SoulCalibur III

 PlayStation 2
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 168 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 146 out of 168
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 168
  3. Negative: 7 out of 168
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  1. VLG
    Aug 22, 2023
    9
    I played this game SO much, even when i was in college many years after the release, i kept playing the game with my friends. So many memories.
  2. AJCk19
    Jul 23, 2023
    9
    Almost perfection, maybe some balance issues, and not having a good online player mode with great net coding. But single player experience is amazing. Lastly, it is kind of dated in the graphics, so if someone wanted to give it a 8 star. I wouldn't complain. But I really enjoyed it.
  3. Yojimbo2015
    Jul 15, 2023
    8
    My favourite fighting game gets some new characters, a wealth of unlockable items, a character creation screen and a strategy game thrown in. Unfortunately those last two don't really work and the extras all feel like unnecessary window dressing rather than actual improvements. Still one of the best beat 'em ups out there, but not as much fun to play as Soulcalibur II.
  4. Alex_Pilgrim008
    Mar 16, 2023
    8
    "SoulCalibur III" for the PS2 may not carry the same weight its predecessors did, but it's still a great system exclusive. Series fans will should find it to be a worthy entry despite the lack of innovation. Just as in the previous entries, this game features fantastic fighters, amazing graphics, numerous modes and smooth controls. I would rate it with an 8.6 out of 10.
  5. VRL
    Jun 11, 2022
    10
    After all these years it's still the best fighting game for me. Even after close to 2 decades the gameplay and graphics still hold. This game doesn't age.
  6. anthonybobby
    Aug 11, 2021
    10
    BryanM and Th3UniQu3, you both are trash.

    ''Ridiculous AI and terrible balance ruins this game down to the core. There is no redeeming this piece of trash with it's stupid psychic AI that will never fail to block EVERY SINGLE **** ATTACK you throw at it. 100%. It is programmed to **** you up.'' Th3UniQu3, it is not programmed to mess you up. You know what messes us up? Your comment.    BryanM and Th3UniQu3, you both are trash.

    ''Ridiculous AI and terrible balance ruins this game down to the core. There is no redeeming this piece of trash with it's stupid psychic AI that will never fail to block EVERY SINGLE **** ATTACK you throw at it. 100%. It is programmed to **** you up.''

    Th3UniQu3, it is not programmed to mess you up. You know what messes us up? Your comment. Quit hating this game, retard.

    ''If you own soul Calibur II then don't even bother. This game is just a rip off of both 1 and II. But if you do not then wait until it goes down in price.''

    BryanM, this game is not a ripoff of both the past SC games. You look like a ripoff, moron.

    Like I said, you both are pathetic.    … Expand
  7. MajinCCB
    Aug 9, 2021
    9
    This is the game in the series for those whose biggest draw is the character creation. It has it's own system that works nicely for the series, tons of story content a crapload of characters. Just make sure to research how to avoid the devastating memory card bug.
  8. edmelian
    Jul 26, 2020
    9
    Juegazo, divertido, buenos graficos y personajes diversos. No tiene una curva elevada de dificultad lo que hace que quieras seguir perfeccionandote.
  9. RetrogamingFTW
    Jul 2, 2020
    9
    One of my favorite games of all time, Loved it as a kid, Definitely the best soulcalibur game of all time, from soul edge to soulcalibur 6 has many features and unlockables, they have great decoration within the game, the only problem is that you cannot skip cutscenes, i know some determine your character's fate but the ones that do not, you should be able to skip. Chronicles wasOne of my favorite games of all time, Loved it as a kid, Definitely the best soulcalibur game of all time, from soul edge to soulcalibur 6 has many features and unlockables, they have great decoration within the game, the only problem is that you cannot skip cutscenes, i know some determine your character's fate but the ones that do not, you should be able to skip. Chronicles was extremely irritating to play but you get great satisfaction once you have it completed. I hope they remaster this game some time, maybe even for the ps5.… Expand
  10. ChesterField
    May 1, 2020
    8
    The best soul calibur back in the days. My boy cervantes still looking sassy. All good.
  11. DaonethycallKO
    Feb 9, 2020
    5
    It's fun but not nearly as good as Soulcalibur I & II also it's buggy and my save file keeps getting corrupted there's a reason it never got ported to other consoles.
  12. FallenStar
    Dec 31, 2019
    10
    Soul Calibur III is the best SC in the whole franchise.
    Its innovation, graphics, setting, story for each character, a ton of content for singleplayer mode really made this game stand out the most. I remember how many hours I've spent with this game, there wasn't one thing that let me know. A true sequel to Soul Calibur II.
    The number of characters, costumes, character creation with    Soul Calibur III is the best SC in the whole franchise.
    Its innovation, graphics, setting, story for each character, a ton of content for singleplayer mode really made this game stand out the most. I remember how many hours I've spent with this game, there wasn't one thing that let me know. A true sequel to Soul Calibur II.

    The number of characters, costumes, character creation with neat content to it, plenty of hidden characters with their OWN custom move set which for some reason people like to forget about. A shame.

    It's clear to me that Soul Calibur VI tried to go back to this era and return to its roots but nonetheless I wish they would faithfully remaster this game or bring it for every possible system with an HD support.
    That being said, this is the best fighting game for Offline content. And the fact that it didn't get the support it needed in its time, just shows how disgusting this overrated tournament community can be. A true shame. Soul Calibur IV and V were a downgrade compared to this.

    Positives:
    +Plenty of characters to pick from each with alternative costumes
    +Branching storyline for each character where you can make small but much-appreciated choices for increased immersion
    +Character Creation
    +Chornicles of the Sword where you create your own character and play a mini-strategy + fighting style game having its own story sets and characters. You level up, gather better weapons, unlock characters, currency in the game and much more in this neat game mode
    +Lots of game modes including Arcade, Survival and a couple of others where you fight over-powered bosses
    +Music is great
    +Stages are awesome and memorable minus a few ones
    +Voice acting is solid, the game can be played with English or Japanese Dub
    +Combat system is fluent, faster than its previous entry
    +Unique move sets yet basic/nerfed for character creation. While they can't really go up against the main characters it's a nice addition to the game in order to provide identity to the characters, immersion and offering new moves to the game making some fights be more generic rather than just the super moves of each main character. Completely dropped in future games sadly.
    +The Menu and the Opening of the game are the best ones in the entire series. Nothing like it anywhere else

    Negatives:
    - Some OP characters are not unlockable unless you use a cheat device. It's not relevant or important but it would be fun to have everything available
    - Chronicles of the Sword doesn't have too much replayability after the initial playthrough. Could've been improved upon in its difficulty    … Expand
  13. shootingstars99
    Aug 13, 2019
    8
    A great fighter for the PS2! This is how you do single player content in a fighting game. There is a whole separate story mode called "Chronicles of the Sword" that is unrelated the the Soul Calibur lore to play through, as well as the "World Tournament" mode, which is a personal favorite of mine. Character creation got it's debut in the series from this entry, and was groundbreaking atA great fighter for the PS2! This is how you do single player content in a fighting game. There is a whole separate story mode called "Chronicles of the Sword" that is unrelated the the Soul Calibur lore to play through, as well as the "World Tournament" mode, which is a personal favorite of mine. Character creation got it's debut in the series from this entry, and was groundbreaking at the time, you could invent your own fighter or make a loved character from another franchise as a fighter and take them against the CPU or your friends! The combat is fairly strong, and the expansive cast of characters and bonus characters has yet to be surpassed in the series. A great addition to the fighting game roster of the Playstation 2!… Expand
  14. NintenYoshi
    Mar 30, 2019
    10
    Is the best game of all SoulCalibur series. This game has a excellent history mode, the best of all saga, the form that choose the path based on our decisions, which affects who we face. And not only the main history, all single player mode is very amazing, the mode Chronicles Of the Sword is spectacular, this secondary story mode mixed a RPG and tactics game mechanics with a fightingIs the best game of all SoulCalibur series. This game has a excellent history mode, the best of all saga, the form that choose the path based on our decisions, which affects who we face. And not only the main history, all single player mode is very amazing, the mode Chronicles Of the Sword is spectacular, this secondary story mode mixed a RPG and tactics game mechanics with a fighting combats classic of series. The same with a Quick Play an Missions Mode. Also the Character Creation is a something splendid, being a game of PS2. The game lacks a multiplayer mode, though for the time the game has release is not necessary. possibly for a remaster we can have multiplayer.… Expand
  15. Leontorres7
    Nov 15, 2018
    8
    This is really a great game, there is so much to love about it, must play for sure!
  16. M300
    Aug 27, 2018
    6
    It has good visuals for the time and the soundtrack is great, also the game is quite deep, but with such an unbalanced roster all of the pro's soon dwindle.

    This game is not for those who want a balanced and learn able game. This is for those who enjoy visuals (if PS2 graphics suffice now) and not going far in regards to learning to get better.
  17. Parthenon
    May 21, 2018
    10
    Simply the best Soulcalibur game ever made. An incredible improvement that often gets overlooked because "it's not Soulcalibur II", when SCIII is actually better in every way possible. From the graphics and graphic design, to the music, story, roster and content. If you ever had to choose between SCII and SCIII, don't you dare to choose SCII if what you want is a game packed with contentSimply the best Soulcalibur game ever made. An incredible improvement that often gets overlooked because "it's not Soulcalibur II", when SCIII is actually better in every way possible. From the graphics and graphic design, to the music, story, roster and content. If you ever had to choose between SCII and SCIII, don't you dare to choose SCII if what you want is a game packed with content and nothing but entertainment.… Expand
  18. evolution98
    Jan 17, 2018
    10
    The BEST Soulcalibur out of all the series. It's sad that we will never get a remaster of this game. It has to be done.

    It's a perfect game. Everything that the original and the sequel gave us was fantastic but Namco and Project Soul were able to make it the magnum opus of the franchise until they made 4 and 5. The graphics were so realistic and sublime. The stages, motion capture    The BEST Soulcalibur out of all the series. It's sad that we will never get a remaster of this game. It has to be done.

    It's a perfect game. Everything that the original and the sequel gave us was fantastic but Namco and Project Soul were able to make it the magnum opus of the franchise until they made 4 and 5.

    The graphics were so realistic and sublime. The stages, motion capture demonstrations and fighters looked so amazing. The soundtrack is THE best out of all of the series. I love the soundtrack of the second game but this one was perfect. Forgotten Sanctuary, Courage Ablaze, Time Marches On and Catastrophe are so brilliant I still listen to the soundtrack to this day. The sound is outstanding and the voice acting was so awesome to hear. The gameplay is perfect. So many new modes added to the game gave it a LOT of longevity. The addition of classic characters such as Li Long, Hwang, Arthur and Rock was a brilliant idea. I never really got into the Chronicles of the Sword Mode or the Story Mode but wow the game sucked me in so well. The customization mode was amazing and still holds up.

    It's a childhood classic. It has to be remastered.    … Expand
  19. pahero
    Jan 7, 2018
    10
    There is actually not one single thing I can complain about this game...

    Maybe it should have more options about the difficulty, like easier ones for total noobs like me.

    But that is a minor thing.
  20. Empyrea
    Jul 28, 2017
    10
    I played the first SoulCalibur in my Dreamcast many years ago and then when I got PS2 I had to buy this game. This is a great game as well. Loved playing with Kilik!
  21. Tacticz
    May 26, 2017
    8
    Soulcalibur 3 has more flaws than Soulcalibur 2, but I love it just as much. This game introduced a new campaign and character editor which extended the replay value a lot for me as a kid. This game is a lot of fun and I can definitely recommend it.
  22. Th3UniQu3
    Dec 4, 2016
    0
    Ridiculous AI and terrible balance ruins this game down to the core. There is no redeeming this piece of trash with it's stupid psychic AI that will never fail to block EVERY SINGLE **** ATTACK you throw at it. 100%. It is programmed to **** you up.
  23. TwistedCritic
    Mar 14, 2016
    10
    Now, I typically don't like fighting games, but I played the absolute **** out of this as a kid! It's got a great story mode, with each individual character having their own separate campaigns, it also had a sick character editor that I spent hours messing around in, and a range of other modes to play. I really miss this game...
  24. asjklasjklas
    Apr 18, 2014
    8
    The masterful Dreamcast classic and the multi-console sequel are the most memorable in the once valuable Soul franchise (IV and most certainly V are rather, um, underwhelming in comparison). But despite some minor bugs and PlayStation 2 exclusivity, Soulcalibur III can best be remembered as a promising transition, allowing the player newer characters, newer modes, and a subliminallyThe masterful Dreamcast classic and the multi-console sequel are the most memorable in the once valuable Soul franchise (IV and most certainly V are rather, um, underwhelming in comparison). But despite some minor bugs and PlayStation 2 exclusivity, Soulcalibur III can best be remembered as a promising transition, allowing the player newer characters, newer modes, and a subliminally stellar single player experience.

    Pros? The adjusted fighting system makes for a lot of depth; Create a Soul is an exceptionally excellent concept; variety of cool characters with unique fighting abilities; variety of content, creating for an unusual amount of replay value; beautiful graphics; excellent controls; excellent visuals, seeing as the stages almost have more going on than the fighting itself.

    Cons? Minor bugs; some of the content can be disappointing in spite of the developer's care for single player content; no online play, despite coming out in a time when online play was all the rage.    … Expand
  25. gorelequint
    May 2, 2013
    10
    Overall, the game is just amazing to play. Before it's release, SCII was my favorite game, so it had alot to live up to in my eyes.

    Gameplay/Movesets: I guess I was a little annoyed my favorite character Ivy had lost some of her best moves, but most of them have been improved. The Alexandra sisters are still a little similar but on the whole, the rest of them are very varied and fun to    Overall, the game is just amazing to play. Before it's release, SCII was my favorite game, so it had alot to live up to in my eyes.

    Gameplay/Movesets:
    I guess I was a little annoyed my favorite character Ivy had lost some of her best moves, but most of them have been improved. The Alexandra sisters are still a little similar but on the whole, the rest of them are very varied and fun to use. Not too difficult to master either if you put your mind to it. Still, not as difficult as Tekken, and more asthetically pleasing. The different weapons each character has really allows for greater diversity than in most games. The fact even the custom characters you create have their own movesets as well makes it even more fun and long lasting.

    Length:
    Well, compared to most fighting games, this is packed. I guess its the Chronicles of the Sword that does it. It's basically got so much stuff in it, it's got the life of some RPG's, possibly longer. I play it every spare moment and I've had it for a month, still not unlocked everything. It's the kind of game its hard to stop playing, and one you will probably be playing for years. The varying story paths for each of the characters also keeps you going and going. Serious value for money!

    Graphics/Music:
    The graphics are so amazingly detailed and stunning. Playing other games straight after it will really let you apprieciate SCIII's quality. The stages you fight in are all very detailed, with smashing floors and walls, mice, fire and falling pictures. Really is beautiful, the characters look pretty danm good too. Much of the music is very well suited to each area and character, it just adds to the overall feel.

    Characters/Stories:
    Personally, I adore the stories and personalities of all the characters in this game. Some seem a little pointless, like Cassandra who is basically a helpless sister of one of the other characters. However, she is still very enjoyable to use. The alternative story endings you can get for your characters adds a dimension other games don't have. A great deal of choice and another level of information and interest for the player. The characters do vary quite a bit, ages and nationalities, even species (well there are monsters too...) All makes for an entertaining game!

    Modes:
    The soul arena, with the varying tasks is fun, but there really isn't enough. It was far more fun before. HOWEVER Chronicles of the sword kind of takes over from weapon master mode from SCII. This is the mode where you create your own characters and direct them through another seperate story from the main game. It's strategy crossed with fighting, I really enjoyed this mode more than I expected. It's really more about the battles than the strategy, which made it much less daunting. Creating the characters too is almost entertaining enough to buy the game. I know that seems a bit ott but they are SO customisable you can be tweaking your characters for ages! Then Tales of Souls. The basic story modes. With the interactive cut scenes and varying endings. It's probably my favorite game because of this alone, it really is diverse and fun to play again and again.

    These are just the main features. The amount of unlockable things and purchasable things is huge. It's really entertaining for a genre thats usually considered quite 2d, this is in the next dimension entirely.

    Really worth the money and outdoing all the competition a million to one. Truely a brilliant game.    … Expand
  26. Zilcell
    Mar 7, 2013
    9
    It isn't perfect, but the many game modes and mechanics make it definitely recommendable. You can even customize your own characters! A great fighter that requires patience and strategy.
  27. vahn
    May 15, 2012
    10
    The best of the series so far: has great single player contents, massive longevity even without versus mode, and it adds at last the character creator, one of the best I've ever seen in a fighting game. It's hard in here to find flaws though and, in general, the main flaw is probably the absense of online feature, and to "compensate that loss" they made a lot of content for the singleThe best of the series so far: has great single player contents, massive longevity even without versus mode, and it adds at last the character creator, one of the best I've ever seen in a fighting game. It's hard in here to find flaws though and, in general, the main flaw is probably the absense of online feature, and to "compensate that loss" they made a lot of content for the single player instead. And we can only thank for that. Other flaws maybe are, actually, the chronicles of the sword campaign: it's not a bad addition but it feels like a rushed strategy mode, and so it can be a bit disappointing. The plot in the campaign also isn't anything special but it's decent and, again, it's more content for the single player and a good practice for you (some bosses takes a lot of time, as they are harsh to beat). There is also a GREAT arcade mode, where you also have paths to choose! Yes the ending often is the same, but the ways to go are many and it can always be different if you really want to. The creator also is vast and offers many combinations, and on top of that you can use both the official styles of the main characters AND original styles made for them specifically. They aren't as strong as the standard ones, but it gives variety and everything can be unlocked by buying them with (In-game) gold and playing the campaign mode (a good time where dlc weren't dominating us....). That's it, nothing else to say: this game alone is gonna last a lot of time and, unless you prefer or only like Tekken (like my pals back then), there's almost no reason to skip this game. Except if you don't like fighting games with weapons.… Expand
  28. Jboy2468
    Nov 23, 2011
    8
    An incredible fighting game, with incredible features and incredible craft. But, some things are a MESS, like glitches including lost save files. Other than that, this a recommendation for a fighting game fan and a must have for a SoulCalibur fan!
  29. asjklas
    Jun 22, 2011
    8
    It's technically the same game it was in 1999 and 2003, but that's not a bad thing. Pros: Beautiful graphics; excellent control; lots of characters and combos; lots of playable modes and unlockable content. Cons: Bugs; no online play; Chronicles of the Sword; menu screens take time to adjust to; lots of "cheap ring-outs"; Character Creation is limited.
  30. ohaiKendyl
    Jun 12, 2011
    8
    Even though it's the same game we've played in 2003, that's not technically a bad thing. Pros: Beautiful graphics; basic controls; variety of characters and combos; lots of unlockables and replay value. Cons: Single-player and multiplayer modes are limited; smaller arenas that result in cheap "ring outs"; Chronicles of the Sword; main menus are difficult to adjust to at first; no online play.
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Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Best PS2 Game of 2005
18
#18 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2005
39
#39 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 57 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 52 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 57
  3. Negative: 0 out of 57
  1. Eurogamer
    80
    The beefed-up single-player content is worth the asking price on its own, it's still a fantastic multiplayer game (that's maybe not as perfectly balanced as it once was), and yes, it's shame there's no online play, but that's no excuse to pass up on a hugely enjoyable, addictive, rewarding title that'll last months.
    Read full review
  2. games(TM)
    80
    For many, the new modes won’t be enough to call for another purchase; as a standalone package however, Soul Calibur III offers more than could ever be asked of a fighting game. [Christmas 2005, p.96]
  3. Boomtown
    70
    A very pretty game, gorgeous in fact, with plenty to do and see. But ultimately it just doesn't quite seem new enough. It's an example in safe game development and taking the easy path, but while it lasts, it's a fun path.
See all critic reviews »