Blade | |
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| Platforms | Arcade, Playstation |
| Release Date | Arcade
Playstation
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Soul Blade, originally released as Soul Edge (ソウルエッジ, Souru Ejji?) in Japan, is the first installment in the Soul series of fighting games developed and published by Namco. It was initially released in the arcades in 1996. A couple of months later, Namco released a fixed version labeled Soul Edge Ver. II, upon the complaints of players who found the difficulty quite high and the last boss "unbeatable". Hwang (initially a palette swap of Mitsurugi for the Korean version of the game) was introduced to Japanese players with a new movelist, Cervantes became selectable, Guard Impacts and Air Combos were implemented, and all the characters received upgraded movelists. The game was then ported to the Sony PlayStation and renamed Soul Blade in Europe, North America and Australia. Soul Edge has been largely overshadowed by its sequel, Soulcalibur, which has been the moniker of the series since 1999.
Soul Edge is the name of the demonic sword which the story revolves around.
Soul Blade is the second 3D fighter to feature characters that fight with weapons, although 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.
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.
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[edit] Gameplay
Soul Blade was created prior to the introduction of the "8-Way Run", which allowed the player to move their character in a complete range on the Y-axis. The characters can sidestep on either side by double-tapping up or down. The jump maneuver (which in Soulcalibur is more like a hop) moves the player higher into the air, even allowing it to pass above the opponent (much like in Tekken). One of the most notable gameplay aspects is the "Weapon Gauge". This bar was found under the character's lifebar and was comparable to the equipped weapons' resistance. Each time the player blocked an attack, the bar would deplete. If the bar was totally emptied, the character would lose his/her weapon and be forced to end the match unarmed. Though this is an original idea, unfortunately the unarmed move-lists are the same for every character. Another feature that was removed from Soulcalibur's engine is when two character strike at the same time, "locking" their weapons. In those situations, those who pressed the right button would have the advantage. This aspect behaves similarly to rock-paper-scissors.
Character moves retain a feel of Namco's Tekken series. Each character has in his or her arsenal one or two unblockable attacks, balanced however because of its slow execution. Also, each character is capable of performing one or two Critical Edge attacks, which consisted of a long series of linked hits, which usually ended in a strong high attack. These moves require the input of a special combination of two parts: they're activated by pressing "A+B+K" together, and if it connects, the player has the chance of extending the combo with a character-only sequence, which must be input during the attack. This attack depletes 1/3 of the Weapon Gauge when used.
To achieve a ring out (which is a forcable maneuver that ejects the opponent from the arena and gains an automatic victory for the round), the player must be knocked outside the ring by an enemy; the player cannot deliberately or accidentally ring out his/her own character.
[edit] Story
[edit] Soul Blade Story Prologue (Based on Instruction Manual)
KNOW THIS; these whispered tales of a sword that can cut the very heavens asunder are true! This Soul Edge exists! Many have tried to possess this legendary weapon but all have fallen to a horrible fate. Vercci, the Italian weapon merchant sought out the blade and you know of his grisly end! His agent, the pirate Cervantes de Leon was last said to possess the sword and has not been seen since! That blade is cursed as sure as I sit here! Be warned, ye are not the only one on this quest! Ten warriors from around the globe seek the blade for their own desires. For some, Soul Edge is their key to salvation; for others, their route to damnation. None of them will back down without a fight! Only the stout of heart and strong of arm can survive. Heed my warnings! They say to hold Soul Edge is to possess true power, but ye cannot hold on to it and your own soul at the same time...
[edit] Soul Blade Story (Based On Soul Calibur 1 Art Gallery)
Under the influence of the twin swords, Soul Edge, Cervantes slew his entire crew, and everybody in a nearby port town. After he was done, and with Soul Edge temporarily satisfied, he went to the ruins of the "Black Tail Inn" to sleep in preparation for the birth of the "Child of the Evil Sword."
Over the next 20 years, rumours about Soul Edge spread across the world. Some called it the "Sword of Salvation," some called it the "Ultimate Weapon." Some set out to find Soul Edge for their own purposes.
Those who managed to reach Soul Edge wished they hadn't, as the evil blades devoured their souls.
One woman, Sophitia, managed to destroy one of the swords in a battle to the death with Cervantes. Sophitia was injured by the fragments of Soul Edge. With half of Soul Edge destroyed, Cervantes became enraged, as if she had destroyed a part of his body. He was about to finish her off, when Taki stepped in. With his equilibrium broken, Cervantes lost to Taki in the end.
Taki obtained a fragment of Soul Edge, and departed with the badly injured Sophitia, whose life hung by a thread.
Siegfried, the "Innocent Darkside," was on his own quest to find Soul Edge, the "Sword of Vengeance." When he arrived, however, all he found was the corpse of a pirate. The sword clutched in its hand caught Siegfried's attention, so he approached the corpse...
...But suddenly, the corpse, engulfed in flames, rose up, as if the evil itself had possessed the pirates body. It had become the essence of the sword itself, Inferno.
The corpse and the boy fought. Even though Siegfried's sword was so huge, he swung it effortlessly. His eyes were filled with madness as the sword cut the air with a roar. Siegfried won the battle, despite the fact that his sword broke. Then, he spotted Soul Edge again...
...Soul Edge had lost its host, and was on the verge of tearing itself apart, until Siegfried reached out and grasped the hilt...
People around the world gazed at the beautiful pillar of light that pierced the clouds, not knowing that it was the Evil Seed, that would bring indescribable misfortune to the world.
[edit] Movies
[edit] Opening Movie
[edit] Playable Characters
[edit] Original arcade version
[edit] Soul Edge Ver. II
[edit] Home Version
- SoulEdge
- Seung Han Myong
- Siegfried! – Siegfried when possessed by Soul Edge in his bad ending. This concept would later evolve into Nightmare.
- Sophitia! – Sophitia without armor, from her ending.
- Sophitia!! – Sophitia wearing a one-piece swimsuit, from her alternate ending.
[edit] Unfinished Characters
The following unfinished characters were discovered in the game code of the home version.
- Bangu - Bangoo, Rock's adopted son from his ending, uses Seung Mina's moveset. His name appears during fights as "Seung Mina".
- Belti - Vercci's ghost from Voldo's ending, uses Cervantes' moveset. His name appears during fights as "Sophitia"
- Botsu Lilong - An alternate version of Li Long. Not enough code in the game for him to be playable.
- Chie - Li Long's lover from his ending, uses Seung Mina's moveset. Her name appears during fights as "Seung Mina".
- Diver - The scuba diver from SoulEdge's ending, uses Sophitia's moveset. His name appears during fights as "SoulEdge".
- Hage-Sieg - An alternate version of Siegfried, from his alternate ending. His name appears during fights as "Seung Mina".
- Mabochie - Chie's spirit from Li Long's alternate ending. Her name appears during fights as "Seung Mina".
- Monkasei - Han Myong's student from Hwang's ending (although the character model was never actually used during the ending), uses Mitsurugi's moveset. His name appears during fights as "Seung Mina".
- Nugi Taki - An alternate version of Taki, with no ponytail, armor, or shoes, from her ending. Her name appears during fights as "Taki".
- Standard - An alternate version of Mitsurugi, who moves slower, has no ponytail, and only has the Murasame weapon selectable. His name appears during fights as "Mitsurugi".
- Teppou Hei - The tanegashima-wielding man from Mitsurugi's ending, uses Mitsurugi's moveset. His name appears during fights as "Seung Mina".
[edit] Trivia
[edit] Playstation Version
On December 20, 1996, Soul Edge was ported to the Sony PlayStation for the Japanese market and versions labeled Soul Blade came out in 1997 in the USA and Europe. The port kept the Soul Edge Ver. II roster of ten and added five unlockable characters, including SoulEdge, the boss of the game.
- The original ten selectable characters received a new PlayStation-specific costume, chosen from various works sent by fans, giving each one a total of three different costumes, plus two color variations for the 1P and 2P costumes.
- The inclusion, besides the standard "Arcade" mode, of: "VS" mode, "Survival", "Team Battle", "Time Attack" and "Training" modes.
- A new RPG-styled mode called "Edge Master Mode", which works as a sort of "Story Mode" for the ten initial characters. The mode presents the selected character's story as a book, while the player moves in a map to various locations and fights in battles, sometimes with handicap rules. Generally each "Chapter" of the book rewards the player with a weapon.
- Individual endings done using the game's renderer rather than still images (as in its sequels, Soulcalibur and Soulcalibur II) or CGI. Each of the ten normally selectable characters have two endings, usually one ending which ends well and another tragic ending. These endings are accessible pressing a special button/button sequence during certain times. This type of ending was finally brought back in Soulcalibur III.
- The inclusion of seven extra weapons per character, which have different designs and statistics, composed of Power (inflicts more damage), Defense (receives less damage), Strength (damage dealt to enemy's weapon gauge), Durability (resistance of player's weapon gauge) and Weight (changes character's speed). Some weapons also has a special ability, like the ability to damage through defense or restore the player's health.
- The inclusion of three different in-game soundtracks to choose from: the Arcade Soundtrack, a studio-recorded version of the arcade soundtrack called Arrange Soundtrack and the Khan Super Session, made expressly for the home version.
