Namco Bandai is no stranger to inserting guest characters from other franchises into their Soul Calibur series. Soul Calibur II featured Spawn, Link, and Heihachi as console exclusives. Soul Calibur IV continued the trend with Yoda and Vader on the Xbox 360 and PS3 respectively. Both versions were joined by Star Wars: The Force Unleashed's Starkiller. The addition of Star Wars characters was definitely an odd step considering the two franchises disconnect in time and technology. Lightsabers blocked by iron blades and fights taking place aboard advanced starcruisers definitely turned the game into a logical mess.

Soul Calibur V shows that Namco Bandai hasn't necessarily abandoned the guest characters but they've at least chosen someone whose weapons and background make some sense within the Soul Calibur universe. Ezio Auditore da Firenze of Assassin's Creed fame joins the roster, bringing his sword, hidden arm blades, and a melange of other gadgets into the fray. Check him out in the reveal trailer below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNMnZyQLOBA

Soul Calibur V will be available on the PS3 and Xbox 360 January 31, 2012.

Comments

  • Avatar
    s1yfox
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Classy as usual! That looked cool as hell! I dislike ubisoft, but by god ezio tore it up with that vid! I remember when I creamed myself seeing spawn in Soul calibur. Ho Hum :(

  • Avatar
    Dimensaur
    13 years, 1 month ago

    I can honestly say I did not see this coming. I've liked the Soul Calibur guest characters, and Ezio looks pretty sweet.

  • Avatar
    Mutehero
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Second to last line sounds like it should be "menage of other gadgets", although that doesn't make much sense either. "Host of other gadgets" maybe?

    Also, appropriate: http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/10/19

  • Avatar
    Seethe
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Is this the only guest character? If so, that's disappointing...

  • Avatar
    chad
    13 years, 1 month ago

    OMFG that is so fucking amazing!
    I agree with Corvus that Star Wars didn't felt right. But Assassin Creed makes sense like Link did. God I love Soul Calibur. Been playing it since Soul Blade (Soul Edge).

  • Avatar
    DamonD
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Ezio definitely seems a better fit. Maybe they'll stick Altair in too?

    I loved Soul Blade and Soul Calibur but just drifted away from the series, I didn't play any others. I'd been wondering about getting back into the series with V, have to see how things shape up...

  • Avatar
    roughplague
    13 years, 1 month ago

    I heard rumors about this a few days ago, he seems more well implemented than I thought.
    (inb4 they reveal he's a pre-order bonus or an online pass thing)

  • Avatar
    Cvillain
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Oh man, you mean I get to fight with Ezio in a game where I don't just spam counter? Sold

  • Avatar
    Rawkmaster
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Wow I loved that trailer :D

  • Avatar
    Bombader
    13 years, 1 month ago

    There was a person that saw a sneak peek of SC5 that was never heard from again... now I know why.

  • Avatar
    Waari
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Why do people like Ezio? Can somebody explain this? His character seems really simple and dull to me...

  • Avatar
    TheFlameLurker
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Personally I think Ezio isn't a bad fit for a guest character because like you said he fits in the universe. I wonder if another guest character will be announce? I hope so because despite what some people think guest characters can actually be pretty fun.

  • Avatar
    RedAmarillo131
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Ezio reminds me of the Apprentice from the Force Unleashed, but seems a lot more fun to play.However I'm not that excited for SC5 since I'm more excited for Tekken Tag 2.

  • Avatar
    Fady
    13 years, 1 month ago

    That's mag-fuckin-neato.

  • Avatar
    Relay
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Indeed, kinda wanna see more guest appearances in the next SCalliber though.

  • Avatar
    FroggerTheToad
    13 years, 1 month ago

    And to think I had lost interest in Soul Calibur.

  • Avatar
    Neon Vanguard
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Nightmare is in, good, good.

    And if Soul Calibur starts using guest characters that aren't generic bullshit or DLC money grabs, that's fine.

    Soul Calibur 4 had guest characters so horrifically bad, it was embarrassing.

  • Avatar
    pjunk
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Beautiful.

  • Avatar
    Comradebearjew
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Soul Caliber is all a computer simulation!

  • Avatar
    Behelit Larson
    13 years, 1 month ago

    Wow awesome news, Ezio "Master Assassin" Auditore da Firenze becoming one of the special guests of Soul Calibur... Hope that one day we can play everyone of these special characters in one only SC game, like all together. I could play Ezio VS Vader's Apprentice.