Arcade classic SoulCalibur slashes through the App Store

Namco Bandai's newest release for the iOS platform is a port of the 1998 arcade fighting game SoulCalibur, a series entering its fifth incarnation on home consoles at the end of January. The launch timing is no coincidence, as the game's main menu features a prominent ad for SoulCalibur V. SoulCalibur is a one-on-one fighting game. Unlike games that focus on mixed martial arts and unarmed combat, SoulCalibur lets characters use a variety of weapons. These range from large, unwieldy but powerful battleaxes and hammers to long-reaching polearms to short-range rapiers and daggers. The weapons-based combat is stylized but it has no blood and gore. As such, it only carries a 9+ age rating. The game is controlled through use of a fixed on-screen joystick, positioned by default under the left thumb, and four buttons for attacking, kicking and blocking. Like many fighting games, mastering SoulCalibur comes from learning the button combinations and directional commands that unleash the most outlandish, damaging moves. Players can customize the controls by moving them around the screen and adding additional "macro" buttons which have the same effect at pressing two or more normal buttons at once. This works well on the iPad, but can clutter the smaller screen of the iPhone very quickly. In its current form, the iOS version does not have all the features of the 1999 Sega Dreamcast version, regarded by many fans as the definitive version of the game. At this time, iOS players can enjoy the original Arcade mode; a Time Attack mode challenging them to beat the game as quickly as possible; a Survival mode tasking them with beating as many enemies as possible with an energy bar than only replenishes a little between bouts; an Extra Survival mode where fights are resolved with a single hit; and a Practice mode where players can try out different characters' moves against a predictable, customizable computer opponent. There is also a Museum mode where players can watch computer-controlled bouts or observe their characters performing a choreographed "exhibition" sequence. At this time, there is no multiplayer facility, nor is the fan favorite "Edge Master" mission-based mode from the Dreamcast original present. On the App Store page for the game, Namco Bandai does promise that more modes are coming soon, but as yet we haven't heard what these might be. The game does not, at this time, feature any in-app purchases or other monetization. To celebrate its launch and Apple's featuring it as iPad Game of the Week on the App Store, Namco Bandai is currently offering SoulCalibur at 20% off its usual price. At $11.99, this is already more expensive than many App Store titles and, unlike the company's previous title Ridge Racer Accelerated, there is no freemium demo for customers to try out and then unlock through in-app purchase. The game's audience is also a little more limited by the fact that it is not compatible with the original iPad or any iPhones prior to the iPhone 4 -- a side effect of the complex visuals the game uses. The relatively high price of the game may be attributed to the publisher's negative attitude towards free to play and low-cost titles. "Free to play games can't be high quality. We need to put certain value on certain work," said Namco Bandai's senior vice president for Europe Olivier Comte at Cloud Gaming Europe earlier this month. "When you're a big company, you can't take risks too quickly, you can't make a change just because there's a fashion for a couple of years; you want to be there in 20 or 30 years." You can follow SoulCalibur's progress in the App Store charts using AppData, our traffic tracking application for social and iOS games and developers. At the time of writing, the game is currently No. 273 in Top Paid Apps, No. 84 in Top Paid iPad Apps, No. 139 in Top Paid Games Apps and No. 46 in Top Paid iPad Games Apps.

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Arcade classic SoulCalibur slashes through the App Store

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