Soulcalibur V isn't a reboot in name, but as we spent hours diving into its intricate system, it sure feels like one. If Soulcalibur III was a largely-forgotten misstep, and Soulcalibur IV was a good sequel for its time, Soulcalibur V marks a solid improvement.

New tweaks to gameplay; Visual splendor; Blend of fresh faces and familiar fighters

Cheesy story mode not for the lactose intolerant; Legendary Souls mode will drive non-hardcore players crazy; Did we mention the voice acting for story mode

SoulCalibur V has the series at odds. It's a competent fighter, yes, but nothing about it really screams "must-have" unless you are a diehard SoulCalibur fan. The fighting system is more or less the same, and even the "new" Critical Edge moves don't do much to change up strategies.

+ Tight controls, wonderful graphics and audio work, +/- More of the same SoulCalibur fighting system; Not much is new

+/- More of the same SoulCalibur fighting system; Not much is new

In 1996, the fighting game genre was at full throttle. Just one year prior, Capcom introduced the first Street Fighter Alpha title in arcades while Midway sought to appease fans with the much anticipated Mortal Kombat 3 , so it was in '96 that a new 3D fighter by the name of Soul Edge was released...

Beautiful presentation; Revamped battle engine; Intricate character creation mode

No tutorial mode; Story mode is relatively short

Great: Impressive efforts with a few noticeable problems holding it back. Won't astound everyone, but is worth your time and cash.

Maxwell wants to know if you're up to the challenge in this review for SoulCalibur V.

Beautifully detailed visuals; New fighting mechanics add depth; Stable online play with replay support; ZWEI and Viola have interesting new fighting styles

SoulCalibur V is the most complex entry in the series to date. By incorporating some 2D fighting mechanics into its 3D weapon-based system, the game forces you to manage more variables than ever before. In short, this is not a return to the simple times of SoulCalibur II .

Beautifully detailed visuals, New fighting mechanics add depth, Stable online play with replay support, Z.W.E.I; and Viola have interesting new fighting styles

Offline modes lack variety; Some classic character styles are absent; Game lacks basic teaching tools

Soul Calibur V is a step in the wrong direction. Hold on to your copy of SCIV.

Stunning visuals; Improved story mode; Fun character creation

Departure from roots; Boring music; Uninspired stages

A hearty fighter that sticks to its guns for a grand old time

Beautiful graphics and animations; Competitive online modes; Intense and glorious sound effects

A lot of the same in terms of core gameplay mechanics; Unimpessive soundtrack

Time. It heals and it makes people forget -- it also brings experience, and with experience comes expectations. When the original SoulCalibur was released in the arcades in 1998, it set a standard for depth, customization and longevity in a fighting game.

I've always thought that the visual department was the strong suit of the Soul Calibur franchise, and so it is with this fifth installment. Visually, Soul Calibur V is one of the most technically impressive fighting games around.