Soul Calibur: Kratos Fighter

3D fighting game that pits two fighters against each other in large arena.

Game is a 3D fighting game that pits two fighters against each other in large arena.

Soul Calibur is a 3D fighting game that pits two fighters against each other in large, open arenas. Players must battle their opponent by gauging timing, distance and location in the ring as characters can be knocked off the edge when struck or thrown properly.

As "interesting" as it was to see Darth Vader and Yoda make guest appearances in the Soulcalibur universe, Broken Destiny's Kratos makes much more sense when considering the game's setting. The only other elements worth noting that were removed from the formula are the many unlockables and extras that have traditionally gone hand-in-hand with Soulcalibur games. Broken Destiny doesn't have many extras to speak of, though you will be spending quite a bit of time unlocking items for character creation and earning special honors for your Records.

Broken Destiny has several options for jumping into battle. You can opt for playing a Quick Match, which is exactly that: a single battle with a foe. There are also Trials to face, which are essentially survival-style modes that task you with racking up points and keeping your character alive. Then there's Ad Hoc multiplayer, a Creation tool for building your own characters and the standard Training mode.

The mode that takes the longest to "complete," however, is the Gauntlet. This story-driven, mission-based affair occupies a universe outside of the canonical Soulcalibur narrative. It's a comical story about you (and whichever character you select) following Hilde and her party around the world as they search for medicine for Hilde's father. It has little to do with the actual Soulcalibur story and is more fun and games than anything else.

Each mission in the Gauntlet is comprised of several mini-sections that only last a second or two each. Usually, you're only objective during these brief few moments is to survive a series of attacks and then counter appropriately. With this in mind, it's safe to say that the Gauntlet is more of an instructional tool than anything else, as your failures are greeted with helpful text that give you the steps needed to emerge victorious.