Best Action Adventure Game
Best Adventure Game
Best Driving Game
Best Fighting Game
Best Massively Multiplayer Game
Best Platformer
Best Puzzle/Rhythm Game
Best Role-Playing Game
Best Shooter
Best Sports Game
Best Strategy Game

Soul Calibur III (PS2)

Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
Release Date: Q4 2005

Sadly, the once robust fighting genre had one of its most modest showings in years at this year's show. The best representatives were to be found on Sony's console and portable systems. Though the nominees were few in number, each game brought something notable to the table. Soul Calibur III, although a sequel, featured Namco's practically patented level of polish. Dragonball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi continued the faithful and fun direction of Dragon ball Z Budokai 3. Finally, The Con displayed an interesting new gameplay twist. But of these three, Namco's Soul Calibur III stands tallest.

While it would be easy to dismiss SCIII as yet another sequel, there's no denying Namco's craftsmanship when it comes to the 3D fighting genre, especially on the PlayStation 2. The game looks phenomenal on the now five-year-old system and improves on its predecessor with a higher level of character and background detail. One battle had the combatants duking it out on a moving raft while another framed the one-on-one combat against a massive collection of moving clockwork gears.

Official Trailer

The soul still burns in Namco's latest Soul Calibur game.

Watch It »

Besides its visual appeal, Soul Calibur III continues to refine its weapon-based combat system. Returning characters will be gaining some new moves in order to better contend with the newcomers to the fighting roster. Though the game appears to be serving up a modest evolution of its fighting system, it's hard to complain much, given how polished the fighting has been in the previous games.

Finally, the game will come bearing a bevy of modes that are in line with Namco's mighty "everything and the kitchen sink" approach. You'll find all the familiar arcade and versus modes that you'd expect from a fighter, as well as a revamped story mode. Namco is also throwing in some brand-new features, such as the ability to create your own custom fighter.

Voldo surprises Taki with his new manicure.

In a year when the 3D fighting genre didn't see much in the way of representation on the E3 show floor, it was good to see Namco serving up a rich brawler. In many ways, Soul Calibur III is a throwback to the many strong entries in the genre that we've seen in years past when fighters were some of the games to see when the show opened.

Finalists