Soul Calibur Art and Bios

Namco wanted videogames.com readers to be fully informed when its arcade fighter is released nationally sometime next month. So have a look at what to expect, and read the Namco-supplied descriptions of the game's characters, old and new.

And read James Mielke's description of the game that ran Tuesday ion videogames.com.

Namco begins its description of the Soul Calibur universe with the following statement:

When we last saw the Soul Edge, the legendary twin swords of death, Captain Cervantes had just completed his terrorizing rampage through the Atlantic Ocean, and it appeared as if no one was powerful enough to stop his reign of terror. However, the fates had their own plans for the Captain. He was to meet up with one who would prove to be a challenge he had never faced before. Her name was Sophitia, the sacred fighter of Hephaestus the God of Blacksmiths. During her grueling battle with Cervantes, she succeeded in destroying one of the twin swords. But in doing so, she was wounded as the pieces of the shattered sword rained upon her body. Cervantes, with wrath as if a part of him had been destroyed, was about to end her life when Taki the "Underground Hunter" challenged him.

Due to his loss of control from the destruction of one of the blades, the intense battle between Taki and Cervantes ended with the victory of the "Underground Hunter". She completed her mission by gathering a piece of the destroyed Soul Edge and left with the injured Sophitia.

Siegfried, the "Innocent Darkside," visited the port town seeking the sword of legend for his vengeance, only to find the corpse of a pirate captain. Attracted by a sword clutched in the dead pirate's hand, Siegfried walked toward it to take possession of the blade, but suddenly the corpse rose up enveloped in hell fire. It seemed as if an evil spirit had materialized on earth consuming Cervantes' body.

With a flash, mortal combat began. The Zweihander "Faust", roared in the hands of the boy, who seemed too little to bear such a heavy blade and slashed through the air controlled by the madness in the youth's eyes. When the battle ended, all that remained was the burnt corpse and the boy grasping the now broken Zweihander. His green eyes reflected the Soul Edge bathed in hell fires.

The youth's warped spirit extended a hand to Soul Edge, as if being guided by the evil spirit which longed for a new host to maintain its power and control....

That night, some people at the Spanish seashore saw a mysterious but beautiful scene of a white column of light piercing the clouds and spreading through the sky. How could they have known, it was the birth of the Evil Seed, which would cause disasters throughout the world?

Thus started the next chapter of history.

KilikAwaken Destiny

Kilik was an orphan, who grew up at the Ling-Sheng Su temple, learning the art of the rod. His skill was so renowned that he was nominated to be the successor of the secret art of Ling-Sheng Su style rod and given the rod named "Kali-Yuga", which was one of the three treasures of the temple. It was on the eve of the ceremony when the Evil Seed attacked the temple and its sacred mountain. It forced pure evil into the people of the temple, driving them mad with rage as they started killing each other.

Poisoned by the Evil Seed, Kilik also went berserk. Xianglian, a girl who learned the art of sword, was able to resist the madness. She managed to place the mirror "Dvapara-Yuga", another one of the temple's three treasures, upon Kilik, because of their great love for each other. He immediately recovered and had to defend himself and kill those possessed by the Evil Seed. He killed his master, who raised him, and his friends whom he had trained with. Tragically Xianglian's resistance to the Evil Seed failed. Kilik had no choice but to end the life of his love.

When Kilik woke up, an old man stood before him. He told Kilik that he had come to teach the secret art to the temple's successor. The old master told him the truth of the incident as if he had foreseen this tragedy. He stated that even as they spoke, evil spirits were possessing Kilik and the Kali-Yuga. But the Dvapara-Yuga was preventing the spirits from taking control. If the Dvapara-Yuga was removed form Kilik's body, Kilik would turn completely evil. If the Kali-Yuga was separated from Kilik it too would cause disasters, therefore Kilik and the two ancient treasures could never be separated. Then the old man told the legend of the evil sword, "Soul Edge".

Kilik trained himself under the old master. He learned the secret art of Ling-Sheng Su style rod and how to control the evil possessing him and the Kali-Yuga. After three years of preparation, Kilik leaves to purify himself and the cursed Kali-Yuga rod. If he fails, it is feared the Kali-Yuga may become the second Soul Edge.

Weapon: RodWeapon Name: Kali-Yuga (rod) & Dvapara-Yuga (mirror)Style: Secret Art of Ling-Sheng Su Style RodAge: 19Birth Date: Feb. 9MaxiDandy from the South Sea

Maxi was a pirate from Ryukyu Kingdom who sailed freely like the wind. Maxi had anchored his ship at an Indian port to enjoy the night when Kilik arrived searching for a ship to the west. Kyam, Maxi's sworn brother, was taking care of the ship while Maxi was out. Kyam liked Kilik because he chose their ship among many.

"You have a good eye! Be our guest and I'll ask my brother for you!" Kyam laughed.

As Kilik was waiting Maxi's return, the weather grew hostile. As a strong wind began to blow, a mysterious ship approached within a thick fog. As soon as the ship moored along Maxi's, a crowd of monsters with dead eyes attacked Kilik. Without knowing their reasons for attacking him, Kilik fought the monsters with Kali-Yuga but the monsters managed to slaughter Maxi's crew.

The battle was raging as Maxi returned. "You bastards! Prepare to die!!!" roared Maxi.

Maxi and Kilik alone managed to drive the monsters back, but as they did the giant, Astaroth, bearing a huge ax mortally wounded Kyam and pulled the Dvapara-Yuga off Kilik as they withdrew. Without the Dvapara-Yuga Kilik lost control and attacked Maxi. Maxi defended himself and placed the Dvapara-Yuga upon Kilik. The instant he did Kilik lost consciousness.

"Brother ... take Kilik west, and see the world for yourself ... on behalf of us.... "

Kyam begged Maxi in his last breath. Maxi lost everything in an instant. He decided to travel with Kilik and take revenge on Astaroth for Kyam.

Weapon: NunchakuWeapon Name: FatibaruStyle: Shissen KarihadiAge: 24Birth Date: May 1Heishiro MitsurugiMercenary in a Warlike Age

Mitsurugi lost all traces of Soul Edge and remained unaware of its true form. Without a weapon superior to the Tanegashima rifle he felt he could never return home. But his irritation drove him mad and he chose to duel against the Tanegashima rifle in front of lords. Despite his skill theTanegashima rifle bested him and Mitsurugi took a bullet in the chest.

Completely defeated, Mitsurugi realized he needed to study additional arts of the sword to match the Tanegashima rifle. After learning new styles he heard the story of a knight named Nightmare and his invincible sword roaming Europe in a trail of blood.

"Prepare for my arrival, 'Naito-whatever'! I'll be there to take your sword!" Mitsurugi once again prepared for his journey.

Weapon: KatanaWeapon Name: Shishi-OhStyle: Tenpu-kosai-ryu KaiAge: 25Birth Date: June 8TakiDream Shadow of Demon Sealer

Taki returned homeland with a shard of the Soul Edge. She tried to drive the shard into her beloved but broken ninjato "Rekki-maru", but they were resistant to one another and refused to be joined. Meanwhile, Taki was attacked repeatedly by assassins who seemed to be sent by Toki, her master ninja. It was an easy task for Taki to drive them away, but she found that their purpose was to steal the mysterious spiritual ninjato "Mekki-maru", which Hachibei had entrusted to Taki.

"In Mekki-maru there is sealed a fearful power. Never let Toki have the ninjato. You are only one that I could entrust..."

Reminded of Hachibei's words, Taki tried to fuse the shard of Soul Edge with Mekki-maru. The two were immediately united and began to shed a dark aura. Mekki-maru turned into an atrociously evil sword that once out of its sheathing, even Taki's spiritual power could not control.

At the same time, the rumor of the berserker bearing the new evil sword reached Japan. Taki realized that the evil sword must be the remaining Soul Edge, because her Rekki-maru still resonated like before.

Taki planned to have the two evil swords, Soul Edge and Mekki-maru, battle each other to offset their evil powers. Often while chasing the Soul Edge, Taki would look at Mekki-maru and think "what terrible powers - but, isn't there any way to control it?"

Weapon: NinjatoWeapon Name: Rekki-maru & Mekki-maruStyle: Masou-battou-ryuAge: 25Birth Date: UnknownVoldoHell Guardian

After his unsuccessful search for Soul Edge, Voldo returned to the Money Pit and found the pit flooded by a storm. He took every means to drain and restore the pit but finally gave up as an entire section sunk under water. Meanwhile, a female fighter violated the Money Pit searching for a note Vercci had left about Soul Edge.

Voldo allows no one to invade his Master's sanctuary! From darkness the guardian attacked the female fighter, but she was armed with a mysterious weapon and her fighting style troubled him. The battle ended when the female fighter ran away guarding herself with her weapon. Voldo kneeled in front of Master Vercci's coffin, as usual, to report that the invader was cleared. Suddenly, he heard the sweet voice.

"Voldo, didn't you feel her dark aura? She had the scent of Soul Edge...Chase her, and bring me Soul Edge! Do you understand? Remember, I trust you... "

Hearing the voice of the master, rose colors swept into Voldo's grayish cheeks and hot blood flowed through his veins. Voldo left the Money Pit again to get Soul Edge.

Weapon: KatarWeapon Name: Shame & BlameStyle: Own styleAge: 46Birth Date: August 25Sophitia AlexandraSecond Advent of the Vow

When she recovered her senses she found herself lying in her bed at home. She returned to her life as the daughter of a baker and has spent her days in peace. But one day on her way shopping with her sister, she suddenly lost consciousness.

"So many lives... disappearing... Soul Edge?"

Sophitia was rescued and carried back home by a youth named Rothion who lived in the next city. Since that day they were attracted to each other so strongly that they decided to become engaged. They were visiting the Temple of Hephaestus to report their engagement to him, when Hephaestus appeared before them. The God of Smiths revealed that the remaining Soul Edge was regaining its power and he needed Sophitia's help once again.

"Let me go in place of her", insisted Rothion.

"Rothion, you are a smith, aren't you? This time it is you who will forge the armor and weapon to protect Sophitia."

Hephaestus gave Rothion a raw chunk of sacred iron and instructed Sophitia that she must completely destroy the Soul Edge. She left home with the sword and shield that Rothion had forged from the iron. She pursued Soul Edge, purifying lands seized by the Evil Seed. Her eyes shined with the light of faith.

Weapon: Short Sword & Small ShieldWeapon Name: Omega Sword & Elk ShieldStyle: Saint AthenaAge: 21Birth Date: March 12NightmareAzure Nightmare

No one knew where the rumor came from.

The blue knight, with the mysterious crimson eyes, bore the huge sword in its malformed right hand. No one who saw the crimson eyes of the knight, from strong fighters to shrieking women, from innocent babies to tiny worms, could escape its blade as it devoured their souls. The single eye of the huge sword looked like it was smiling in enrapturement, as it tasted the blood of living things. Only the creatures of darkness that served its cold blade were exempt from its fevered hunger for new souls.

"Rumor, it's only a rumor." "Damn rumors all..."

Three years after the Spanish village saw the column of light, a small German village was in for a night of death as a knight with crimson eyes stood atop a cliff with the full moon to his back. It swallowed towns and villages in its path to the Black Woods. It was as if Captain Cervantes returned, but with a dreadfulness and evil far surpassing the original!

"We are coming, father."

Weapon: Soul EdgeWeapon Name: Soul EdgeStyle: the memories of Soul Edge?Age: UnknownIvyWreathing Blade of Isolation

Isabella Valentine was raised with love as the daughter of the noble English Valentine family. However, her father, Count Valentine, grew obsessed in mystery and drove the rich family into despair. The count died in madness and the famous Valentine family was ruined in a singlegeneration.

"You are not our daughter in blood... your true parents are..." said her tender mother, as she followed her husband into death. Devastated with remorse, Isabella could care less about her "true parents".

One day, as she was collecting her parent's possessions, she discovered her father's diary. In the diary, she found that the count had become obsessed with alchemy and was investigating a sword named "Soul Edge" which was rumored to be the key to immortality. She became an alchemist to follow her father's dream and pursued the trail of Soul Edge.

Vercci an Italian death merchant... Adams an English curio dealer... Captain Cervantes the dreadful Spanish pirate... The more clues she found, the greater her suspicions grew. Once she discovered the true form of Soul Edge, which she believed was the sword of mystery, something in her mind snapped.

"My father was driven mad by such a loathsome thing... this evil sword!" Despair and rage gave her a new goal in life, destroy the sword and cleanse the Valentine name.

To destroy the evil sword, she needed an even more powerful weapon. All her intellect and skill was utilized to create a weapon that could change its shape back and forth from sword to whip. However, the weapon was still just a lifeless tool that could change its shape mechanically, it could never defeat a living demonic blade. In order to use her weapon's true potential, it needed to live! But even giving it her own blood would not bring it to life.

Frantically, she tried everything she could think of. Once she found her understanding of alchemy useless, she began to explore ancient sorcery and repeated summoning rituals every midnight. But just like her father, she lost her temper and struggled with rage. One night, her desperate desire finally summoned a malformed arm into the summoning gate. Isabella stared blankly at the arm as it sensed her attachment to her beloved sword and fused itself to it. Then a voice without sound uttered, "I, Cross of the Pledge, shall confer onto thee the Point in the Escutcheon of Destruction-Dexter Purpure." The ceremony ended as the being disappeared. Under frozen moonlight, the embodiment of Isabella's sanity cracked and twisted as if desired something unholy.

Her sword was completed beyond her wildest dreams! But Isabella still remains unaware of her true parents...

Weapon: Snake SwordWeapon Name: Ivy BladeStyle: Unrelated LinkAge: 28Birth Date: Dec. 10XianghuaItinerant Flower of the Breeze

The emperor of the Ming Empire, irritated by the lack of progress searching for "Soul Edge" the hero's sword, decided to send his royal guards as the third searching party. They disguised themselves as a traveling Peking Opera troupe with Xianghua as the star.

Xianghua had been training herself in martial arts under her mother since she was a child. "You were born to complete an important task... fight you way through your cursed destiny!" were the last words of her tender mother. Xianghua left for the quest, having her keepsake sword in hand, feeling the great tides of fate.

Weapon: Chinese SwordWeapon Name: Klita-YugaStyle: The sword art learned from her mother.Age: 16Birth Date: Apr. 2