The release of Soul Calibur IV is upon us this week! The game’s highly anticipated approach has taken several steps, led by critical acclaim,

commercial success and a hardcore fanbase that follows the series to its core.

 

Considering the incredible history of the Soul Calibur series, it would be a travesty if we didn’t drop

some knowledge on the subject. The most popular weapons-based fighter of all

time has had its own personal road to travel, and outside of one wrong turn, it’s

avoided the road to perdition to survive as one of the elite of the fighting

game genre.

 

Soul Edge (Blade)

Platforms: Arcade | Playstation

Release: January 1997

 

Every journey must begin with a first step, and a tale of Souls and Swords is no different. In a world where the 3d fighter was still new,

trying to find its place alongside the Street

Fighters and Samurai Showdowns of

the world, Namco had experimented and found some success emulating the former

with its Tekken Series. At that

point, they decided it was time to jump into the foray of armed combat.

 

This led to the creation of Soul Edge, localized as Soul

Blade for gamers in the west. First released in the fighters’ ultimate

battlefield, the Japanese arcade, the game swam where most sink. Namco knew

they had another star franchise under their belt, and began to put into action

the idea to port it to the most stable console of the time, and generation, the

Sony Playstation.

 

The series introduced us (and got us attached) to Mitsurugi,

Taki, Li Long, Sophitia, Rock, Seung Mina, Voldo, Hwang, and series protagonist

Seigfried. These characters’ backgrounds give them life, as you find that the

search for Soul edge isn’t just for power. Themes such as revenge,

conservatism, tradition and even safety are their ambitions.

 

Attached to the port beside the simple arcade mode was the

standard VS., Time attack, and Survival, along with the single player mode Edge

Master Mode, allowing players to work to unlock weapons.

 

The game’s main appeal was being a very stable fighting

product with weapons in the 3d arena. Even in the era before the genre

shattering eight-way run, they had an ability to jump, allowing the player to

dodge low attacks and add some diversity to the fighting lineup. A defining

feature in this game, which isn’t found in any other entry of the series, was

the weapon durability bar. It stopped characters from “turtling,” forcing them

to go weaponless, making every attack hurt that much more when blocking,

effectively making it useless. It also defined special moves, depleting itself

when characters unleashed their most powerful attacks.

 

The series of Soul’s

only entry into the Playstation library is a very effective one. Scoring high

amongst critics and garnering decent numbers, it all but guaranteed a sequel to

appear down the line.

Soul Calibur

Platforms: Arcade | Dreamcast

Release: September 1999

 

A sequel is an interesting device with an interesting history.

It has the power to push a series of any medium to a new level, or take the

priors building blocks and dash them much like the act of a divisive God. Luckily

for this series, Namco, and fans, Soul Calibur

took the foundation the first built and created a house that still stands

today.

 

The most interesting thing about this title is that it wasn’t as well received as its

predecessor in the arcades. However, when it came to the shores of the U.S. as a

part of the Sega Dreamcast launch, the title took off like a fresh rocket off

the launch pad.

 

One of the abilities of the Sega Dreamcast, which may not be

emulated as well by other consoles out on the market even today, is the near

perfect Arcade emulation that it carries. What this did was allow the

developers to work on upgrading the title, and making the most beautiful and

fun fighting games to date.

 

Another reason was the introduction of eight-way run, which

is now a main staple in 3d fighting. It allows characters to run to the left

and right, giving them the power to dodge and adds a new level of strategy.

 

This game was breathtaking, to say the least. The powerful

graphics engine still may have the ability to surprise to this day, with things

like catching blades of grass moving. It may be the most beautiful title to

come out on a console pre-millennium.

 

The series’ story adds more depth. It is assumed that once

noble Seigfried has been engulfed by the Soul Edge evil power. The Soul Calibur

is now the weapon that most are looking for, to combat the Soul Edge and defeat

Nightmare. New characters such as Ivy, M###, Kilik, Astaroth, and Xianghua now

added some more depth to the roster.

 

Also added to this game was the Mission Mode, and upgrade to

the previous Edge Master Mode. Now unlockable were costumes, artwork and video,

as well as weapons, allowing users to really get a handle on the

concepts that created this game. All of these things gave the mainstream a reason to appreciate what had previously only been known by

the hardcore.

Soul  Calibur II

Platforms: Arcade | Playstation 2 | Gamecube | Xbox

Release: August 2003

 

Why fix something that isn’t broken? That’s the main concept

behind Soul Calibur II.  After the Dreamcast’s failing, Namco found a

home for its smash hit on the other market-viable consoles at the time – the leading

Playstation 2, Nintendo’s new Gamecube, and new market player, Microsoft’s

Xbox.

 

With the new consoles came some added features, like the

upgraded Weapons Master Mode, which added some of the best features of Edge

Master Mode and Mission Mode. Also, Weapons now had their own personality, as

they now featured a back story. Characters had an Ultimate Weapon, a collection

of different effective armaments, and even for the bravest, joke weapons that

could be used to test yourself or embarrass an opponent.

 

The most distinguishing feature however, had to do with the

consoles the game appeared on. Each console had a specific character, whether

it was Playstation 2’s Heihachi, Xbox’s Spawn, or Nintendo’s Link. Each had

their specific strength and weaknesses, and added some replay ability on

different consoles.

 

Also added to the roster list were Yunsung, Talim, Raphael,

Charade and Cassandra. Each of these characters gained their own back story and

fit into the universe of Soul Calibur, whose story now revolved around the tale

of both swords, the Soul Edge and Soul Calibur. One of redemption, terror,

betrayal and ultimate sacrifice, this game’s biggest achievement was giving

much more backbone to the story elements of the game, giving everything some

sort of significance.

 

With what may be the best technical game of the series, Soul Calibur II is probably the best

balanced game of the series. While Blade

may be the original, and the original Calibur

may have gotten higher scores, this is the game where the best find their

edge competitively.

Soul Calibur III

Platforms: Arcade | Playstation 2 | Gamecube | Xbox

Release: October 2005

 

With a credible system now in place, the team at Namco

decided to create a feature laden experience. What ended up being created was Soul Calibur III, now a Sony-exclusive

game.

 

At first sight, this game seemed to have it all – a

character creation mode which lets you make your own creation and inject them

into the world with the Chronicle of the Sword Mode, which injects your

characters right into the world of war. Not just that, it featured RPG as well

as strategic elements that made your character grow with you. It allows some

attachment missing from video games today.

 

The original characters tales are not stripped, as the Tale

of Souls mode allows players to keep up with the story of the original games.

It added some battle functionality as well, giving button inputs that

determined if the next battle would be fought on level ground. Failing the

button input could mean that the battle starts off with a disadvantaged

position for the character.

 

World Competition mode

resembles tournament, allowing characters to capture gold medals. Extra weapons

return, but take a bit of a shortening. Also, the Soul Arena mode doubles as

the basic arcade mode.

 

The problem with this is much like an album with amazing

production yet average lyrics. At first, it seems that you’re in the presence

of greatness. However, as you dig into it more, you realize that you’re given a

somewhat mediocre product under some decorative wrapping.

 

This game isn’t bad by any means, but by missing Online

Play, not being as balanced as Soul Calibur

II, and coming with a gang of glitches that make masterful players cringe.

Still playable and fun, but don’t be surprised if you bring this around great

players, the best will rather take it back to Soul Calibur II.

Soul Calibur Legends

Platforms: Wii

Release: November 2007

 

There always is a misstep in every series, and this happens

to be it for the team at Namco/ Project Soul. What was supposed to be a game

that featured the best of the Wii’s characteristics (i.e. motion-based

gameplay) and the story of an established franchise of Soul Calibur’s stature, this should be a layup.

 

The story is three, Seigfried is looking for redemption.

Secret characters such as Lloyd from Tales of Symphonia make an appearance.

Story seems in line with the franchise. The move lists have been transferred

over, so many of the coolest combinations can be performed by the player.

 

However, the game features stale mechanics. The user has to

basically flail their arms like a madman to perform anything. Not just that,

most combinations are essentially useless. The gameplay basically leaves you

frustrated and tired all at the same time, for no reason.

 

Luckily this was an offshoot of the series, and just a foray

into experimentation. Series that have a solid background are allowed one

misstep, and this is one of them.

Soul Calibur IV

Platform: Xbox 360 | Playstation III

Release: July 29, 2008

 

At worst, the last two games can be called growing pains for

Project Soul. Even with Soul Calibur III

and Soul Calibur Legends not being the

standard flag bearers of the series, Soul Calibur

has been able to gather the imagination of most turned off by those two

missteps.

 

More characters, from Star

Wars characters Yoda and Darth Vader, the new step into the next

generation, and the dedication the team has given to the title may not be

enough to sway old fans back into the matrix, but the gameplay videos have been

able to.

 

Features such as online play and destroyable armor have

really excited the fan base again. Character Creation has been given a facelift

as the characters can now have more of a personality, custom armor and weapons.

Finishing moves have given cool ways to destroy your characters opponent in a

fancy way. Turtling seems to be all but finished, as with armor destruction has

given the game more an offensive feel, much like the original Soul Blade.

 

When this game is released July 29, one would be remised to

not give this one a chance. Fans of the second game should find themselves at

home, and those who are new to the series should find themselves engrossed in a

tale of Soul and Swords, one like the world has never seen.

Catch up on more gaming news and discussion with Adam Thomas and the crew at www.forum.thegamerstudio.com

Welcome to another edition of Sick Sundays, back at our regularly scheduled day and time.  Trying to bring you that unorthodox illness from the past the present and the future.  Todays episode features the return of my man with the relentless rhyme flow, Freeway, riding with Skillz on video.

 

 

This song is similar in pace and construction to “What We Do” from the heyday of the Roc.  Freeway does particularly well at these free flowing songs with no chorus.  He and Skillz tagteam the mic.  Not really a fan of Skillz’ style but he more than does his thing on this.  The beat doesn’t really lend itself to normal punchline style so you gotta go hard on it.   Check out his recent interview :

https://allhiphop.com/stories/features/archive/2008/07/22/20324313.aspx#comments

 

 

“I’m Ill” Lil Wayne Feat. Tupac

The “best rapper alive” gets down with the best rapper people still think is alive as Posthumous ‘Pac and Weezy F get “Ill.”  Nice slow-screwed beat, perfectly blended with the vocals of Makavelli while Wayne does what he does.  Not amazing but it’s always good to hear a solid Pac verse, and Wayne doesn’t do anthing to hurt his place as a leading emcees

 

“Ya’ll Better Get Used To It” Ice Cube Feat. WC & Game 

Throw up your “W’s” the Wesside Connect is back again…with a noticable change.  Gone is Mac 10, in comes The Game.  Ice Cube rocks the LL “Going Back to Cali” flow (Last aped by the entire Terror Squad on “Take Me Home.” ) WC comes with the usual hardcore flows.  Few new wrinkles including a lil’ singsongy delivery but a solid performance.  The chorus incorporates the old Cool C shout from “Glamourous Life” (Shout to the Hill Top Hustlers, Philly Stand up!).  Game comes with a bigger, stronger presence on this probably to match his two counterparts on the song.  Not really his best but a cool change of pace.  If this is how the West Coast is coming, “Ya’ll Better Get Used To It.”  Yeah I did it…*hangs head.

 

“I Got Bass”  Busta Rhymes (Produced by Bangladesh)

Who said the East Coast was dead?  Busta Rhymes comes through with Bangla Bangla Bangladesh for this heater.  Busta’s last album was very good even though politically he may not be in everyone’s good graces.  The beat is pure sickness from the “A Milli” producer, who is obviously making the most of his newfound notoriety by pumping out bangers.  The erratic piano keys segue into musical mania as the wacky beat provides the perfect backdrop for Busta’s staccato off kilter flow. There ain’t much bass in this, but it’s pure fire.

 

“Crossover” EPMD Business Never Personal

Next up, a blast from the past.  Erick and Parrish Mumbling Dialogue (Just kidding fellas, shout to the Hit Squad).  One of many loved but not heeded anthems devoted to keeping it real and staying faithful to the underground, which back then didnt mean being wack to the point no one would listen to you.  Beat bottom-heavy like Buffy the Body.  Backpackers and 90s heads feel free to blackout and go ape s**t.  Young dudes take notes.  Short and sweet.

 

 

And now our weekly break for wildness.  Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails and Saul Williams  get together for this joint “Sunday, Bloody Sunday,” a rather morbid title and an even more  strange video. Saul’s nome de guerre here is “Niggy Tardust” and obvious homage to Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust . The vid provides enough images for a part three of CNN meh-fest Black in America.  Take what you want from it, either it soars or it bores you, I thought it was strange enough to get some light.

 

Sunday Bloody Sunday – Niggy Tardust! aka Saul Williams

 

“Never Seen You Hustlin'” K.A.S.H.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming.  We’ve all hear about our boy Rick Rauce the Bauce.  As it’s the hot issue of the moment there are the obligatory rappers lining up to kick a man while he’s down.  Kash Burrell is the author of this track “Never Seen You Hustlin,” of course to the beat of Ross’ First hit. Whether this episode is damaging to The Biggest Boss or not, this track probably will not be.   Decide for yourselves whether it’s passable or whether it’s worth holding your morning toaster strudel. This guy is kinda proud of the wrong stuff.

 

 

Sick Sunday 7/28

*******************************************************************

BONUS COVERAGE!

 

We been running the Class of ’88 coverage the entire year.  We was the first, and the best at it.  The biters know who they are and I’ll leave it at that, but just for a trip through memory lane, here’s Volume 1 of the class of 88 mixtape.  No DJ mouthing off or yelling, straight music.  Peep the class of ’88 joints in the Review Section. Shout to the Almighty Rocksteady Crew on their 31st Anniversary.

 

AHH Class of 88 Vol. 1

I’m gonna leave you with a lil Black Panther flavor .  Peace out

What up AHH fam! Summer time is in full swing and who wants to be stuck indoors, right? Here are a couple of toys to help you be productive, or at least be entertained while on the go.Akai Professional has been setting producers free for years and the addition of XR20 is no exception. Its compact size makes it completely portable, and its list of features and capabilities empowers everyone from the basement beat maker to the major studio producer.

Features:

Backlit LCD

Bright, glowing, backlit pads that follow the beat

Microphone input and Headphone output

Pattern Play Mode – Different patterns can be triggered from individual pads

Drum Roll / Note Repeat feature for realism and expression

Battery Power capability and AC Adapter

Check the video for a full overview:

Though it’s only a prototype right now, Sharp thought it would be extremely nice to liberate us from our dependency on the electric company and get us a little sunshine. They’re working on a new 26-inch LCD TV that uses a quarter of the power of it CRT TV counterpart. 

 

 

They’re going to market this with a solar panel of about the same size, so getting your lights shut off will have no effect on your TV viewing pleasure.The residents of Akron, Ohio should love this one. The city has pledged to build a $800,000, free wireless network. The project will span the next five years and will benefit 90,000 residents and 3,100 city workers. That’s just a small part of 26-city project run by the John S. and John L. Knight Foundation. Just think, millions of people will be emancipated from Starbucks everywhere.It was fun, but it’s time for you to set yourself free, so unchain yourself from your computer and go have some fun! I’m sure there’s gotta be a party or cook out or something you could be doing. ‘Til next time.

 

Troy Gayle is the founder of Gadget-T.com

S.O.B.’s, New York, NYJuly 23, 2008It was a night that true lovers

of R&B and Soul can attest to, as Anthony David performed for New York City. The vibes that came across the crowd as they

listened to the poignant feel-good tracks songwriter turned artist David

delivered from his latest release Acey Duecy (Soulbird/Universal

Republic), were definitely felt throughout the semi-packed venue. 

Newcomer Vincent “V. Rich”

Richardson warmed up the scattered crowd, performing several original

songs for the audience. However, it was pretty clear that they were awaiting David, whose album

is a compilation of songs from his debut 3 Chords & The Truth

and second album The Red Clay Chronicles (both released under

Brash Music).  

As soon as David hit the stage,

everyone from the bar and those seated eating dinner all flocked to

center stage. He opened introducing himself and his album singing over

Estelle’s “American Boy,” and then transitioned into tracks from

his third release. Most of the audience has followed him from his very

beginnings, while others only heard his name from penning hits for India.Arie.

Mellow cuts like “Something

About You,” “Stop Playin’” and the very relevant “Krooked

Kop” got the crowd of mostly women warmed up. His very easy-going

demeanor along with his gray jeans, black and white plaid shirt, and

nose ring helped his devoted fans relax and settle into the performance

backed by a live band. When “Cheatin Man” and “Cold Turkey”

were performed, everyone in the crowd sung each and every word to the

song carried by the heavy sounds of the electric and bass guitars. He

then performed “Part Of My Life,” which he co-wrote for India.Arie’s

Acoustic Soul album.  

He switched things up a bit

by performing Guy’s “I Like” and Mary J. Blige’s “My Life”-

followed by his own “Lady,” “Kinfolk” and “Smoke One.” The

ladies in the crowd rocked out to the up tempo “GA Peach,” and then

the band immediately left the stage leaving everyone a little dumbfounded. Fortunately, the band returned to give the show a proper close with the

Georgia native’s first single, “Words.” 

Anthony David is not necessarily

new to the music scene because of his songwriting repertoire. Although

many in the audience were not familiar with him as an artist, he certainly

left an impression that has stuck and will prove to continue the ongoing

appreciation of good R&B and Soul music.Check out Anthony David’s#### single “Words” featuring India.Arie

In

life, I’d always felt vaguely disconnected from other people. I say vaguely,

because even though I’ve always had lots of friends and immediate family around,

always stayed in the social mix of things, and stayed busy with

extra-curricular activities; at the end of the day, I never missed anyone once

they were gone. Never felt lonely.

 

I

was perfectly content in solitude, and actually preferred it that way. My

feelings always stayed very surface, and “out of sight, out of mind” couldn’t

have been a truer description of life for me. I was connected, but disconnected –

if that makes any sense.

 

As

a matter of fact, when some of my own extended family members would tell me

that they loved me, I would internally wonder, “Really? How, when we hardly

ever see one another?”  How do you find

things to love about someone that you

hardly ever talk to? Like, maybe. But

love?

 

What

exactly is this “default love” and connectivity that everyone else feels? Are

they just faking it? Or am I just immune? Up until recently, I still pondered these

basic human questions. Come to find out, I would uncover the answers in the

most unlikely of places – at my performing arts studio, while rehearsing for an

upcoming showcase. Let me explain…

 

I’ve

done lots of film and television, but for the very first time in my adult life, I am part of a stage

ensemble – a wonderfully energetic mixture of song and dance and drama; Hip-Hop

and soul; a journey from my freedom fighting roots, to the freedom of throwing

my hands up in the club. And even though I am one in a mix of about 20, what I

do individually on that stage profoundly affects my fellow performers.

 

Likewise,

what they do profoundly affects me. If they’re off-beat, it throws me off. If I

misstep, I may hit someone else. If their energy is high, it ignites the person

next to them, and the person next to that person, sending an inferno racing

through the room.  If their energy is

low, they muffle the beat of the next man’s drum.

 

We

all matter to each other, whether we

like it or not. And we may not even know one another all that well, might have

just recently met, but in this exchange of living creativity, we all have to

fall in line with one another as if we have been connected for years. We must

believe in the connectivity ourselves, or in short, our existence on that stage

will be a disaster waiting to happen. We belong to one another, and it’s not an

option.  So as I stood there in rehearsal

on that Monday night, I had a light bulb moment that sent my heart racing. This

is kind of like… life!

 

It

also occurred to me that actors and performers, on a fundamental level,

especially those that start from a very young age, constantly must make

physical connections in order to achieve their creative goal as a group. And

it’s just natural law that when your body repetitiously does something, your

mind follows suit, then your heart, and finally your soul.

 

On

a basic level, creative people (actors, dancers, and singers, etc.)  are thrown into the midst of humanity each and

every time they perform with others, forcing them to connect, which in my

opinion naturally makes them more open, receptive, feeling, and sensitive people;

hence, my biggest emotional puzzles being unlocked in the midst of performances

and rehearsals. As someone who had my “emotional faucet” turned down to a

trickle at a young age, it felt absolutely explosive standing there when I

finally understood. So believe me, it was no coincidence when I received a

life-altering phone call just days after that very same rehearsal.

 

Ever

since I could remember, I struggled to understand the place that my paternal

grandmother (may she rest in peace) had in my life. I honestly felt no

connection to her, and the outpouring of love she displayed when she

occasionally saw me actually made me feel uncomfortable and distant, because I

just didn’t understand where she was coming from. Again, I would have those

same questions: How can you love someone so deeply that you hardly ever see? Was

she just saying all of that? What exactly was her place in my life? Does she

really even know me?

 

Then,

sometime last week, my maternal grandmother

gave me a call. Before we got off the phone, she asked me what I was working on,

and I told her all about my upcoming stage performance. Then something in her

voice changed. She said, “You know, your other

grandmother used to do this speech that mesmerized a whole room!” I, of course,

had no idea, since I had rarely spoken to her when she was alive. She continued

on, “Yeah! And she would be so into

it! She used to do this thing where she would slide down on the floor, and I

can’t remember the name of it, but the whole room would just burst into a

standing ovation…. You know, that’s where you get it from!”

 

Those

last words from her caught me by the throat and sent a shockwave of revelation

through my body. Literally, driving on Interstate 285, it seemed like my 80-mile-per-hour

world came to a screeching halt.

 

“That’s where you get it from.”

Wow.

That’s where I get it from?

 Yes!

That’s where I get it from!

 

That

was the very first time I was able to

place my father’s mother in my life so personally. It was the very first time I

felt a connection to her. Years after her passing, the first time that I truly

felt all the love she extended to me, and could allow myself feel it 100 times

over in return. All this time, she and I were a part of an ensemble, and she

had passed on a gift to me that I had never allowed myself to see or receive,

until that very moment. I felt human. I felt love. I felt a connectivity to

this ancestor that had tried so hard to reach me in life; and not only did I now

understand her meaning to me, but it truly opened up the floodgates to the

realization that everyone else I’d ever known is an integral part of this

ensemble as well.

 

I’ve

finally found true love, and it has revealed itself to me through acting.  

 

Love,

Hip-Hop and Thespian Discovery,

Noree

Victoria

 

Hit Noree up at

myspace.com/noreevictoria