Of course, players expect more from modern fighting games than just an excellent fighting engine they also want a strong selection of modes to keep them busy. That said, Soulcalibur V still boasts a great fighting system overall. It's certainly not as clever or user-friendly a mechanic as Street Fighter IV's Focus Attacks, and also means players can no longer parry attacks unless they're Guard Impacts. While it can be a neat way to show off, they're not going to be essential for most levels of play, and the fact that they cost energy from the Critical Gauge for little real reward means that most players probably won't bother with them.

Play The Critical Gauge is also used to perform Guard Impacts perfectly-timed blocks that open your opponent up to attack. The goal is to build up your Critical Gauge during battles – preferably by dealing damage, but also by taking it – and use it to unleash some flashy super moves.

Having appeared in the original Soul Edge (albeit in quite a different form), Critical Edge works much like the Ultra Combo system seen in Street Fighter IV. It gives newbies the ability to jump in and perform some very stylish and impressive looking attacks. In fact, to help make the game a little more friendly, Soulcalibur V sports a new and improved Critical Edge system. For the rest of us, the moves are fluid and fast, and it's not hard to pick up the basics and have a good time.

Higher level play – as in any great fighting game – is almost a balletic dance of tactical positioning and attacks. For those new to the series, Soulcalibur V is a weapons-based 3D fighting game that uses a rock-paper-scissors-style fighting system revolving around high and low vertical and horizontal attacks, as well as high and low blocks and the ability to easily sidestep opponents.

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