SoulCalibur
While Soul Edge may have been the game that created the series, SoulCalibur was the one that really defined what it would be. It’s also a game that was far ahead of its time.
The biggest innovation this entry brought to the table was the 8-way-run a system that gave players the freedom to move their character around the battlefield however they wanted, in any direction they wanted.
Previous 3D fighters had only allowed limited movement outside of the main axis, and SoulCalibur felt like a revelation in comparison.
The Guard Impact system was greatly expanded upon giving players more options for defense, and the game employed more forgiving buffering for button inputs.
This meant that players could input the button for another move before their character finished their current move.
It’s easier for newcomers and also requires less concentration on actual timed button presses. While the game wasn’t a huge hit in arcades, it became an absolute smash hit when it released on Dreamcast.
This cemented the series’ place in fighting game history, and everything the game did would serve as inspiration for what was to come.
