Soulcalibur IV

The fighting game for people who claim to not like fighting games is making its way to the Xbox 360 in 2008, and our thumbs are practically quivering with excitement. Game Director Katsutoshi Sasaki is promising a “more powered-up and intense” gameplay experience with Soulcalibur IV, and one look at the game in motion proves that to be true. But what gamers really want is also being delivered in spades — online play, a create-a-character mode, the return of favorite characters, and the introduction of new ones to the growing Soulcalibur universe.

At this year’s Tokyo Game Show, internal Namco developer Project Soul showed off one of their new characters, a fresh-faced lass named Hilde, who with her shiny suit of gothic armor, two-sword attack, and heritage-rich backstory arrives to whoop some serious soul-butt. The royal-born Hilde’s two-weapon attack involves a long lance backed up by a short sword. This dual arsenal allows her to deliver longdistance strikes while just out of the reach of her opponents, plus short, focused stabs with the short sword in case anyone gets too close. Each weapon is assigned to a different button on the gamepad, so controlling Hilde will feel like a new experience to seasoned Soulcalibur vets. The devs at Project Soul wouldn’t comment on the possibility of other new characters having a similar two-weapon layout (though we think it’s very likely), but they did confirm that no returning characters will be getting a new second weapon. Sorry, Voldo — no leather whips for you.

Hilde’s double-bladed scheme doesn’t necessarily reflect an entirely new direction for Soulcalibur’s gameplay. Controlling your favorite old-school characters like Astaroth and Mitsurugi should feel familiar to fans of the series, although all the characters will be getting new special moves and combos. Except now, of course, you can whale on the analog stick for more complex button combos. You’ll have plenty of time to practice before Soulcalibur IV drops sometime in 2008.

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SIDEBAR: Who's In, Who's Out

The final list of characters in the game, both returning warriors and new fighters, is leaking out only a bit at a time. Since the final game will have around 30 characters total, here’s a look at who’s in and who we hope is in.

CURRENTLY IN:

■ Astaroth — He’s back and so is his axe.

■ Cassandra — Seriously, does anyone play as her?

■ Hilde — This new girl wears too much armor.

■ Ivy — Some might say she wields three weapons.

■ Mitsurugi — We dare you to make fun of his ponytail.

■ Nightmare — What an appropriate name.

■ Raphael — One word: shonen-ai.

■ Siegfried — I hope they never make a character named Roy.

■ Sophitia — She’s the Helenic goddess of our dreams.

■ Taki — She’s a favorite of many, including the game’s director, Katsutoshi Sasaki.

■ Tira — First appeared in Soulcalibur III and wields what looks like a Bat’leth.

■ Voldo — He’s wearing night-vision glasses now because he thinks they make him look less “freaky.” Or more so.

HOPING FOR:

■ Cervantes — Sooooo easy to win with him.

■ Lizardman — Duh, he’s a big lizard.

■ Maxi — Because chicks love guys with nunchaku skills.