SDTEKKEN.COM Soul Calibur IV Review

My Week 1 review for the game is up at SDTEKKEN.COM.

Source: SDTEKKEN.COM

Xbox 360 Hardware Price Drop Again (rumor)

Some information from a purportedly reliable 'mole' within the ranks of Microsoft's gaming division.

Early Sept price reduction on X360 hardware:
* Arcade (no hard drive) to $199
* Pro (60GB) to $299
* Elite (120GB) to $399

Source: Ars Technica

US PlayStation Store Update Details

A feature that has many gamers irked is that the add-on game content (not the music) is a simple unlock key for material already in the game. It's a mystery why the file size would be over 3 megabytes, though.

Add-on Game Content
Soul Calibur IV: Customization Equipment 1 ($1.49)
File size: 3.09 MB
- Sophitia's armor
- Head gear for Astaroth
- Head gear for Nightmare
- Head gear for Voldo
- Head gear for Yoshimitsu

Game Music
Soul Calibur IV: Downloadable Music (SoulCalibur)
File sizes: 5.58 MB - 8.97 MB (tracks), 75.1 MB (full set)
- x17 individual tracks @ $0.99 each
- full set @ $14.99

Source: Shacknews

Unlockables - Tower of Lost Souls

Ascending the Tower
1f	Soldier's Hat
Clear stage while taking no damage
2f	Warrior Trousers
Clear stage with no ring outs from either side
3f	Pauldron
Switch with ally more than 2 times
4f	Warlord'S Belt
Perform 3 attack throws
5f	Clergy Clothes
Defeat an enemy with a ring out
6f	Wonder Jacket
Throw an opponent
7f	Warrior Trousers
Clear the stage without missing any attacks
8f	Armor Ring: Ice Mirror
Switch characters twice
9f	Scarlett Blossoms
Guard opponent's attack 3 times in a row
10f	Silver Boots
Guard opponent's attack 10 times in a row
11f	Grim Horn
Defeat all enemies with a critical finish
12f	Magus Cloth
Defeat all enemies with ring out
13f	Pegasus Sallet
Destroy all the walls
14f	Stage: Phantom Pavilion- Seesaw
Perform guard impact more than 3 times
15f	Submissions Belt
Clear the stage using only the A and G buttons
16f	Warlord'S Belt
Clear the stage with 0 time remaining
17f	Arm Bandages
Execute a 5+ combo
18f	Kouchu Kabuto
Stand on all corners of the stage
19f	Longhua Qippo
Switch with ally more than 5 times
20f	Life Gem:Sun
Clear the stage with a critical finish
21f	Longhua Qippo
Voluntarily performed a ring out
22f	Honor Boots
Perform more than 4 counter hits
23f	Frilled Skirt
Guard more than 3 times in a row
24f	Protect Gem:Cardinal Directions
Perform a combo with more than 240 damage
25f	Zhuque Changpao
Throw more than 5 times
26f	Warthog Cuirass
Executed a 10+ combo
27f	Iron Gauntlets
Cleared the stage with no damage taken
28f	Aculeus Suit
Opponent guarded a guard break attack at least twice
29f	Menghu Boots
Switch with ally 5+ times
30f	Spirit Gem
Noniple Heads, Clear stage without guarding
31f	Longming Qippo
Perform 5+ Just Inputs
32f	Vane Mask
Perform a low throw
33f	Battle Dress
Perform 3 attack throws
34f	Power Gem: Warrior Princess
Perform guard impact 3+ times
35f	Warthog Pauldrons
Clear without switching
36f	Parlor Blouse
Clear stage with 0 time remaining
37f	Siren's Helm
Defeat all enemies with critical finishes
38f	Gorgon Fauld
Defeat all enemies with ring out
39f	Kingfisher Greaves
Clear the stage without changing position
40f	Deer Head
Execute a 5+ combo
41f	Minotaur
Perform 5+ Just Inputs
42f	Demonic Gloves
Clear the stage without letting opponents invoke a skill
43f	Repel Gem: Iron Shell
Perform an over the back throw
44f	War Cloak
No ring outs either side
45f	Tiger Lily Kabuto
Defeat enemies without using any skills
46f	Butterfly Salet
Same as above
47f	Succubus Boots
Throw 5 times
48f	Life Dem:Jade
Clear stage with a character equipped with the "invisible" skill
49f	Horns Of Calamity
Clear stage with no attacks missing
50f	Tiger Lily Breastplates
Execute a 10+ combo
51f	Tiger Lily Fauld
Perform more than 4 counterhits
52f	Feathered Wings
Clear stage with a critical finish
53f	Blade Ring: Demon Lord
Defeat all enemies with a ring out
54f	Leviathan Paoldron
Destroy all the walls
55f	Priestess Kimono
Perform 3 attack throws
56f	Leviathan Burgonet
Perform a combo with more than 240 damage
57f	Voodoo Armlets
Voluntarily perform a ring out
58f	Tiger Pauldrons
Defeat all enemies without any skills equipped
59f	Voodoo Greaves
Guard an enemies attack 10 times in a row
60f	Voodoo Breastplate
Clear the stage without switching characters
Descending The Tower
B5	Dark Knight'S Cloak
B10	Blade Ring: Raging Thunder
B15	Lapin Chapeau
B20	Repel Gem:Fox Demon
B25	Succubus Guantlets
B30	Demonic Armor
B35	Demonic Pauldrons
B40	Voodoo Crown

Unlockables - Characters

Angol Fear, Ashlotte, Kamikirimusi, Scheherazade, Shura:
Defeat stage 3 in story mode with default characters

Grey characters (Yoshimitsu, Cervantes, etc):
Purchase in Character Creation mode for 4000G each

The Apprentice:
Play through Arcade Mode with Darth Vader or Yoda

Algol:
Play through story mode who faces him on stage 5

Voldo Glitch That Only Works for Player 2

According to a post on Calibur Forums, the following move guarantees Player 2 Voldo three free hits that simply aren't blocked by Player 1, even if they're holding guard:

4[K], LF BB+K

But if Player 1 Voldo tries it, the moves are blocked.

Custom Characters Vol 01

cas01
Originally uploaded by Soul Calibur IV Custom Characters

Trunks (Dragon Ball Z) and Bojack (Dragon Ball Z) -- I guess Trunks could look a little skinnier...

Joystiq: 24 custom Soul Calibur IV characters

A video showcasing someone's custom characters has surfaced on Joystiq.

If only we had options to capture in-game screenshots!

Source: Joystiq

Soul Calibur IV DLC Information

As of this posting, the DLC for the Japanese PSN store was released:

1) Two new wallpapers (free)

2) One customization package - includes retro armor for Sophitia, head pieces for Astaroth, Voldo, Nightmare, and Yoshimitsu. 150 yen ($1.50 US) for the entire set.

3) The entire BGM set for Soul Calibur I (17 songs), priced at 1500 yen (around $15 US). Alternatively, individual tracks may be purchased for 100 yen a piece.

Soul Calibur IV Reviews

Quick comparison chart of Soul Calibur IV reviews, looking at publications and how they reviewed other titles in the Soul series.

It's surprising to see how Soul Calibur IV did compared to its immediate predecessor, given the positive reception the fighting game community has given Soul Calibur IV thus far.

Punch Jump: Soul Calibur IV Xbox 360 Premium in top 25

Looks like the premium edition for Soul Calibur IV ranked up pretty high on Amazon.com on its release date.

The regular versions for the PS3 and Xbox 360 were ranked at #6 and #7 for video game sales, respectively.

Source: Punch Jump

Ars Technica: Post-release Soulcalibur IV online play disappoints

It looks like the writers over at Ars Technica aren't too happy with the online features of Soul Calibur IV.

Nothing was more troubling, though, than a simple flaw with the game's online system that has, in effect, completely ruined the online experience for me. Ranked matches—the only ones in which you actually earn online experience—have a fatal flaw. There is no penalty for quitting a ranked match aside from losing the pittance of consolation XP awarded to the loser. This means that virtually every person who is on the cusp of defeat quits out, netting you nothing but wasted time for your efforts.

Source: Ars Technica