Soul Calibur Legends
Wii gets its first taste of Calibur.
CraveOnline: Why was Siegfried chosen to be the lead character?
Jin Okubo: Soulcalibur Legends is unique in that the majority of the plot focuses on Soul Edge. Since Siegfried has a deep connection with Soul Edge, one of the two swords that play a central role in the game’s story, he seemed suited for the lead. In this title, we wanted to tell the story of Siegfried and how he struggles to overcome his guilt over the sins of his past. We wanted to show him dealing with questions such as “What is true strength?” and “What is truly important in life?”
CraveOnline: Why is the Wii the perfect system for this type of new Soulcalibur game?
Jin Okubo: We wanted to make the Soulcalibur series accessible to not only hardcore gamers, but also to casual gamers, as well. Anyone can simply pick up the Wii remote, start swinging it, and enjoy the intuitive gameplay. We feel that sort of accessibility is in keeping with the spirit of the Wii hardware.
CraveOnline: What unique controller opportunities does the Wii provide?
Jin Okubo: You can swing the Wii remote and the in-game character will swing his/her weapon in the same direction. From there, you can perform combos by performing a series of movements with the Wii remote. The type of combo that is performed varies depending on the direction and the timing of these movements.
CraveOnline: How were the classic Soulcaliber controls adapted to this third person game?
Jin Okubo: Games in the Soulcalibur series were originally designed around the concept of one-on-one battle. However, since this title is completely different, it had to be designed from the ground up. Having said that, many of the core members of the development team that worked on previous Soulcalibur titles were involved in this title, so they were able to bring their experience to the project and maintain the general atmosphere of the series.
CraveOnline: What classic combos and moves will we see in Legends? Are there new ones?
Jin Okubo: Most of the moves from the Soulcalibur series can be performed in Soulcalibur Legends. In fact, you’ll find a large number of moves available in the game, which makes taking on multiple enemies much more fun. For example, with Taki you can leap from enemy to enemy as you attack. Astaroth can knock large numbers of enemies out of the way with a single swing of his axe. When surrounded by attacking enemies you can use Guard Impacts to stun your opponents. You’ll find that moving your character with the Nunchuk and swinging your sword with the Wii remote is just the beginning. Using the Wii remote and the Nunchuk in conjunction with one another allows you to perform powerful new moves. One example of this is swinging the Wii remote and then shaking the Nunchuk to one side or another. This will cause the character to swing his/her sword and then sidestep. After sidestepping, you can also pull off more unique moves. By mastering these types of techniques, you’ll find you can perform countless numbers of combos and moves in battle. In addition, there are a variety of actions at your disposal, such as jumps, Guard Impacts, sidesteps, etc. There are also a number of special attacks. These attacks vary depending on the weapon the character has equipped, as well as which buttons are pressed while the Spirit Gauge is activated. As you explore the game, you’ll find more and more aspects of the game to enjoy as your skills develop. By increasing your sword fighting skills and pulling off advanced moves, you become even more connected with the character, and that really draws you into the game. This is one of the most enjoyable aspects of Soulcalibur Legends.
CraveOnline: What was the inspiration for turning a series known for fighting into an action adventure game? Anything like Mortal Kombat Mythologies, etc?
Jin Okubo: Fans of the series have been requesting a Soulcalibur action game for some time, which is something we took note of. In addition, the development team had wanted to expand on the action from the Soulcalibur series and take it in new directions. The Wii hardware itself was definitely an inspiration, as well. We wanted to develop a game that could only be experienced on the Wii, a game that allowed the player to connect with the character by swinging the Wii remote. That’s the kind of Soulcalibur game we wanted to create.
CraveOnline: Are there familiar environments that Soulcalibur fans will see in Legends? Are there new ones?
Jin Okubo: Most of the environments in the game are completely new. There are also stages set in environments which have appeared in the Soulcalibur series before, so those will be familiar to veteran gamers. The action in Soulcalibur Legends covers the four corners of the world, with environments ranging from snowy mountain peaks to Fu-Ma Village to Cervantes’ pirate ship, the Adrian.
