The greatest launch game ever? - Soul Calibur (Dreamcast)

[@DarkQuill]

One of the funniest things in this game is unlocking the option to change the intro sequence, and then replacing every single character with Lizardman.

[@doryna_sira]

Favorite thing: replacing Sophitia in the intro with Voldo.

[@zawarudoz]

I remember thinking these were the most mind blowing graphics I had ever seen. "It looks exactly like real life! This is it, we hit the peak!"

[@jasonsuarez9295]

I had those exact same thoughts! Games couldn’t possibly look any better than this!

[@Relugus]

It still holds up IMHO. The amount of unlockables, even being able to customize the intro or play with the Sega Bass fishing rod or keyboard. It is pretty much perfect.

[@jvaldez1896]

We were kind of right, this game is rated the second best game in history after Zelda. At a perfect 60FPS, and full 3D movements, it hasn't gotten much better 20 plus years later as far as gameplay. A few prefer Soul Calibur 2, but fans who got in-to both versions know the arcade perfect Dreamcast version as the better playing game. We were literally witnessing the future of fighting games a launch.

[@Beelzeboogie]

I don't feel like there's ever been such a noticeable jump in graphics between console generations since the Dreamcast. When the PS1 came I still mostly think of it with 2D games like Raiden Project and NBA Jam.

[@NucleaRaptor]

"A man without Soul Calibur is like a man without balls." -Sun Tzu; _On The Dreamcast Owners_

[@FightersGen]

I waited in a line at the mall to buy this on 9/9/99. Good times. 🔥

[@BigEOT3]

Didn’t expect to see you here on the comment section of one of Matt’s videos.

[@DexterManning]

I didn't play the 1st one but I always remember getting Soul Calibur II as a kid because of Link, was the bet fighting game ever I still play the HD version sometimes too, loved that weird dungeon mode

[@MattMcMuscles]

Yeah, while I have super arcade memories of SC1, I put WAY more time into the Cube version of Calibur II!

[@DexterManning]

@@MattMcMuscles yeahhhh boi, and Link's OP throw when you grab the fuckers and and full on lob 'em off the stage

[@bartkorol611]

Yup, right up there with you. Hiyaaa -Link

[@heretakemeinstead]

I had the Xbox version. Our special character was Spawn, which was just reskinned Astaroth. He sucked lol

[@DavCube]

I wager a lot of dudes became aware of SC via 2 because of the guest character marketing, leaving SC1 in a really bad place, either paying a not-that-small amount for a Dreamcast copy or paying for the digital 360 upscaling which nixes the mission mode and unlocks everything by default for whatever reason.

[@zeroattentiongaming820]

Damn SC1 holds up surprisingly well visually

[@zeroattentiongaming820]

@@ezrafaulk3076 I'm particularly impressed because SC1 is the only SC game I haven't really played. Got to try it once on a Dreamcast display at a store. This is an unbelievable step up from Soul Blade and not very far removed from 2 and 3 in some ways.

[@zeroattentiongaming820]

@@ezrafaulk3076 Oh I'm aware, I just find Soul Blade to be the more widely known title. Real interesting how Cassandra's SC6 story pulls an MK9 by having the timelines connected. Can't really blame them for abandoning the old timeline after some of the plot choices in 5. I wonder if we will get Night Terror again by the time we hit SC3 in the new timeline, it exists in the new timeline so why state that if they aren't planning to bring it back someday? Be fun to see Max rage at it again lol

[@DreamcastFreak]

And still never maxed out the Dreamcast!

[@MaveriKat]

Having gotten it launch day for the Sega Dreamcast on September 9th, 1999, all I can say is... Yes. Yes, it was indeed the greatest launch title of any console. So many features, modes, and unlockables gave you so much bang for your buck. And it played AWESOME!!!

[@spooky8662]

I'd love to be able to play soul calibur 3 again!! There was a weird RPG tabletop campaign that was honestly a blast as a kid. Making custom heros, unlocking all the different weapons and outfit options. Man that was a good time. The only fighting game I'd ever been good at or liked playing.

[@Житинеможливо]

Souledge/blade walked so the *whole rest of this series* could run.

[@Lucas-jo1cu]

6:03 does Astaroth have fucking jiggle physics?? yeah, maybe this is one of the greatest games ever made lmao

[@toxicbob2000]

"Power bomb me, Asto-daddy" indeed

[@JAGtheTrekkieGEMINI1701]

Yes the OG jiggle Baby!

[@garjian0]

@@yeahgirl11 He lost them in either 3 or 4, and all subsequent entries. I'm fairly sure it was 4, but then I'm also sure Rock had no physics in 3, so...

[@ram_taka3436]

next time someone complains about “oversexualization” of women in fighting games just show them astaroth jiggle physics lmfaoo

[@garjian0]

@@ram_taka3436 I mean... 1 male against about 10 females in this game, 1 male against an infinite number of females across all games... I'd say it doesn't hold up. Besides, despite that and the BDSM costumes, he never acts in an even remotely sexual manner and probably doesn't have genitals. (In fact, he's sometimes a robot or a lava monster.) I don't really care about the oversexualisation of female characters, but I've been pretty passionate about the undersexualisation of male characters in the past.

[@catfoodzplz]

“Lizard man gets people where they need to go” killed me it was so hilarious and amazing

[@thejokerstyle100]

i was working at Mad Catz when this game game out and all office work stopped for daily tournaments. This was normal for testers and tech support like me but we were seeing VPs, marketing people, accountants come in and play this game, it not only looked amazing but played the same also.

[@ShadowWing7439]

Damn, I missed the days where you can unlock characters in fighting games just by playing the game. It always made me feel like I earned them and that I can get more characters the more I played.

[@Iakapo]

2:32 As someone who literally grew up with with Soul Calibur, I am offended.

[@Beforezzz]

I remember Inferno being one of my first video game pain in the asses since Soul Blade. lol

[@Iakapo]

@@Beforezzz Inferno wasn't in Soul Blade. You're probably referring to SoulEdge.

[@Beforezzz]

@@Iakapo Technically right but we all know they're basically the same thing in concept.

[@Iakapo]

@@Beforezzz True

[@Flounderboy15]

The thing that blew my mind when I was a kid was that you could actually see the characters FINGERS. I thought graphics had finally peaked.

[@DeLisi.]

I remember Inferno because as a kid in SC2, he scared the shit out of me but I loved him at the same time

[@evanhanley6437]

This game holds up exceptionally well. Its really mindblowing to see. I absolutely adore the first three games. Soul Calibur 2 will always be my favourite.

[@ArandZyrus]

I'm pretty sure Kilik's win quote "This rod will be your doom" is from a hentai.

[@brandonfarfan1978]

Soul Calibur 1 on dreamcast is definitely the best in the entire series. Not only was the game more advanced than Soul Calibur 2, but SoulCalibur 1 on the dreamcast, is also the only Soul Calibur game, to get a perfect score, even in Japan. Yeah, unlocking characters in the arcade version, was exciting. Next day when you come to the arcade, you see Yoshimitsu in the roster, or an old master named Edgemaster. 13:48 Yeah, very true. VF is very popular in Japan, and was always more popular than Tekken. VF is also categorised, as the pinnacle and the standard, of high level competitive fighting games. Nice vid.👍

[@Wardog01Actual]

Q: "The Greatest Launch Game Ever?" A: HELL YES!

[@WheelieRex]

My brother and I bought Soul Calibur II on the Gamecube as our first hardcore foray into fighting games. We like to have worn that disk OUT. He mained Raphael and Kilik while I rolled Nightmare and Yoshimitsu-though we both had a pocket Link, of course. Man. That was good times. I'd buy the living daylights out of a Soul collection!

[@MattMcMuscles]

Yeah, it's crazy that outside SCIIHD, Namco hasn't done any other releases/collections.

[@blacksiopao]

Oh man, I used to go to Arcade shops regularly to play SC1 with my brother to play with the people in the area. _Good times._

[@TVm0nk]

This was the game that got me *into* fighting games, glad to see you playing it.

[@rhageduh3149]

Man I love that you brought up Silver, I was just trying to explain it to a friend of mine the other day. Good stuff imo, I remember playing it a ton when I was a kid. My dreamcast was like gold to me

[@bas7467]

I know this game from front to end. I still miss Mitsurugi's back y move. My favorite whiff punish tool ever.

[@fangoram29]

The amount of bisexual lust in the beginning of this video and the comments is amazing

[@donkeyparadise9276]

Wth

[@iisanulquiorrahara8]

I have the most fond memories growing up with Soulcalibur 3, then being able to play Soulcalbur 4 for the first time, and realizing that the series didn't die after that F2P nonsense on the PS3 with Soulcalibur 6 being a damn solid entry. Here's to hoping that legend will never die.

[@ChaoticPesme75]

Cervantes always has been my pirate boi. Alive and dead.

[@darthrizzen9349]

Talk about a time capsule. Watching the intro and hearing the theme is still getting me pumped 23 years later... 😁 So many hours spent on that game, marveling at the graphics and tiny details. And the soundtrack cranking the epicness to 11 was something else. It was the game everybody wanted to play when having people over. Now I want to hook up my good old Dreamcast again! BTW, yes, there's a lot of lore and you can unlock additional costumes. I believe Siegfried is a separate character from Nightmare even though they're mostly the same.

[@pcdtinfo2500]

The intro of the game kind of reminds of super smash bros on n64

[@DrRoo91]

A trip down memory lane for me... Thank you for the let's play Matt. My family made Soul Calibur 1 apart of family game nights.

[@LovelessYayaoi]

My PS2 died before I could finish Chronicles of the Sword in SCIII and I'll never get over that. I found it to be a really fun blend of genres and where the create-a-fighter features really shone.

[@chumpyman]

This game made Virtua Fighter 3TB look like a reject game. In all fairness even Sega pretend that 3TB doesn't exist

[@strykah92]

I wonder how the DC port of VF3TB would’ve turned out if it was handled by AM2 directly instead of a barebones conversion by Genki. Alas the former were busy with Shenmue. Perhaps Matt should do a ‘What Happened’ on VF3 in general at some point.

[@davidromeroblaya7920]

I think the Prologue section is really the story of Soulblade. I played a lot of that game but I don't remember well the story but the music was awesome. Bravely Folk Song should be the official anthem of Spain.

[@CleverCover05]

That's a lie. I remember Inferno because there was only one flame ball repeatedly kicking my ass in a fighting game.

[@ThanksForTheCandy]

I remember the day Soul Calibur II came out and it killed my Gamecube the first time I played it. Hope you play that one next, easily the best game in the series.

[@TheOtakuNinja69]

I still own my Dreamcast. I also have the games you mentioned of “Soul Calibur” and “Sword of The Berserk: Guts Rage”. I remember Inferno because he was in Soul Calibur 1 and 2.

[@raulvito6246]

Probably my favorite fighting game of all time

[@SullySadface]

I'd low key publicly have explicit physical relations with Lizardman

[@MrCactusfish]

Picked up the gamecube version of 2 during lockdown and had a lot of fun sinking time into that

[@JasperJunior94]

"Please powerbomb me, Asto Daddy....." Well I know what I'm asking for next time. 👀

[@pipebhart4272]

@13:13 If I remember correctly I think more characters unlock the more you play. I can't remember if it was based off the number of hours, or the number of bouts you play. I also seem to remember that you can unlock certain characters by beating the arcade mode without a single loss, but I could be wrong about that.

[@sohailsayeed9361]

Man this game was so epic when it first came out to the arcade and consoles Good video, thanks for making them

[@frawliet2738]

Yup, Siegfried is an unlockable character on this one.

[@blacksiopao]

yep and as I think along with Lizard Man? I don't know I only played in the arcade and Seig + LM were already selectable there

[@sleepymermaidariell337]

Soul Edge/Soul Blade/Soul Calibur is my childhood

[@AndyH2k4]

I imported a Dreamcast from Japan back in the day and got this game at the same time - spent SO long playing it. Brings back memories :D

[@ararebeast]

Dreamcast games always astound me with how well they aged graphically. I can't suggest a singular Soul Calibur to play because I have genuine affection for all of them, but playing through the create-a-character story mode in VI with a time-displaced Stone Cold Steve Austin would make for some kind of series.

[@jamesmason7979]

I actually do remember Inferno. Mostly because it's been a long time since I've played a Soul Calibur game. Also, Inferno didn't drop completely off the map. He became Nightmare in Soul Calibur 3 after Siegfried became human again.

[@apollolux]

It's very telling where Namco's focus is with the series. Having played Soul Blade when it was still called Soul Edge then playing Soul Calibur, part of me was expecting either more weapons named Soul, but more of me was expecting the focus to return to the Soul Edge proper and Siegfried's story rather than the Soul Calibur that was supposed to vanquish it and Ivy's and Kilik's stories. Ultimately, the latter was probably the better call.

[@Coyoda]

I'd be pretty excited to watch more mission battle from ya Matt. it's plenty of fun!

[@JiMMyCalrissian]

I love Soul Calibur. You deserve all the likes for this

[@Ranakel]

I started on Soul Edge, and oddly, the only time I played the first Soul Calibur was the arcade version since they had a cabinet at my local cinema. Fun times. As for other Soul Calibur games to play, you gotta get some of that strategy/fighting game hybride mode in SC3 a whirl!

[@李재성]

Not sure if you noticed, but after you beat the game with one character, you unlocked Hwang. So yeah, you do unlock characters in this game. Unlockables include Siegfried, Rock, Lizardman, Seong Mina, etc.

[@daedevillewrestling]

I REMEMBER INFERNO!! But Soul Calibur is the only game I’m good at so that’s not saying much

[@staciwhite1256]

When my husband and I were first married, we bought an old Dreamcast and this and a few other games. We spent many a night kicking each other’s digital butts! I still love this series.

[@Yearz1986]

The character list is crazy I forgot how small it was now it’s massive

[@GraionDilach]

It's not as small as this implies though. SC1 roster is set up as Tekken 3 with half the cast being unlockables.

[@lunarbeing4982]

SC series has he greatest videogame announcer of all time

[@Flood520]

I remember Inferno. Mostly because I'm only so so at fighting games and he's one of the bosses I could actually beat.

[@alwaysasleep]

goddamn. what a game. Digging out my Dreamcast tomorrow.

[@DreamcastFreak]

To do the "ball busting" move it's diagonal down a i think two buttons. Two versions, front and behind

[@MattMcMuscles]

I was trying to do that, just wouldn't come out. Are you sure it started in SC1, and not 2?

[@DreamcastFreak]

@@MattMcMuscles yes i did it all the time. I thought it was cool

[@DreamcastFreak]

@@MattMcMuscles diagonal down and h/v attack. There ya go

[@DreamcastFreak]

@@MattMcMuscles i forgot. He actually has 3 versions of it lol

[@edgeyberzerker]

I replayed this recently and I still didn’t remember Inferno.

[@BigEOT3]

The fact that they haven’t ported this to Switch, PS4/PS5, and XBONE/Series X/Series S[unless I was living under a rock and that XBLA version got ported] feels like a crime. This is why I champion for this series to get a Switch port. Sadly I didn’t have a Dreamcast and this goodness. But I did start with 2 which is still great despite Necrid. Taki is my favorite, and probably my favorite ninja character ever. She’s best ninja waifu.

[@strykah92]

If you have the XBLA version, it’s on the BC program so you can play it on Xbox One/Series X/S if you want to. I agree however there should be another actual port for all modern platforms, one that included Mission Battle mode, online play and the option to bind commands to all buttons (one of the very few flaws of the game being on Dreamcast was the lack of buttons on the controller and this still wasn’t amended for the XBLA version)

[@mr.checkyourself4672]

If only Capcom treated Darkstalkers like how Namco treat Soul Calibur and don't make Tekken their only fighting game.

[@BigEOT3]

[Capcom:So how about ESports?]

[@DHeartX]

Oh, the memories. NM was my first main, then I moved to Taki.

[@SailorLarkspur]

Daaaaaamn Matt im pretty sure my first cognitive mature weab collector purchase was the Nightmare from that same line. Not the Todd McFarlane but the EPOCH figures

[@TheRealBlackarrot]

Definitely my favorite game of all time! I've been playing Team Battles on Ultra Hard difficulty for 20 years & haven't lost a full match since 2000. If that statement sounds like bullshit to you I have a channel to prove it. Over 4000 mins worth of fights this year so far. If it were only online though, I'd really have some fun!

[@jackychang9148]

The first SC I played was 2. In a GameStop demo kiosk with my brother. I always picked Spawn.

[@pockystyx4087]

dammit; now I gotta go boot up SC6 again.

[@Szymczak1988]

@Matt McMuscles you had the game right it was "Silver" by Spiral house and infogrames entertainment (Atari). I used to get some of my games from a family friend who apparently burned this game and sent it to me along with gundam side story. I ended up only booting silver up once before moving to the cooler choice.

[@jbbelenkokoro2673]

I really want to get a Dreamcast to play all the old games including Soulcalibur and Virtua Fighter 3tb.

[@Mantafirefly]

Hey I remember inferno. I remember thinking "Why did they rename soul edge?" Because like. you're fighting the weapon itself.

[@steve43ful]

if you don't replace all the characters in the intro with Lizardman then you ain't playing Soul Calibur

[@Gillian_Seed]

i dont know if it was kilik but one of the characters i played at gamestop it was called something else then i forget like electronic games they had soul calibur on a kiosk right next to the new final fantasy at the time and i saw the gunsword so i thought you could eventually evolve your weapon into a gunsword sadly i was wrong

[@youngmaverick8702]

I honestly just played Soul Calibur 2 for the first time this year and I'm surprised on just how much I neglected the series in the past it's actually not that bad of a game so much so I ended up getting the newer one on a PlayStation 4

[@heavenlyderpfowl1180]

Hell yeah, the first fighting game I ever liked

[@heavenlyderpfowl1180]

I actually bought an arcade stick and fishing controller for this

[@patrickjohnson1649]

I bought this game 3 Times and there was something different about how each one didn’t work before I got one that worked, Love this game.

[@Renedoc82]

Back in the day the intro was like watch an unreal 5 demo, some says that it was better that the cgi of that era

[@scottnotpilgrim]

The way Kilik handles that bo? Oh myyy

[@lonewolfgames7779]

You can arrange your on intro in this game it's awesome

[@Ironbeargrizz187]

‘ for all those who say they remember inferno….., congrats your lying” lmafo 😂🤣😂 I’m weak lol 😂

[@DoctorCVC]

Dude soul calibur just still plays so good

[@jasonb51]

I remember buying that game with the dreamcast on 9.9.99

[@jasonb51]

@@kadosho02 it was a 600$ day for me then lol.

[@SailorLarkspur]

Mad respect for Taki. but also for Seong Mi-na

[@MrMysterious420]

2:11 So are you saying Kilik is the Soul Calibur Shoto??

[@SailorLarkspur]

Transcending history and the WORLD a tale of SOULS AND SWORDS ETERNALLY RETOLD

[@AndyKazama2]

The adventure mode in Soul Calibur II is incredible and wasted so many hours playing it. Who remembers the weird Chronicles of the Sword mode in SC3? Edit: okay, just thought Goro Majima in the next game as a guest. His weapon could be the signature knife or baseball bat from 0.

[@MageKnight404]

I guess I'm a liar because I've _always_ remembered Inferno. |D (though that's thanks to SC2 really) Oh my, P1 Kilik's portrait art is gonna give me the vapors with how sultry he looks...

[@Leon-857]

Would love to see some SC3 story mode. Its like a RTS.

[@fedupN]

Played the shite out of this one with my buddy Chris. Loved the Playstation Souledge/blade and this was one that we burned DAYS on. Got to the point where we didnt do versus anymore. We just burned our way through Survival, trying to beat the others high score.

[@mrdude88]

Who would've thought what Kilik will become.

[@MaximumTaco]

My friends and I played this for months before we realized Mitsurugi wasn't Mitsubishi. Then he just stayed Mitsubishi forever.

[@jvaldez1896]

graphics still look amazing!

[@blue_ex3852]

I remember using my game shark to play as inferno lol

[@dreamworldtony]

Went and copped Soul Blade after this omg

[@ericbazinga]

"Soul Calibur is the greatest launch game ever" Halo CE: "WHAT IS THIS BLASPHEMY?!"

[@computron100]

Would you ever consider doing a what happun video on the Atari jaguar?

[@Beforezzz]

The legend doesn't quite feel alive these days as it was back then to me. This game still has Soul Calibur VI beat in so many ways as a straightforward arcade fighter. The presentation, epic soundtrack, character designs, gameplay, visuals, and overall originality were more of a thing to behold but now...... 😔

[@frk3484]

I remember inferno from soul caliber 2 on the ps2

[@SebOuiKin]

Fun fact, Inferno is in Soul Calibur 6 (For some ungodly reason)

[@garjian0]

Because SCVI is an alternate timeline SCII, SCII and a little of SCIII.

[@SebOuiKin]

@@garjian0 The only alternative we needed was an alternative to Inferno xD

[@crunchytaco7734]

Soul Blade is still the best one, hands down. That theme song was the best!!!!!

[@MattMcMuscles]

Eh...it's really not.