Released exclusively for the Playstation 2, this game takes the Soul Calibur formula and throws in new characters and a new create-a-character mode with many unique styles available for them. An in depth Chronicles of the Sword mode allows you to explore the many different types of custom characters, and a more story heavy mode than its predecessors makes this game stand high above similar fighting games. All categories will be rated on a scale from 1-10, 10 being the best.
Story: 8
Each character in the game has a unique but interlocking storyline for the most part. Characters all seek the same swords as in the predecessors, the Soul Calibur and Soul Edge, but as you play the story mode you are told the characters’ story this time, making it less of an effort to learn the characters’ purpose for fighting for the sword. The Chronicles of the Sword mode also has an amazing war-like setting where custom characters must be relied on to achieve success. However, a warning: Don't delete any data on your memory card or else the Chronicles of the Sword data will be corrupted as well! Apart from that, both modes contain enough story to beat out two-dimensional stories from other fighting games.
Graphics: 8
Amazing graphics, especially for the PS2. Faces are clearly distinguishable and environments are amazing. In fact, its images don't falter much of anywhere. However, it faces odd issues with custom characters, like clothes clearly penetrating skin and odd facial glitches (not to mention a particularly ugly assortment of faces). Thse graphics were pretty amazing at the time, and are still surprising for their home console.
Sound: 6
Unrealistic attack sounds, voices being cut off, and some particularly loud and annoying sounds on menus hold this from being too high. Songs are decent, nothing you would put on an MP3 player, and I believe some characters have their definitive voices in this game (especially Rock) as well as Olcadan's awesome vocal glitches in training mode, which are laughable themselves. This isn't supposed to be a bad rating, but an average rating. 7 is just a bit too high.
Characters: 9
An amazing cast that brings back almost all of the SC2 characters and even revives the abandoned Rock character. Introducing the characters of Zasalamel and Tira, Soul Calibur received some of its most interesting characters. Setsuka and Olcadan supplement the cast and the Special characters let us play as classics like Hwang and Li Long as well as Amy and other intriguing characters (albeit undeveloped). Each one wields a custom character style, thus making the actual amount of unique characters over 40. The main cast all have deep and intricate stories that are engaging enough to make you play as characters you may not like, just to see how they contribute to the amazing storyline of the game.
Levels: 6
Graphically amazing and with decent music, what could be the problem? Ring outs. Ring outs are the cheapest way to win a match, and everyone feels cheated if they lose because of it. Well, it just so happens there are few cage match levels and a myriad of levels where one can easily get tossed out. If not for this, perhaps Soul Calibur III could have had excellent levels. If only they had made the levels bigger...
Gameplay: 9
The fighting is amazing, and the ease of executing combos puts it above the Street Fighter battle systems most people try to imitate. Each fighting style uses very different moves, with only a few crossovers between characters. Almost everybody can find three characters they can adapt to, even inexperienced fighting game players. Soul Calibur's 8-Way Run and simplistic combos makes it perhaps one of the best if not the best fighting game series I have ever played.
Replayability: 7
Due to SCIV being out, SCIII doesn’t have a lot of replayability due to the superiorities of its older brother. However, the many fighting styles of custom characters aren't transferrable, and the Chronicles of the Sword mode give this game replayability. In other words, custom characters saved this from gathering dust with other fighting games that have passed their time due to updates.
Overall: 8
Soul Calibur 3 is a great fighting game that can hold its own for even the friendless. Although there is no Internet mode, the storylines and unlockables will keep you coming back for more.
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