- Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
- Release Date: Jan 31, 2012
- Also On: Xbox 360
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Feb 5, 2012A superb fighting game that stays true to the great legacy Namco's series has. New and balanced fighters along with many modes and great graphics make this one the best Soul Calibur we've seen in years.
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Jan 30, 2012SoulCalibur V is a great game with amazing visuals but above all what makes the game super fun to play are the new mechanics, easy to pull out but deep and perfectly devised in the legacy of the franchise.
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Jan 28, 2012Soul Calinur V is way better than the fourth chapter, and it finally manages to refresh the series, respecting its own legacy at the same time.
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PSM3 Magazine UKJan 21, 2012Faster and more aggressive, SCV is what the series needed. Long term fans may bemoan the changes, but this is the perfect starting point for newcomers. [Feb 2012, p.94]
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Pelit (Finland)Feb 13, 2012A very pretty and smooth beat 'em up with quite comprehensive character customisation options. The single player game modes are quite good, but what's with the lack of survival? [Feb 2012]
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Feb 1, 2012Soul Calibur V enjoys its triumphs, most notably the strong online element, as well as its shortfalls, such as the flat story and relative dearth of extra content. In spite of its mostly positive gameplay tweaks, though, it's in no real danger of reinventing the wheel. That's OK with us. In this fifth installment, Soul Calibur is as easy to enjoy as it ever was, and it brings with it enough new stuff to more than justify its existence.
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Jan 31, 2012Stunning visuals, challenging gameplay-tweaks and new game modes - the fifth installment is an excellent comeback for the Soul Calibur series. Because of the confusing training mode and the lack of a tutorial, getting behind the new fighting techniques can be difficult at first. But it's well worth putting time and effort into this, as the fights will become more and more thrilling.
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Jan 30, 2012Soul Calibur V doesn't offer anything new for the genre, but is a great title with many hours of amazing fighting gameplay to offer.
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Games Master UKFeb 15, 2012A gorgeous and playable fighter that offers a strong alternative to Street Fighter and Tekken. [March 2012, p.86]
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Jan 31, 2012Project Soul got a lot right with SCV, and I enjoy it, I just wish there were more content, specifically more offline modes of play. I find myself bouncing back and forth between offline and online play, slowly becoming content and fatigued with both.
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Feb 9, 2012One could easily dedicate hours and hours into perfecting each character and making any opponent look like a complete tool without even hitting triangle, square, or circle...It'd be hard, and require a lot of discipline and practice, and luck in my case, but it's possible.
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Feb 6, 2012It's not as deep as Street Fighter IV or the Mortal Kombat reboot and the story mode is just awful. There's still, however, a lot of fun to be had with this game and the character creation mode guarantees hours and hours of extra playtime.
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Feb 3, 2012SoulCalibur V does as much right as it does wrong when it comes to delivering the perfect fighting game package. While the single-player portion is riddled with the absence of modes that made the series what it is today, its most important aspect -- well balanced gameplay -- far exceeds my expectations.
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Official PlayStation Magazine BeneluxFeb 2, 2012The rush you feel when striking down an opponent with a perfectly timed swing from your mighty sword remains one of the best and unique experiences in the entire beat 'm up-genre. SoulCalibur still can't compete with the likes of Capcom's fighting games, but it's getting close. [February 2012, p.90]
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Jan 31, 2012Soulcalibur V is the next-gen Soulcalibur that I've been wanting as a fan for years. At the same time, it's nothing if not more Soulcalibur. Now if Namco Bandai would release a DLC pack with the full Soul Calibur II roster, I could finally retire that disc.
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Jan 31, 2012Soul Calibur V has greatly evolved in the gameplay department. In doing so, though, the game lost a lot of single player content. Great news for the competitive community, not so much for common gamers.
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Jan 31, 2012The singleplayer story may not be that long, but it's definitely worth playing and a good training for the arcade, Legendary Souls and multiplayer modes. Whereas the soundtrack is a bit repetitive, strong graphics and varied characters are big pluses. Who doesn't want to test his skills against players from around the world? Preferably in a good fighting game such as this.
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Jan 31, 2012Faster, deeper and more dynamic. The team has done a remarkable job balancing the fighters, putting the focus back on fighting and developing a robust online mode, with plenty of room for a healthy community. A real back-to-form for the series.
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Jan 31, 2012SCV reinvents the series again, and implements a number of changes that add layers of complexity and depth to a winning formula. The new Street Fighter-centric direction is surprising, but one that still works within the general framework without being overpowering. While plenty of single-player content can keep you busy for months -- much like the original -- in the end playing with friends and real opponents is the best way to experience Soulcalibur.
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Feb 6, 2012Soul Calibur V is a competent, good-looking fighter that's great with multiple players. It has much of the charm and style that has been the franchise's calling card over the years, and diving into the mechanic will yield rewards for the patient. But the story campaign is so goofy and nonsensical, the lack of popular characters will annoy some fans, and overall, it just feels like a lesser-quality installment despite the lack of any glaring flaws.
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Feb 15, 2012Soulcalibur V doesn't change the formula and doesn't even try. A fighting game in the purest form, that we all know and love for years. A few delicate tweaks and a robust online mode make you come back for more.
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Feb 13, 2012While I am disappointed with the removal of Weapon Master Mode and the terrible story, I simply can't deny that SoulCalibur V is a great fighting game. Adding in the critical metre makes for a deeper game, but it still feels like SoulCalibur. I regard SoulCalibur II as the best in the series, and while SoulCalibur V isn't quite up to that masterpiece, it's still has soul that's burning brightly.
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Feb 9, 2012With its trimmed down roster of fighters, a laughably bad story mode and a general lack of options as well as gameplay-variations, Soul Calibur 5 could easily be called guilty of having jumped the gun. But then there's the beautiful visuals and the top-notch playability. Fighter animations are sublime, the characters very detailed and the controls are super-smooth. And in the end, that is what counts.
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Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)Feb 8, 2012Change can be a scary thing, but the developer's gamble paid off: SCV is the most fun we've had with the series in years. [Mar 2012, p.78]
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Feb 6, 2012Soul Calibur V shows that Namco's soul is alive and well and, of course, it is recommended for fans and for those who are a little tired of fighting in 2D.
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Feb 6, 2012The soul will burn forever. Soul Calibur V plays superbly and is ideal for multiplayer and personalisation. It probably could do more to build and coerce the player, but fans of fighters will have a blast.
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Feb 3, 2012It's hard not to recommend Soul Calibur V. The balanced gameplay makes for an open invitation to new players, and stalwarts of the series will find a return to form for the series. Even if you're not that into fighting games, the depth and variety in Create a Soul is a game unto itself.
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Feb 3, 2012Soul Calibur V could have been so much more. As it stands, it's a solid fighting game that feels a bit hollow. It misses the creative modes that made the series unique in the first place.
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Feb 3, 2012What Soulcalibur lacks in Single player content, it makes up for it by having solid gameplay mechanics, fantastic visuals, and fairly good roaster of characters.
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Feb 3, 2012SoulCalibur V stumbles in several big ways, but luckily what counts the most – gameplay – shines as brightly as the holy blade the game is named after. If stubborn fans can get past the new cast and gameplay tweaks, they'll find that what made previous SoulCalibur games so great is all still there.
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Feb 2, 2012Casual fans will be in awe at the sheer beauty and polish of the game. Hardcore fighting game enthusiasts will appreciate the adjustments made to the fighting engine. Players looking for the most bang for their buck might be disappointed with the sparse selection of game modes, but should look into the character creation mode to keep them busy.
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Feb 2, 2012Now that I'm done crying about content, let's get down to the real reason to play Soulcalibur V. The gameplay has been improved for the better. Regardless of my gripes, it won't stop me from trying to be the best Chun Li-with-a-sword player I can be. This Soulcalibur is definitely worth playing.
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Jan 31, 2012Prettier, more accessible, and more varied than ever. This is one of the best new 3D fighters of recent years, even with a horribly disappointing story mode.
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Jan 31, 2012Soul Calibur V is for both new and experienced players. It makes it easy to for you learn the basics of the game, but if you want to win against skilled opponents then you better start practicing. Most moves are really cool, but juggles are somewhat overused and some characters are just horrible.
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Jan 31, 2012This game looks better than before and contains some good improvements. It plays faster and feels more dramatic. There is a lack of enough offline content but online it's better than ever.
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Jan 31, 2012It all adds up to the perfect environment for a game that rewards timing, perception and strategy in a way that just about any gamer can understand. But don't be intimidated by the good looks and graceful moves; shimmy on over and get to know Soulcalibur V. You've got nothing to regret but the shakes.
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Jan 31, 2012Soul Calibur V represents a strong return for the series, with battles more hard-hitting and free-flowing than ever before. Long-term fans might bemoan changes to the core mechanics, such as the removal of Critical Finishes and Guard Impact, but it's hard not to view most of its additions as progress.
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Jan 31, 2012Whilst the story may only clock in at around three to four hours, it still feels worthwhile and, in all honest, probably isn't what's going to draw most into a fighting game anyway. The arcade mode may be disappointing, but there's enough in general (particularly with the online) to keep pretty much any fighting fan happily occupied.
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Jan 30, 2012SoulCalibur V is a great fighting game with a completely new fighting system. The Project Soul team has done a great job changing the fighting mechanics, with few big mistakes around game modes and the character roster. This is a great new beginning for the saga.
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games(TM)Jan 28, 2012On a straight fighting level, SoulCalibur has never been better, and, although it might be locally anorexic, the multiplayer side offers more than any Soul titles since the original Calibur made the Dreamcast a must-have. [Issue#118, p.94]
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Play UKJan 25, 2012There's no faulting the fighting here - it's balanced, it's brutal, it's beautiful, it's brilliant. It's easily up there with the essential multiplayer titles on PS3. Yet the supporting single-player modes are so flimsy and weak, we have to deduct marks. [Issue#214, p.78]
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Edge MagazineJan 25, 2012It's still a Soul Calibur game, but Project Soul has successfully designed it for a wider audience of casual and hardcore players alike, which was a key factor in Capcom's successful reinvention of its revered series. [Feb 2012, p.108]
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Playstation Official Magazine AustraliaJan 18, 2012We love the fighting that is present in SoulCalibur V because it's fast, inventive and approachable; but those improvements are all but squandered on threadbare single-player that's basically a bootcamp for pushing players online. That transition is fine if you've got the mad skills. However, newcomers may find that SoulCalibur V will too soon limit them to either replaying quick battles ad infinitum (to unlock useless hairstyles and arse-less chaps), or going online to be thoroughly pantsed by the grandmasters. [February 2012, p.72]
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Jan 31, 2012It's still fun, the characters are still bursting with personality, and despite my misgivings about the style, the story is still memorable. It's not a complete departure for the series, but the move away from classic characters may be indicative of the series as a whole turning away from its roots. And that may be something to worry about when we finally get around to talking about SoulCalibur VI.
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Feb 14, 2012SoulCalibur V is meant to be played with people; anybody expecting a rich experience from the singleplayer, like that found in earlier entries in the series, will be disappointed. Play with friends or online and it's easy to quickly discover a deep and rich fighting system that can be a lot of fun.
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Jan 31, 2012Fans looking to relive the experience of SoulCalibur's early entries may be irked by this game's new additions. But once the steep learning curve is surmounted, you will find a fresh-yet-familiar fighting system that's fun to explore.
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Jan 31, 2012Soulcalibur V is at its absolute best with friends, when it's testing your skill, reaction times and trash talking ability. The combat is still great and the graphics are still beautiful. Outside of that, it's a slight disappointment, as this is the weakest single player experience in the series yet. The game just never attempts to give us something we haven't seen before.
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LEVEL (Czech Republic)Mar 22, 2012A good genre piece brings fans hundreds of hours of entertainment. Japanese poetics with schoolgirls wearing katanas and thin knights with iron swords are worth seeing. [March 2012]
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Feb 19, 2012The combat mechanics are easy to pick up, but the advanced techniques ought to be more than enough to keep things interesting. Regardless of its shortcomings, Soulcalibur V is still a fun and engaging game. That's all what really matters.
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CD-ActionFeb 13, 2012Apparently the devs ran out of money and couldn't polish the game the way it deserves. SoulCalibur V had a big deal of potential – a lot of great characters and a cool fighting system – but simply feels unfinished. [March 2012, p.54]
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Feb 10, 2012It's a competent fighter, yes, but nothing about it really screams "must-have" unless you are a diehard SoulCalibur fan.
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Feb 7, 2012Soul Calibur V ultimately feels rushed. The modes are shadow of their normally robust nature, the character list has been reduced severely, and the net code is not as good as it should be. It seems like Namco was desperate to get in on the fighting game revival and rushed this out. I expect better from this series and with so many fantastic and cheaper fighting games out, such as King of Fighters XIII, Mortal Kombat 9, and even Soul Calibur IV, I cannot recommend the game to anyone but the most hardcore of Soul Calibur fans.
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Feb 1, 2012It's easy to sell goods that are supposed to be good. However, when authors simply copied everything great from the Street Fighter game because they were not able to deal with their own worn-out game concept by themselves, there is something wrong. We want you to better take care of tenderfeet. We want more bonus content. And we want some fresh juice. SoulCalibur is far from going down to the second league, however, there's no play-off this season. Fans of the series will most likely buy it, the rest of you just take it easy and wait for the all-star mainstream: the Street Fighter x Mortal Kombat game.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 90 out of 206
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Mixed: 83 out of 206
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Negative: 33 out of 206
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Feb 5, 2012
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Feb 7, 2012
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Feb 4, 2012This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view.