Soulcalibur IV

Soulcalibur IV continues the tradition of weapon-based duels set in a world crumbling under the influence of the Soul Edge sword. On top of its established roster of fighters, the game offered guest characters from entirely different universes on a larger scale than ever before - and this is exactly where the versions for each console differ significantly. The guest fighters also received their own short intro scene explaining their presence in the world of Soulcalibur. Compared to the third entry, the combat system was refined mainly on the defensive side - it added clearly distinguished unblockable attacks and flashy Critical Finish moves, which let you shatter an opponent's weapon or armor at just the right moment, adding another layer of risk and reward to matches.

On Xbox 360, the exclusive guest is Master Yoda from Star Wars - a small, nimble character with an unusually small and hard-to-hit body, fast attacks, and Force abilities that can shove opponents back or rip a weapon out of their hand from a distance. This contrasts with the slower, power-based fighters that make up the rest of the roster and forces the player to think about fights in a completely different way than with the rest of the cast - the emphasis is on dodging, close range, and using the Force instead of a weapon's raw power. Darth Vader appears in Soulcalibur IV on both consoles, but it's the combination with Yoda that makes the Xbox 360 version the one where you can experience a duel between the light and dark sides of the Force with a full lineup - something PlayStation 3 owners didn't get, since Kratos from the God of War series awaited them instead of Yoda.

So it's the same game with the same combat system and the same levels, but with a differently assembled roster of guest characters, who tie into the series' story in different ways and offer a different reason to pick up this particular version.

Why play: The Xbox 360 version is the choice for Star Wars fans who want to put Yoda in the arena next to Vader and experience a duel of the Force within Soulcalibur's combat system, without having to deal with Kratos from the rival platform.