Soul Calibur

Soulcalibur is a 3D fighting game series, sharing concepts and features with games like Virtua Fighter or Tekken . Both players must pick a character before fighting a duel divided in several rounds . Each character has their own preferred fighting style and weapon. To win a round, players must deplete their opponents' health gauge or propel them out of the arena.

The games use a four button layout for control. 'G' is used to Guard, allowing fighters to block incoming attacks. 'A', 'B' and 'K' allow players to perform horizontal weapon attacks, vertical weapon attacks and kick attacks respectively. These buttons are then combined with directions from a d-pad or a joystick to perform one of several dozen moves available to each character.

Soulcalibur introduced the series' trademark 8-Way Run system. It allows players to easily move their characters around the arena, taking full advantage of the game's 3D environments. Using this technique, players can maneuver around attacks or away from ring edges. Several attacks are only available from an 8-Way Run state.

Soulcalibur also introduced an air control system that allows players to move their characters after they are hit in midair, letting them dodge most aerial juggles . This feature has meant that the Soulcalibur series features shorter combos than many competing fighting games . Introduced in Soul Edge , Guard Impacts are a defensive technique that allows the player to check an incoming strike and create an opening even against otherwise safe moves. These parries require precise timing and expose the fighter performing them to retaliation if used incorrectly.

After a successful parry, the opposing player cannot perform any action besides a Guard Impact of their own. Soulcalibur through to Soulcalibur IV required different inputs to counter different moves ; by contrast, Soulcalibur V and Soulcalibur VI allow players to spend resources to counter any incoming attack regardless of attack height, so long as they can predict its timing. Soul Edge featured a mechanic intended to limit blocking in the Weapon Meter. As a player blocked attacks, their Weapon Meter would deplete.

Once empty, their character could be disarmed, preventing them blocking any further attacks and forcing them to fight bare-handed until the end of the round. This system was abandoned in Soulcalibur , before being brought back in the form of the Soul Gauge in Soulcalibur IV . There, breaking the opponent's guard allows a player to perform a Critical Finish and win the round immediately. This was amended in Soulcalibur V to only provide an opening for a damaging combo .