Soul Calibur V, the 5th installment of Namco Bandai’s hit and long-running weapon-based 3D fighter, has been officially announced. The game will be released in 2012 for Xbox 360 and PS3.
“Soul Calibur V is set to advance the series’ legacy of white-knuckled weapon-based combat, beautiful graphics and groundbreaking features, entrancing newcomers and long-time fans alike,” the publisher noted in its announcement.
The game will feature an all-new story arc that takes place 17 years after Soul Calibur IV, it will feature all-new gameplay features, all-new characters like Sophitia’s son Alexandra (with returning favorites) who will apparently be the main character.
Soul Calibur V promises quicker and more responsive gameplay in comparison to SCIV (described as “much lighter, sharper and more elegant”), although no word on whether Soul Calibur III’s Chronicles of the Sword RPG-style adventure mode will return or not. Although the in-depth character creation will return in 5.
Here is the official debut trailer.
The producers say some fans will be taken aback by the changes, but should be happy about them as they “remove gaps” between moves found in previous installments to create a “smoother, more fluid style of combat”.
The game will feature many “sons and daughters” of previous fighters apparently along with much-aged returning characters, including Siegfried who will return at age 39, no longer in possession of the Soul Calibur sword. Guest characters from other companies will also be in the title, although no hint on whom.
Naturally we’ll learn much more about the game at E3 2011.