‘Soul Calibur IV’

‘Soul Calibur IV’

(Bandai Namco) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

Genre: Fighting; Rating: T

Grade: B-

The previous installment in the “Soul Calibur” series was not exactly a barnburner of epic proportions. Sure, “Soul Calibur Legends” came out for the Wii, so there is a slight difference in presentation and gameplay, but either way it was a release that was poor in many facets and left fans wondering if the franchise was beginning to sputter.

Two new additions to the franchise in “Soul Calibur IV” make that argument a wash. And though the gameplay remains mostly unchanged, these changes make enough difference to warrant this being a must-own, and then it comes down to which version to buy.

First is the inclusion of “Star Wars” characters. On the Xbox 360, you get Yoda, who may be small in stature but packs a wallop indeed. He’s difficult to hit, and while he doesn’t use a lot of Force powers, his nimble mobility is a definite advantage.

Over on the PS3 you get Darth Vader. Here, Vader has more Force powers than Yoda, but his overall strength is not as dominating compared with the rest of the “Soul Calibur” field. There is another Apprentice character, who is — pun intended — a force to be reckoned with.

The second big inclusion is online play. This is the first time “Soul Calibur” has had it. Playing online is smooth and easy, and while there are no special gaming modes or anything you have not experienced in other games, at least it is finally a part of this franchise.

The gameplay in “Soul Calibur IV” won’t be a chore to learn. Once you get the controls down, almost every character plays the same. It’s just a matter of finding one that fits your style. Character customization is equally important, with armor and appearance alterations that won’t make you unstoppable, but will give you definite advantages based on how you play.

Besides the task of deciding between the PS3 or 360 version, there is little that should stop you from buying this game.

—Chris Campbell, Scripps Howard