Soul Calibur Legends

Soul Calibur Legends

The theory was, no doubt, to satisfy those Nintendo Wii owners feeling left out after last month's release of shiny new beat 'em up Soul Calibur IV onto the rival systems. But while Soul Calibur Legends is certainly exclusive to the Wii, its lacklustre quality will only further convince Nintendo fans that they've received the rawest end of the deal.

A spin-off action adventure game Legends slots into Namco's gigantic swords and shiny armour mythology somewhere between the first and second titles in the series. A promising opening movie reveals Siegfried's discovery of the legendary Soul Edge sword and his subsequent transformation into the brutish character, Nightmare. Sadly, this is just about the same time the game starts its own hellish descent.

For most of the game, which sits somewhere between action and RPG, you’ll be moving from room to room fighting enemies that appear in order to unlock the door and facilitate progression to the next area. Character movement is handled by the analogue stick with sidestepping and parrying mapped to nunchuck motions. Naturally, swinging the remote triggers sword attacks: left and right to swing in those directions and up to launch enemies up into the air.

You can also block using the Nunchuk's Z button and jump with the remote's B button. Build up enough power by collecting orbs and you’ll be able to execute a charged attack as well leading to a pleasing range of options during battle. The sword control is surprisingly accurate and, with a well-implemented camera lock-on system, the game offers a solid view on the action at all times.

Being based on the Soul Calibur mythology provides the game with a large roster of characters to choose between from the slow but powerful Siegfried through to the lithe, fast (but weaker) Taki. While character models are well presented Namco hasn’t spent nearly enough time working up everything else that has gone into the game.

The game seems asset poor resulting in enemies that repeat continually throughout the adventure and multiple revisits of the same environments. Boss battles provide the occasional high point, such that they are, and some straightforward puzzles, such that they are, break up the straightforward combat from time to time. The quests you’re sent on are tedious, the enemies and environments repetitive, the graphics underwhelming and the result is a game that plays for too long, offers too little and does little more than taint the mythology from which is derives.

2 out of 5