Darth Vader and Jedi Master Yoda, previously available exclusively to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Soul Calibur IV respectively, will be making cross-platform appearances as downloadable content later this week.

Darth Vader will be available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 400 Microsoft Points, while Yoda will be available on the PlayStation Store for $4.99. While it was inevitable, it’s sure to sting platform fan boys and girls just a little.

If you haven’t already bought it and you can wait for the 700meg download, you can go and grab the Soul Calibur IV demo on Xbox Live right now.

While it’s already been hailed as the greatest entry to the series and possibly the best fighter this year, you can go ahead and read our review to get a good idea of what you’ll be up against, should you decide to actually buy it. If that doesn’t convince you, that’s what demos are for!

With the original SoulCalibur (Dreamcast) considered by many to be the greatest console 3D fighting game ever made, it comes as no surprise that the latest instalment in the series has met both fervent anticipation and impossibly high expectations. Fortunately, SoulCalibur IV is a game that not only holds its own amongst its esteemed predecessors, but also makes a strong case for being perhaps the richest and most satisfying fighting experience we’ve seen this generation.

I should mention that I am no frame-counting hardcore fighting game fanatic. I approached SoulCalibur IV from the perspective of a middle-core gamer craving a fighting game that is accessible and intuitive enough to pick up and play with little resistance and frustration, but also deep and technical enough to offer a rewarding and lasting experience that would push me to constantly improve my skills and rule out luck as a determining factor during matches. From this perspective, the game delivers the goods. In spades.

Continue reading El33tonline’s review of SoulCalibur IV.

Here is a Q & A with the games director of Soul Calibur IV, Katsutoshi Sasaki, to celebrate the recent release of the latest instalment of Namco Bandai’s popular fighting franchise.

Soul Calibur IV features an online versus mode for the first time in the Soul Calibur series. Players can also look forward to Critical Strike for each character as well as a new game system known as AMB (Active Matching Battle).

The game features new interactive stages, enhanced character creation mode and downloadable content. In addition the PS3 version features Sith Lord Darth Vader as a special guest while Xbox 360 owners should keep an eye out for Jedi master Yoda.

So without further ado, here is a Q and A with Katsutoshi Sasaki (games director for Soul Calibur IV). Want to know if Yoda and Darth Vader will be facing off in the near future? Then read on. Thanks to the Xbox Community Network for the interview.

• With 3D open-world games and First Person Shooters proving so popular on Xbox 360 do you think fighting games are as popular as they used to be, and how can Soul Calibur IV appeal to a wider audience?

Every genre has a peak of popularity. FPS and open world games are popular all over the world now, but it is because of a trend. The trend will get more people playing that genre, and those people will bring in more people, which will make for a good continual flow of players into the genre.

Even though the fighting game genre has been around a long time, I have to agree that the number of people playing the genre has decreased. So, we have made this attempt to collaborate with Lucas Arts to get new people interested in fighting games again. I am hoping this collaboration will be a trigger for people to play SoulCalibur, and we are also hoping more people will rediscover the fighting genre. Finally, I believe that fighting games will be more interesting as the number of people who play this genre increases.

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This competition was a great experiment to test how many Soul Calibur fans are out there. Despite running for just five days, we received a lot of entries so thanks to everyone who entered.

Congratulations to Mark Botha who wins himself an ultra cool Soul Calibur IV T-Shirt and keyring. Nicky Diamond made the girls proud by walking away with second place, a Soul Calibur IV T-Shirt.

We hope you wear your gaming colours with pride. Thanks to Megarom for hooking this lucky guy and girl up with Soul Calibur kit.

There are just three more days until Soul Calibur IV lands in South Africa, this Friday the 1st of August.

To celebrate the launch, we have two awesome Soul Calibur IV T-shirts and one keyring up for grabs.

Don’t miss the chance to get decked out in true gamers style. Just answer a simple question and your name will be added to the draw.

You could be one of fifteen lucky gamers to see and play Soul Calibur IV first in South Africa.

Megarom is hosting an exclusive Soul Calibur IV screening at 4:30 pm this Friday at Megarom HQ in Johannesburg.

To stand a chance to win this once in a lifetime opportunity, simply register for the Megarom MegaGamers Club and email megagamers@megarom.co.za with a request to join the club. It’s as easy as that! Winners will be contacted this Wednesday.

If you are not already a member of the MegaGamers Club you are missing out on playing the latest games, getting access to exclusive events and getting the scoop on industry questions.

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