
Play Soul Edge Online
Game Info
- Platform
- Arcade
- Genres
- Fighting · Beat 'em Up · Arcade
- Player Perspective
- Side view
- Developers
- Project Soul
- Publishers
- Namco
- Release date
- February 20, 1996
Summary
Soul Edge (often called Soul Blade) feels like a milestone in arcade fighting history. It was one of the first 3‑D fighters to build a genuine narrative around its cast, and every warrior wields a distinct weapon that defines their rhythm – the hulking, long‑range types swing heavy blows from afar while the nimble fighters dart in for rapid strikes.
What really sets the game apart is its movement. Thanks to the Namco System 11 hardware you can sidestep into the foreground or background with a double‑tap, and even jump high enough to soar over an opponent. The active block system and the unique Guard Impact lets you parry and push back attacks, while the Weapon Gauge tracks the health of your blade; lose it and you’re forced into a common unarmed move‑list. Simultaneous strikes can even lock weapons, turning each clash into a quick‑draw rock‑paper‑scissors duel.
Arcade‑goers in Japan and the U.S. embraced the title, ranking it among the top conversion kits of 1996. The System 11 board also meant you could swap Soul Edge with other classics like Tekken, making it a flexible and beloved piece of the mid‑90s fighting scene.
Storyline
In the year 1583, during the 16th century, a mysterious weapon known as Soul Edge—sometimes called the Sword of Salvation or the Ultimate Sword—appears as a twin pair of long swords. The blade surfaces at an auction and is seized by the feared pirate Cervantes de Leon, whose fate thereafter remains unknown. Its dark power quickly draws warriors from America, Europe and Japan, each hoping to claim the weapon for their own ends.
Nine fighters—Hwang, Li Long, Mitsurugi, Rock, Seong Mi‑na, Siegfried, Sophitia, Taki and Voldo—converge on the sword. Some seek its overwhelming strength, others pursue revenge, a few believe it will aid them, while the rest aim to destroy the evil they sense within it. Their diverse motives set the stage for a worldwide clash over the coveted blade.
The sword’s influence is malevolent: it feeds on the souls of both its victims and its wielder, bringing misfortune to anyone who pursues it. This cursed allure fuels the relentless battles that define the storyline of Soul Edge.
Edited by Maya Carter
Arcade Machine
- Developers
- Namco
- Machine Style
- Upright
- Control Panel
- Multi-player
- Input Devices
- Joystick · Buttons
- Screen Orientation
- Landscape
- Sound
- Stereo
Multiplayer
- Game modes
- Versus
- Multiplayer setup
- Split Screen
Alternative Titles
- Soul Blade Alternative
- Soul Edge: Version II Alternative
External Links
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