Technically debuting in 1995 with Soul Edge/Soul Blade, the Soulcalibur franchise is actually named after the second entry in the series due to its monumental success. While the first game in the long-running fighting game series was a hit in arcades, its sequel dominated arcade floors, and its subsequent Sega Dreamcast port was one of the system's best-selling games and one of its most critically acclaimed. Though the series has a simple narrative, its setting and weapon-based gameplay helps to set it apart from other fighting game franchises, and it's about time Soulcalibur got a remaster.
Hitting arcade floors in 1998, and later landing on the Dreamcast in 1999, Soulcalibur's influence on the fighting game landscape cannot be understated. While it certainly wasn't the first fighting game to use a 3D arena, it was one of the best of that early generation, introducing new mechanics and systems that would go on to be a staple of future 3D fighting games. Nowadays, it's a little difficult to hunt down a copy of the original Soulcalibur, and it's a game worthy of a remaster.
The First Soulcalibur Deserves a Remaster
One of the biggest standout features of the original Soulcalibur was its innovative eight-way movement system. Before Soulcalibur, even the best 3D fighting games had very limited movement, often forcing the players to just move left and right, while the camera panned around the arena to give the illusion that the characters are moving around a 3D space. Soulcalibur gave the player the freedom to actually move around the environment in any direction they desired, allowing for more varied and dynamic duels.
Soulcalibur also took its predecessor's unique hook of weapons-based gameplay, and added some new features that really deepened the combat experience. A new Guard Impact maneuver was implemented, allowing players to not only block oncoming attacks, but redirect them to gain the upper hand. Players could swipe away an opponent's sword, leaving them open for a counter-attack, or try to push them out of the arena with a well-timed dodge to the side. Soulcalibur was also a little more forgiving than Soul Edge, and other 3D fighters of the time, giving players more of a buffer between attacks to allow for easier combo inputs.
Despite being one of the biggest fighting game franchises of the time, Soulcalibur has taken more of a back seat in recent years. While Street Fighter is trying to reinvent itself this year, Mortal Kombat is enjoying its success as a rebooted series, and Tekken is still loved by many, Soulcalibur just doesn't have the same edge as it once did. The Soulcalibur franchise still has its dedicated fans, but it doesn't garner the same general appeal as something like Mortal Kombat does, and a remaster or even a full remake of the original game could help to make the series relevant again.
The original Soulcalibur was ported to the Xbox 360 years ago, and thanks to the Xbox One's backwards compatibility, fans can still play it today. However, it's definitely showing its age nowadays, and although its innovative movement system and engaging weapon-based combat felt great in 1998, it's a little difficult to enjoy in 2023. A remaster of Soulcalibur with refined controls and visuals could really help to introduce new players to the franchise. It can be intimidating to jump in on a series' sixth or seventh entry, and a remastered or remade title simply called Soulcalibur could be exactly what the series needs to get back on top.
Soulcalibur is available on Xbox 360, and Xbox One via backwards compatibility.