DC Soulcalibur swings onto XBLA

Critically acclaimed Dreamcast fighting game headed for downloadable debut courtesy of Namco Bandai.

In more than a decade of reviews on GameSpot, perfect scores have been exceedingly rare occurrences, with only four games receiving a 10. One of those was the original Dreamcast launch fighting game Soulcalibur.

The Dreamcast may be gone and in some cases forgotten, but the standout star of its launch is about to get a new lease on life. Namco Bandai today announced that Soulcalibur would make a Cervantes-like return to life this summer as a downloadable title on the Xbox Live Arcade.

New features for the XBLA edition of Soulcalibur will include the expected high-definition graphics and assortment of character- and mode-specific leaderboards. Unfortunately, cross-continental swordfights appear to be limited to the upcoming online-enabled Soulcalibur IV (set for a July 29 release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3), as Namco Bandai promised only that players could "challenge a friend in local-play Versus mode." Other modes include fighting genre staples like Arcade, Training, and Survival.

For more on the publisher's upcoming slate, check out GameSpot's full coverage of this week's Namco Bandai press event.

291 Comments

  • Xellos123

    Posted Jul 1, 2008 8:46 pm PT

    guys this si gonan suck ass,theres no online play for this game at all,weak,waste of time ...id be beetter off dustin off my dreamcast and polay it on that instead

  • Hunting_prodigy

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 1:36 am PT

    All we need now is for them to release SoulBlade, the original one that evolved to Soulcalibur...hopefully if Namco releases this, they will release the first one too. It was awesome...

  • shattapinks

    Posted May 29, 2008 8:06 am PT

    CrazyRabbi. Are you for real? No games have received a perfect 10 in the last two gens. I guess you didn't check out the review for GTA IV then, huh?

  • Hanner18

    Posted May 8, 2008 11:28 pm PT

    Nintendo owns the rights to killer instinct, I would love to see Rare put that out on 360 but its never going to happen, unless ninendo gives up their rights

  • pycho22solid

    Posted May 2, 2008 5:23 pm PT

    Man, what a great year for fighting games. Soulcalibur4, the original in arcade, AND street fighter 4?

  • kaizerkakai

    Posted Apr 21, 2008 8:42 am PT

    all we really need now is rare's killer instinct.

  • CrazyRabbi

    Posted Apr 19, 2008 3:42 pm PT

    I haven't seen GS give a 10 to any game in the last 2 gens. I'll tell you this, it's not cause games aren't as good... GS reviewers have higher standards now days. We'll probably never see another perfect 10 score which I think is good cause none of the games they gave 10's to were 10's in the first place. No game is perfect and can be improved a little bit in some area.

  • ctg867

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 10:57 pm PT

    Wow, watch them only throw in a cheap HD update for an emulation and charge $15. First the rip off of a Collector's Edition (including features that should be in the full game like extra character customization, and charging an extra $20 rather then the industry standard $10, rather then actually adding any substantial content), and now they don't exactly set this situation up in a proper light by removing the chance of online play. I'll be open minded, since we don't know to much about it, but I'm very skeptical.

  • Senor_Kami

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 12:45 pm PT

    I wish MS would drop some money on Marvel and Capcom so we can get Marvel vs Capcom 2 with online play for XBLA. They don't even have to update the graphics and it'd still be an instant purchase.

  • Vintoks

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 9:34 am PT

    Online please!

  • zyxomma100

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 7:51 am PT

    It's just marketing for SC4... but who cares? This is pretty cool. I've never played the original, but SC2 was enough to make me a fan of the series. Maybe I'll pick this up.

  • _DarKEviL_

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 5:03 am PT

    OMG Yes! Great news for the xbox 360 owners but it may be cool if namco release it on the PSN too

  • MetalZombieII

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 1:49 am PT

    Oh hell yes! Now let's see the DC list grow on XBL

  • 360nly

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 8:53 pm PT

    Soulcalibur in Xbox Live Arcade AWESOME

  • Sydwynder

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 8:52 pm PT

    Say what you want, my first TRUE next gen experience ever came when I went over to a friends house and played Soul Calibur on the Dreamcast. It was so above and beyond the Playstation that I couldn't believe what I was experiencing. I got my own Dreamcast shortly after but sadly, it couldn't defeat the PS2.....which I also owned..............ah the Dreamcast............good times..............good times....................sigh

  • david60639

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 6:10 pm PT

    Worthless to any one who owns it for the DC due to the lack of online functionality.

  • destrozz

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 5:30 pm PT

    I was really pissed when SEGA announced they were getting out of the console market. anyone that owned a Dreamcast during that era, and didn't wait for the "godly PS2" had a very good time gaming.

  • jtthegame316

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 4:45 pm PT

    Cool the dreamcast was full of quality games. great to see them come to xbla. xbl could do with classic saturn rpg panzar dragoon saga cause that is one of the best rpgs i have ever played. Soul calibur on xbla arcade though definetly a good move. dreamcast will never will be forgotten it started the consoles going online revolution. if only sega were in the position to throw money at it cause i for one prefered my sega games being on one system that was made by sega instead of all over the place. but as they are third party it is good to see them not showing any bias like some third parties do. good on namco bandi for getting there best dc game to live arcade. To that guy who said sony fan boys killed the dreamcast not only are you right but sony fan boys will kill anything that is good about gaming.

  • Skreb-Masters

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 4:23 pm PT

    Brilliant. Simply brilliant. If they put it at a sensible price (800 points max) then I will definitely buy this.

  • R-Force

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 4:01 pm PT

    O god I hope this comes to the PSN. The original Soul Calibur is one of my untouched favourites.

    I agree, Franzkill. More SEGA and Namco classics on next-gen systems please.

  • Franzkill

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 3:18 pm PT

    Anyone else extremely happy with the of Dreamcast games that are being bought over to XBLA? I sure am.

    Ikaruga and Rez have already made the transition and in fine form might I add. Now all they have to do is get Jet Set Radio, Space Channel 5 and Chu Chu Rocket on the Marketplace then where sorted!

  • LindBergh2007

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 2:55 pm PT

    It's no doubt the arcade version. Probably Namco's 1998 128-bit system 12 arcade emulation.( http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=535&gid=2513#2513) It's obvious that GS would spin this out of context claiming it's DC hardware when it not(not only did Sega renew the DC trademark last year, DC emulation is still pretty hard to obtain. Most of it's hardware ran exclusively on Naomi( Which was introduced as the world's first 128-bit hardware board in 1997.)

  • hannify

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 2:53 pm PT

    Dreamcast - how I miss you.

    and how i miss Shemue *sniffs*

  • Lord_Artix

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 2:12 pm PT

    No PSN love? I want Soul Calibur...

  • Exu_Idara

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 2:04 pm PT

    This is great news, I loved Soul Calibur and played it to death all those years ago. Completed everything, it was that good.

    Still, I implore Namco to shoehorn some online in there, though I can kinda understand the reluctancy to confirm any. After all, they may be worried it could hurt SC4 sales.

    :/

  • MetalMan300

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 2:03 pm PT

    sweet

  • leey2k1987

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:59 pm PT

    I can haz shenmoo plz!?

  • Shuz_

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:31 pm PT

    are you kidding?
    power stone!
    it's was one of the best games for dreamcast!

  • DarthMallrat

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:27 pm PT

    Wow, this is awesome news. I really hope we see more Dreamcast games for download on Xbox. Bring on the Jet Grind Radio please.

  • Vambran

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:24 pm PT

    Do we really need an old version of soulcalibur when 4 is a few months away? I know it was a good game and all but they should have done this a couple of years ago its too soon to release to make any sense.

  • godson86

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:17 pm PT

    I was so exited by this news that a little bit of pee came out!

  • golbala

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:11 pm PT

    this is fkn great news.

  • Montrealien

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:10 pm PT

    Can't we just say.. "awesome news! great game and we are happy people that did not have a chance to play it will now have a chance to play it"?

    I mean the state of DD games and the primary online functions of Xbox Live have nothing to do with this. This is simply some good news for people that have access to live and wish to try out a classic. If you don't like the way Xbox live works or the internets is way too hard for you to understand, then by all means, gtfo!

  • imperial_agent

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 1:10 pm PT

    PowerStone!!!!

  • thomasbcperry

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 12:59 pm PT

    That is friggin' great.

  • nate1222

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 12:55 pm PT

    @Coheeds_Avatar
    I agree. M$s constant forcing of XBL has gotten old. It was one of the factors in my ditching the 360. I love the internet, but we shouldn't have to be ONLINE every time our wipe my ***.
    Nonetheless, I had the Dreamcast version of SC and Quake 3 Arena. Those 2 and the Capcom fighting games were THE REASON to own a Dreamcast.

  • H2Painguin

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 12:51 pm PT

    God this is going to be awesome.

  • zeecorner

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 12:31 pm PT

    At first I was like way cool, but then you find out no multiplayer? lame!

  • Krusnikzero2

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 12:29 pm PT

    Awww, now my dreamcast will start collecting even more dust

  • RHCPfan24

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 12:26 pm PT

    That is awesome. I hope they can fit in the size limit w/o any restraints

  • buckybuckster

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 12:07 pm PT

    Great news! I still have my DC copy but for those who never had the oppertunity to experience the power that was the Dreamcast, it's nice that they will have the chance to see why the original garnered so many accolades. I'll tell you this though. For those who didn't jump into the series until SC2 for PS2, you will be less impressed with that one after playing DC SC.

  • Coheeds_Avatar

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 12:06 pm PT

    Wow, I mean I enjoy online gaming too, but I don't think it should be the ONLY deciding factor as to whether or not a game should be bought, as some people have already decided. I've only played the second one, but I really enjoyed the mechanics, and I'll be looking into this download pre-SC4.

  • amin915

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 11:57 am PT

    Now i want powerstone!!

  • R3V3N4N7

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 11:55 am PT

    This is really cool but I still have my dreamcast with SC. : )

  • Jipset

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 11:48 am PT

    My dream has come true! I was actually thinking about buying another Dreamcast.

  • destrozz

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 11:46 am PT

    theres alot of Dreamcast games that should come back. Sony fanboys killed Dreamcast, because that system had some very good games. I had no regrets about buying that system.

  • xboxFan101

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 11:33 am PT

    i miss my dreamcast ..i member the x-mas i got it i was so happy .
    i had that Soulcalibur .....they need to bring back powerstone if ur talkn bout dreamcast

  • rickjamesxx

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 11:31 am PT

    yeah wtf no online play

    although im probaly gonna get sc4 YODA FTW but still thats a bummer

    they need to release mvc2 on the xbla with online play i would pay money for that

  • KingSigy

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 11:30 am PT

    Even with the lack of online fighting, Soul Calibur is an amazing addition to XBLA. I will absolutely pick this up.

  • rickjamesxx

    Posted Apr 17, 2008 11:30 am PT

    MonoxideMike

    "My Dreamcast has been alive and well for me over the past 11 years and I still play Soul Caliber when people tell me to bring it over for parties and such so theres no need to get this version for XBLA"

    hasnt dream cast only been out since sept 1999??

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