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"The past will be undone... and the future forged anew."
— Tagline
Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate
Developer(s) Azshforzen26 / Project Soul
Publisher(s) Bandai Namco
Platform(s) PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Windows
Released Initial Release
WW April 24, 2015
The Complete Edition
WW August 26, 2016
Previous
Soulcalibur V (2012)
Next
Soulcalibur: Days of Reckoning (TBA)

Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate (Soulcalibur:
Azure Dawn / ソウルキャリバー:アズールドーン
in Japan) is a Soulcalibur spin-off title developed by Azshforzen26 and Project Soul and produced by Bandai Namco. Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate was released worldwide for the PlayStation 3,
PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360 and
Xbox One on April 24, 2015.

A compilation of the game containing all previously-released updates and downloadable content, entitled Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate – The Complete Edition (Soulcalibur: Azure Dawn Complete /
ソウルキャリバー:アズールドーン コンプリート
in Japan), was released worldwide for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows (via Steam) on August 26, 2016.

Plot[]

Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate is a non-canon reimagining of Soulcalibur V that takes place instead in the year 1606 A.D., around 15 years after the events of Soulcalibur IV. Although Patroklos and Pyrrha return as main protagonists, they are not the sole focus of Forged by Fate’s story. The game also rewrites the conclusion of Soulcalibur IV and makes many retcons to the canon already established in the series, such as the origin of Soul Edge and Soul Calibur.

1591 A.D. – At the end of the conflict that has transcended history and the world, the chosen wielder of Soul Calibur, Siegfried, vanquished the accursed wielder of Soul Edge, Nightmare. The fate of the infernal sword should have been sealed once and for all, but the Hero King Algol intervened. He sealed himself away along with Soul Edge and Soul Calibur, freeing humanity from the conflict created by the two swords – for the time being.

1606 A.D. – Upon awakening from his second slumber, Algol made the startling decision to destroy both Soul Edge and Soul Calibur. The act not only killed the seemingly-immortal Hero King, it also unleashed the forces sealed within the two soul swords. The malevolent force once sealed within Soul Edge spread across the world in the form of the "Corruption" – a horrific plague that turns its victims into bloodthirsty savages known as the “malfested”. On the other hand, the force once sealed within Soul Calibur only rose to the sky like a mysterious beacon, as if portending catastrophic events still to come.

Amidst the death and destruction caused by the Corruption, a bloody shadow war between two ancient factions in Europe is reignited. Elsewhere, a wealthy merchant offers the only hope of a cure to whoever gathers for him the last surviving fragments of Soul Edge and Soul Calibur. And somewhere beyond time and space, otherworldly forces are stirring again after eons of silence.

Stepping forward in this chaotic new age are warriors both old and new, all of them possessing great potential to change the course of history for the better – or worse. Between those who wish to defy fate and those who seek to control it, who will be able to decide the future of humanity?

Game Modes[]

  • Offline Play
    • Story: Experience two all-new tales of souls and swords set in the 17th century.
      • Forged by Fate: Follow the fated warriors of Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate as they journey on a world ravaged by the Corruption.
      • Quest for the Anima Spade: Lead your own band of warriors in the grand, worldwide race to find the Anima Spade for Dampierre.
    • Arcade: Fight through eight stages and aim for the highest possible score.
    • Versus: Freely set battles and fight conditions against another local player or with the computer.
      • Player VS Player: Fight against another local player.
      • Player VS CPU: Fight against the computer.
      • CPU VS CPU: Watch a battle between computer-controlled characters.
    • Training: Sharpen your skills in battle at your own discretion.
      • Tutorial: Learn necessary battle mechanics and crucial fighting techniques from Edge Master.​​​​
      • Practice: Test your skills and fighting knowledge without the limits of actual battles.
  • Online Play (PlayStation Network/Xbox Live/Steam)
    • Ranked Match: Test your might and fight for your rank against other players from around the world.
    • Private Match: Fight against another player online without affecting your ranks.
    • Global Colosseo: Join other players from around the world for a round of casual battles and interaction.
    • Records: View the online rankings and records of other players.
    • Replays: View saved online replays.
  • Customization: Customize characters and weapons before taking them into battle.
    • Create-a-Soul: Create your very own cast of playable characters.
    • Tweak-a-Soul: Customize the appearance of standard playable characters.
    • Forged by Hand: Customize your weapons and expand your arsenal.
  • Gallery: View various media.
    • Art Gallery: View various artworks and illustrations from the game.
    • Movie Theater: View various cutscenes and special cinematics from the game.
    • Character Profiles: Learn more about Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate’s extensive cast of characters.​​​​​​
  • Shopkeeper’s Bargains: Purchase new weapons and customization equipment in exchange for Gold. Fulfill various challenges to earn extra Gold and unlock rare items.
  • Options

Gameplay[]

Battle Mechanics[]

The Critical Gauge, Critical Edge, Guard Crush and Quick Step mechanics from Soulcalibur V return in Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate. All returning characters from Soulcalibur V have been given modified and expanded movesets, including all-new Critical Edge (now inputted as A+B+K+G) attacks. Notable examples include Mitsurugi, who has regained his Relic stance; Kilik, who has returned with his classic rod and unique moveset from the earlier Soulcalibur games; and Zwei, who now fights using hand-to-hand combat alongside Ein.

The Brave Edge, Just Guard and Equipment Destruction mechanics have been removed completely, while the Soul Charge mechanic from the earlier Soulcalibur games has returned. Using Soul Charge (now inputted as 4A+B+K+G) consumes one bar of the Critical Gauge and triggers a short cinematic similar to a Critical Edge. Its effect is determined by the “active seal” attached to the user’s equipped weapon, while its duration is determined by the seal’s current level (see Customization Modes).

The Guard Impact mechanic in Forged by Fate has been reverted to a form similar to those of the earlier games. Guard Impacts no longer consume the Critical Gauge, and are once again divided into two types – forward Guard Impact (6G) for repelling high and mid attacks, and backward Guard Impact (4G) for repelling low attacks. Although Guard Impacts retain their slightly-longer activation window from Soulcalibur V, they can no longer repel Guard Break attacks, Unblockable attacks and throws. Characters also no longer suffer chip damage when escaping from throws.

The Ring Out mechanic has been revamped in Forged by Fate. It is now primarily a means of transitioning tiers in each stage, as all stages in the game are multi-tiered. Ring Outs now inflict only a set amount of damage to ringed-out combatants – which means they will not lose the round immediately if they still have enough HP, with the fight continuing onto the next tier of the stage. True Ring Out hazards (as featured in the previous games) are not present in any stage in the game.

The Active-Matching Battle (AMB) system from Soulcalibur IV has also returned, although each team is now limited to only two characters. Switching characters (SWT) can be done anytime as long as the active character can block. The AMB system is largely utilized in the Story modes, although players are also free to set team-based battles in Arcade, Versus, Practice and Online modes.

Story Modes[]

Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate features two different story modes: the eponymous "Forged by Fate" and the "Quest for the Anima Spade". Both stories encourage multiple playthroughs by featuring branching mission structures and multiple endings, all of which depend on the players' actions and decisions throughout their course.

Similar to Soulcalibur V’s story mode, Forged by Fate is story-driven and episodic in structure, alternating between multiple perspectives and different story arcs for each of the 24 playable episodes. Each episode features interactive cutscenes, branching paths and player decision-making, similar to Soulcalibur III’s
Tales of Souls story mode. Players are free to select the weapons and outfits of the playable characters before starting an episode.

On the other hand, the Quest for the Anima Spade is a player-driven, RPG-like story mode that is set in the story arc of Dampierre and the worldwide race to find the last surviving fragments of Soul Edge and Soul Calibur (the titular “Anima Spade”). Players join in the quest as a party of custom-created characters, scouring the world for clues about the fragments and engaging against the numerous competing parties in a turn-based strategy/adventure game.

Customization Modes[]

Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate features two character customization modes: Create-a-Soul, where players may create their own custom playable characters; and Tweak-a-Soul, where players may customize the game’s standard playable characters. Although players are now limited to only 40 custom character slots in Create-a-Soul, each slot now comes with a secondary outfit option. Standard characters now also have their own separate customization slots in Tweak-a-Soul (up to four for each character). For the first time in the Soul series, players may upload and share their custom characters and customized standard characters online.

Players may now customize their own characters' facial features, instead of having to choose from a predetermined selection of faces. All hairstyles are now unisex, while facial hair is now a separate option for both standard and custom male characters. Animal ears, horns, wings and tails are now also classified as body parts and come in their own separate categories. Options for height and physique remain unchanged, with the former still affecting the range and hitboxes of custom characters.

Nearly all customization equipment in the game are brand-new, and come in uniquely-designed sets for quality and consistency. Adjustable decals and accessories have been removed, but the number of body parts that can be outfitted has been expanded – for example, the left and right arms, shoulders, ankles and legs can now be outfitted separately. Equipment conflicts and visual glitches have also been greatly reduced.

Players may now customize weapons in the new Forged by Hand mode. In exchange for Gold, players may infuse weapons with bonus effects called “weapon seals”, which are divided into two types – “passive seals”, which are activated automatically during battle; and “active seals”, which are temporarily activated through Soul Charge. Passive seals include HP absorption and automatic Guard Impacts, while active seals include temporary attribute enhancement and invincibility. Each weapon can have up to three passive seals and one active seal.

Weapon seals apply in all modes in the game, although there is an option to disable them in Arcade, Versus, Practice and Online modes. Each playable style in Forged by Fate has six base weapons (two default and four unlockable) and 12 slots for copied weapons. Base weapons cannot be customized outside of their weapon seals – however, players may create copies of them to customize their name, appearance, trail color and hit effects.

Miscellaneous Elements[]

As mentioned above, the “Gold” currency system returns in Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate, as a requirement for purchasing Customization equipment and Gallery items in the Shopkeepers’ Bargains, as well as for purchasing and customizing weapons in Forged by Hand. Gold is earned by fighting in the Story modes and the Arcade, as well as by fulfilling various challenges listed in the Shopkeepers’ Bargains.

For the first time since Soulcalibur III, weapons can now be selected anytime in the character select screen or Story mode menus. The character select and versus screens have also returned to the classic format, featuring character and weapon models displayed in real-time. Custom characters now also have a separate selection screen similar to those of the standard characters.

Like in Tekken Tag Tournament 2, players may now swap the music tracks for each stage in the game with original music tracks stored in their consoles.

Characters[]

Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate features a total of 34 playable characters, 32 of which were included in the original release and an additional two released as free downloadable content.

Returning Playable Characters[]

Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate features 18 playable characters returning from the previous games – 14 of which were playable in Soulcalibur V and the remaining four returning for the first time since Soulcalibur IV. All of the returning characters have different roles and motivations in Forged by Fate’s story, while the histories and backgrounds of some have been altered.

Siegfried Schtauffen: In Soulcalibur IV’s altered conclusion, Siegfried vanquished Nightmare once and for all using the power of Soul Calibur, but was stopped by Algol from destroying Soul Edge. Upon the occurrence of the Corruption 15 years later, Siegfried finds himself facing the specter of his dark past when his newly-reformed Schwarzwind mercenary band is hired by the Order of Avalon – a powerful religious organization seeking to purge Europe of the malfested.

Heishiro Mitsurugi: In Forged by Fate, Mitsurugi had become a legendary and fearsome mercenary wandering across the world. Seeking to test his might against the strongest warriors in the land, Mitsurugi joins the worldwide race to gather the fragments of the “Anima Spade” for Dampierre. What he finds are not only worthy rivals, but also a deeper purpose in life.

Kilik: Kilik returns with his classic weapon and fighting style in Forged by Fate. Implored by his mentor Edge Master, Kilik sets out on a journey to vanquish an ancient, evil entity that was prophesied to awaken during the Corruption, and whose extermination could mean an end to the plague. In this alternate history, Kilik is also (unknowingly) the biological father of Leixia.

Maxi: Maxi had aged physically in Forged by Fate. The shard of Soul Edge sealed within his body mysteriously reacted with the occurrence of the Corruption, causing him to slowly descend into insanity. Maxi joins an old friend and fellow adventurer, Rohan, in the worldwide race to find the "Anima Spade" for Dampierre, where the prize of an apparent cure awaits them.

Cassandra Alexandra: Cassandra returns for the first time since Soulcalibur IV. She helped raise Patroklos in honor of Sophitia, and had been seeking to redeem herself for being unable to save her sister and niece 15 years ago. When the Corruption occurs and Rothion is stricken by the plague, Cassandra joins Patroklos in saving his father and finding his long-lost sister.

Talim: Talim returns for the first time since Soulcalibur IV. With their village in unrest due to the Corruption, Talim and her husband, Yun-seong, set out on a journey to purge it of the plague. They eventually find themselves joining the worldwide race to gather the fragments of the “Anima Spade” for Dampierre, who supposedly holds the only cure for the Corruption.

Hong Yun-seong: Yun-seong returns for the first time since Soulcalibur IV. He had married Talim and settled with her in her village, until their peaceful life is suddenly ruined by the Corruption. Yun-seong and his wife later join the worldwide race to gather the fragments of the “Anima Spade” for Dampierre – where a supposed cure for the Corruption awaits as their prize.

Zasalamel: Zasalamel returns for the first time since Soulcalibur IV. He had lost his powers of reincarnation, apparently as a result of the Corruption. In his final lifetime, Zasalamel sets out on a journey to somehow change the past and the future – knowing that the chain of events unleashed by the Corruption can no longer be stopped and will inevitably bring about the destruction of mankind.

Hildegard “Hilde” von Krone: In Forged by Fate, Hilde does not have children yet and her kingdom, Wolfkrone, had fallen into a state of anarchy due to the Corruption. Exiled by the people who have deposed her from her throne, the former princess joins Siegfried’s Schwarzwind mercenary band while plotting to reclaim her kingdom and restore it to its former glory.

Patroklos Alexander: In Forged by Fate, Patroklos was raised by Rothion and Cassandra, and grew up with a deep-seated hatred for Soul Edge and the malfested over the loss of his mother and sister 15 years ago. When Rothion is stricken by the Corruption, Patroklos sets out on a journey with his aunt to save his father, as well as search for his long-lost sister’s whereabouts.

Pyrrha Alexandra: In Forged by Fate, Pyrrha was adopted by a family of peasants, who found her after she was abandoned by Tira. When the Corruption strikes her adoptive family and she emerges with dark, malevolent powers, Pyrrha sets out on a journey to find out why and escape the people now persecuting her – with the help of a newfound friend named Lena.

Natsu: Natsu’s background is the same as in Soulcalibur V, except she is now joined by her best friend and fellow Fu-Ma ninja, Hiroki. While their clan is threatening to fall apart due to the Corruption, Natsu and Hiroki set out on a journey to find a way to safely vanquish her inner demon Arahabaki, who is growing more uncontrollable since the plague began.

Yan Leixia: In Forged by Fate, Leixia’s biological parents are Kilik and Xianghua, with Yan Wujin as her stepfather. Leixia ran away from home to find out why her mother became distraught upon seeing the Dvapara-Yuga her brother Leixin gave to her during her 13th birthday – a gift that protected their family from the Corruption.

Raphael Sorel: Following the events of Soulcalibur IV, Raphael was captured and imprisoned by a powerful religious organization calling itself the Order of Avalon. Before he could be executed, however, Raphael was freed by the Guild of Erebus – an underground organization of malfested seeking to harness his dark powers in exchange for help in finding his missing daughter, Amy.

Tira: In Soulcalibur IV’s altered conclusion, Tira took Pyrrha away after her mother’s death, but abandoned her upon learning that Algol had taken away Soul Edge. When she discovers the newly-resurfaced Guild of Erebus 15 years later, Tira sets out to find Pyrrha once again, believing the girl to have untapped powers that could be harnessed by the organization.

Zwei: In Forged by Fate, Z.W.E.I. is renamed simply as “Zwei” and the origins of E.I.N. (also renamed simply as “Ein”) is explained. Zwei is on the run from the Order of Avalon, which is conducting a bloody and indiscriminate hunt for the malfested across Europe. He fatefully crosses paths with Viola, another wrongful target of the Order who possesses abilities parallel to his. Zwei now fights using hand-to-hand combat alongside Ein.

Viola: Viola’s past and true identity is revealed in Forged by Fate. She had become a target of the Order of Avalon for a reason that may have something to do not only with her supernatural abilities, but also with her forgotten past. She joins Zwei as they both try to uncover the true nature of their powers and piece together the fragments of their mysterious pasts.

Nightmare (DLC): Nightmare returns as a bonus playable character in Forged by Fate, released as free DLC for the original versions of the game and already included in The Complete Edition. Story-wise, Nightmare appears only in flashback sequences set in the altered conclusion of Soulcalibur IV. In-game, he appears in his Soulcalibur V outfit and wields his version of Soul Edge from the same game.

New Playable Characters[]

Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate features 16 new playable characters, including a special guest from another video game franchise. Just like in Soulcalibur V, many of these new characters are spiritual successors of veteran characters who are unplayable in Forged by Fate.

Bangoo: Rock’s adoptive son whose father and fellow people have been afflicted by the Corruption. Seeking the key to his people’s salvation, Bangoo gathers his friends to join the worldwide race to find the “Anima Spade” for Dampierre. Bangoo wields a double-ended mace, complemented by brutal grappling attacks, in a style similar to Rock and Astaroth.

Rohan Amir: A seafarer and treasure-hunter from the Middle East whose daughter and crewmen have been afflicted by the Corruption. Seeking the only known cure, Rohan and his remaining crewmen – along with his old friend Maxi – take part in the worldwide race to gather the fragments of the “Anima Spade” for Dampierre. Rohan wields a chained sickle and flail.

Hiroki: The son of Li Long and Chie, a young Fu-Ma ninja and Natsu’s best friend. With his uncanny ability to communicate with spirits and demons, Hiroki accompanies Natsu in finding a way to vanquish her demon Arahabaki, who is growing more uncontrollable due to Corruption. Hiroki wields a katana and a giant shuriken in a playful and comical style similar to Yoshimitsu.

Lena Farkas: A girl who narrowly escaped the brutal massacre of her Corruption-stricken village at the hands of the Order of Avalon. Lena meets and befriends Pyrrha, and together they make a desperate attempt to escape alive from the Order. Lena wields a four-pronged, boomerang-like weapon called windmill blades.

Aleksei Moskvin: A vengeful huntsman seeking bloody retribution against the Order of Avalon, who mercilessly slaughtered his Corruption-stricken family. Aleksei’s quest for vengeance leads him to the people who hate the Order as much as him – the Guild of Erebus. Aleksei wields a pair of throwing axes in a style reminiscent of Aeon CalcosSoulcalibur V incarnation.

Emily “Emma” Ambrose: Ivy’s adopted daughter and alchemy apprentice who is trying to create a cure for the Corruption. Emma is also seeking to expose Dampierre’s claims of a cure as a hoax and put an end to the worldwide race to find the “Anima Spade” for him. Emma wields a steel baton that turns into a chain whip, in a style similar to Ivy.

Edgar Donovan: A father figure to Emma and a devoted suitor of Ivy. Desperate to save his beloved from the insanity caused by the Corruption, Edgar accompanies Emma in finding a real cure for the plague and in exposing Dampierre’s lies. Edgar wields a shortsword and a crude, sawn-off shotgun in a style reminiscent of Ezio Auditore.

Akshan: A clairvoyant young man who had foreseen the Corruption with his twin sister, Alisha. Akshan sets out on a journey with her to prevent another ominous vision of his from being fulfilled – one that shows the plague culminating into an apocalyptic war on Earth. Akshan wields a pair of crescent swords, complemented by quick and acrobatic martial arts techniques.

Alisha: A clairvoyant young woman who had foreseen the Corruption with her twin brother, Akshan. While Akshan saw visions of a coming Armageddon, Alisha saw instead the people who hold the key to the Corruption’s origins. Alisha wields a pair of daggers hidden in her wrists, complemented by lithe and deadly martial arts techniques, in a style reminiscent of Voldo.

Caleb Steinhardt: A cold and stoic warrior-priest of the Order of Avalon. Caleb’s unbending loyalty is put to the test with the reappearance of his long-lost younger brother, Conrad – who is now a malfested and a member of the Guild of Erebus, the Order's most hated enemies. Caleb wields a pair of broadswords, which can be attached together by their hilts, in a style reminiscent of Cervantes.

Conrad Steinhardt: Caleb’s long-lost younger brother and a former assassin from the Bird of Passage. Alongside the equally-sadistic Tira, Conrad now serves under the Guild of Erebus – unknowingly pitting himself against his own older brother in the Order of Avalon. Conrad wields a pair of daggers and a set of throwing knives, complemented by unknown dark magic.

Eldric Magnusson: The young and enigmatic current leader of the Order of Avalon – an ancient and powerful religious organization hellbent on annihilating the malfested and fulfilling an apocalyptic prophecy. Cold and calculating, Eldric does not seem to be bothered at all by the continuing spread of the Corruption and the recent resurgence of the Guild of Erebus in Europe. Eldric wields a longsword with scabbard in a swift and lethal style reminiscent of α Patroklos (and by extension, Setsuka).

Darius: The fearless and fearsome current leader of the Guild of Erebus – an underground organization of malfested waging an ancient shadow war against the Order of Avalon. With the Corruption having brought new members and sympathizers to their cause, Darius now rallies the Guild into a full-scale war against the Order. Darius has the power to transform his arms into various organic weapons – such as giant claws and bladed appendages – and wields them in a style reminiscent of Algol.

Michael: An “archangel” prophesied by the Order of Avalon to lead the “forces of light” in what could be an impending Armageddon on Earth. Michael possesses unknown divine powers, demonstrated mainly by his ability to manifest six Soul Calibur longswords out of thin air and telekinetically wielding them all at once.

Lilith: A “fallen angel” prophesied by the Guild of Erebus to rally the “forces of darkness” in what could be an impending Armageddon on Earth. Lilith possesses unknown dark powers, which mainly manifest themselves in the form of shape-shifting, smoke-like figures which she can manipulate at will.

Claire “Lightning” Farron (DLC): The main protagonist of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, acting as the playable guest character for Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate. Lightning was released as free DLC for the original versions of the game and is already included in The Complete Edition. She appears in her Final Fantasy XIII-2 outfit and wields her gunblade and shield from the same game.

Non-Playable Characters (NPCs)[]

The following appear as NPCs throughout the Story modes of Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate. Most of these NPCs are former playable characters from the previous games, while some are figures who have been mentioned only before. Most of these NPCs appear as special enemies in The Quest for the Anima Spade, wielding the weapons and movesets of the game’s playable characters.

Algol: Algol serves as the catalyst of the plot of Forged by Fate. After Siegfried defeated Nightmare once and for all in Soulcalibur IV’s altered conclusion, Algol intervened and took away both Soul Edge and Soul Calibur. He sealed himself away with the two soul swords until 15 years later, when he decided to destroy both of them for an unknown reason – killing himself and unleashing the Corruption upon the world.

Edge Master: In addition to teaching players in the Tutorial, Edge Master also plays an important role in Forged by Fate. He appears to have a deep understanding of the Corruption’s origins, but is unwilling to share anything to Kilik other than the prophecy of an ancient, evil entity awakening during the plague. Edge Master implores his apprentice to seek out and vanquish this entity, as a possible means of ending the Corruption.

Lord Geo Dampierre: Dampierre plays an important role in Forged by Fate. He had convinced the world that he had discovered a cure for the Corruption, but will only share it to those who can gather for him the last surviving fragments of Soul Edge and Soul Calibur (which he calls the “Anima Spade”). This sets off a massive race to find the fragments among warriors across the world, such as Rohan and Maxi, Talim and Yun-seong and Bangoo.

Sophitia Alexandra: Sophitia appears in flashback sequences in Forged by Fate. After seeing Nightmare’s imminent defeat at the hands of Siegfried in Soulcalibur IV’s altered conclusion, Sophitia decided to sacrifice her own life to give Pyrrha the shard of Soul Edge fatally sealed within her body. Sophitia’s death serves as an important motivation for Cassandra, Patroklos and Pyrrha throughout the plot of Forged by Fate.

Rothion: Rothion appears for the first time in Forged by Fate. Unlike in Soulcalibur V, he is still alive and had raised Patroklos with his sister-in-law Cassandra since Sophitia died. When Rothion is stricken by the Corruption, his son sets out on a journey with Cassandra to save him.

Isabella “Ivy” Valentine: Ivy plays a major supporting role in Forged by Fate. She had physically aged, unlike in Soulcalibur V. After vanquishing her father Cervantes in the end of Soulcalibur IV, Ivy began a new life by adopting the young, orphaned Emma as an apprentice. Like Maxi, she began to mysteriously lose her sanity when the Corruption occurred, leaving Emma and her suitor Edgar to find and create the cure.

Nathaniel “Rock” Adams: Rock does not play an active role in Forged by Fate, but serves as an important figure to Bangoo. Rock was among the unfortunate members of his tribe who have been afflicted by the Corruption, forcing his son to set out with his friends to save their people.

TakiChie and Li Long: Taki, Chie and Li Long do not play active roles in Forged by Fate, but all serve as important figures to Natsu and Hiroki. The three have been caught up in the aftermath of the Corruption within the Fu-Ma clan, and have sent out Natsu and Hiroki for their own safety and that of the clan.

Chai Xianghua: Xianghua does not play an active role in Forged by Fate, but serves as an important figure to Kilik and Leixia. Xianghua parted ways with Kilik two years after the events of Soulcalibur IV, but not before she (unknowingly) conceived Leixia with him. Her shock at seeing the Dvapara-Yuga in her daughter's hands, 13 years later, would motivate the latter to set out on an adventure.

Yan Wujin and Leixin: In Forged by Fate’s alternate history, Yan Wujin and Leixin are now Leixia’s stepfather and half-brother, respectively. Yan Wujin is fully aware of Leixia's true parentage, while Leixin appears to have met Kilik at some point. The two only make brief appearances in the story.

Although they do not play any role in Forged by Fate’s story, Seong Mi-na, Hwang Seong-Gyeong, Voldo, Cervantes de Leon, Astaroth, Aeon Calcos, Setsuka (as “Neve”) and Yoshimitsu II appear exclusively as special enemies in the Quest for the Anima Spade.

Stages[]

All 17 stages in Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate are multi-tiered and feature a variety of destructible objects. In terms of design and theme, most of the stages in the game are based on existing ones from Soulcalibur III, Soulcalibur IV and Soulcalibur V. A number of unique stages also appear in the Story modes of the game, but only the following are available in all other modes.

Citadel of Martyrs: Set on a rain-drenched medieval European fortress, with the remnants of a bloody battle visible from the fortress’ ramparts. This stage is associated with Siegfried and Hilde.

Circle of Champions: Set on the ruins of a Roman coliseum caught in the middle of a fierce thunderstorm. This stage is based on the Conqueror’s Coliseum from Soulcalibur V, and is associated with Mitsurugi and Patroklos.

Sentinel’s Forest – Daybreak: Set in a verdant forest during the day, with various wildlife present around the stage. This stage is based on the Unknown Forest from Soulcalibur V, and is associated with Lena and Aleksei.

Halcyon Coast: Set on the coastline of a beautiful tropical island, with a shipwreck visible in the horizon. This stage is based on the Sailor’s Rest from Soulcalibur IV, and is associated with Talim and Bangoo.

Heartland’s Crown: Set on the streets of a majestic European city during the day, with townspeople present around the stage. This stage is based on the Free Imperial City Center from Soulcalibur V, and is associated with Cassandra and Pyrrha.

Imperial Capital: Set on the streets of a beautiful Eastern Asian city at night, with townspeople present around the stage. This stage is based on the Luoyang: Grand Festival of Guandi Temple  from Soulcalibur V, and is associated with Natsu and Hiroki.

Temple of the Clouds: Set on a quiet Himalayan temple surrounded by crystal-clear rivers and snow-capped peaks. This stage is based on the Proving Grounds from Soulcalibur III, and is associated with Kilik and Leixia.

Silk Road Oasis: Set on the streets of a bustling desert town situated on a lush oasis, with townspeople present around the stage. This stage is associated with Yun-seong and Alisha.

High Seas Journey: Set on a very big merchant ship, with sailors watching and cheering for the combatants. This stage is based on the Sinking Merchant Ship from Soulcalibur V, and is associated with Maxi and Rohan.

Stoneheart Manor: Set within a beautiful mansion tucked away on a snowy mountain range. This stage is based on the Valentine Mansion from Soulcalibur III, and is associated with Emma and Edgar.

Sentinel’s Forest – Nightfall: Set on a beautiful spring in the middle of a forest at night, with swarms of fireflies scattered in the air. This stage is based on the Unknown Forest: Dark Night from Soulcalibur V, and is associated with Zwei and Viola.

Infernal Horizon: Set on the streets of a burning European city at night, with the townspeople fleeing in terror. This stage is based on the Free Imperial City: Old Quarter from Soulcalibur V, and is associated with Raphael and Caleb.

Phantom Cathedral: Set within a dark European cathedral, with mysterious figures lurking around. This stage is based on the House of Valentine’s Prague Residence from Soulcalibur V, and is associated with Tira and Conrad.

Frozen Tomb of the Ancient Evil: Set within an icy cavern filled with frozen statues and mysterious hieroglyphs. This stage is based on the Ice Coffin of the Sleeping Ancient from Soulcalibur IV, and is associated with Zasalamel and Akshan.

Ostrheinsburg – Siege of the Divine Crusade: Set outside the walls of Ostrheinsburg Castle as it is being besieged by a massive army led by the Order of Avalon. A mysterious pillar of light can be seen in the horizon. This stage is associated with Eldric and Michael.

Ostrheinsburg – Gates of the Infernal Legion: Set within the walls of Ostrheinsburg Castle as it is being defended by the malfested soldiers of the Guild of Erebus. Mysterious dark clouds can be seen hanging over the castle. This stage is associated with Darius and Lilith.

Valhalla – Eternal Battlefield (DLC): Set on the otherworldly realm of the goddess Etro from Final Fantasy XIII-2. This stage was released as free DLC along with Lightning and Nightmare in the original versions of the game, and is already included in The Complete Edition.

Development and Release[]

Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate was originally planned as an expansion for Soulcalibur V, conceived and conceptualized after the latter’s release in early 2012. It was later reworked into a full-fledged spin-off title by Azshforzen26 and Project Soul, with full development having began in early 2013. According to the development team, roughly 25% of the game’s assets are composed of reused or cut content from Soulcalibur IV and Soulcalibur V.

Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate was announced in February 2014 as a cross-generation title in the Soul series, with a worldwide release for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360 and Xbox One in April 2015. Following its successful release, the game received multiple updates and downloadable content (DLC), including new playable characters, customization equipment and music tracks.

A compilation of the game containing all previously-released DLC, entitled Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate – The Complete Edition, was announced in April 2016. It was released worldwide for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows (via Steam) in August of the same year. All versions of the game received a few subsequent updates until early 2017.

A potential prequel, tentatively-titled Soulcalibur: Days of Reckoning, is currently in conceptual development by Azshforzen26.

Trivia[]

  • Soulcalibur: Forged by Fate is the first game in the series since Soulcalibur III that did not feature a guest playable character at launch. However, it is the second one to feature a downloadable guest character after Soulcalibur IV, which featured Darth Vader for the Xbox 360 version and Yoda for the PlayStation 3 version.
    • Unlike the guest characters in the previous games, Lightning’s outfit is fully customizable in Tweak-a-Soul, and her weapons and moveset can be used by custom characters.
  • Not counting the bonus characters featured in Soulcalibur III, Forged by Fate has the largest amount of new playable characters (16 in total) to debut in the series.
  • Forged by Fate is the first game in the series where all playable characters do not have unique Player 2 (2P) outfits. All 2P outfits in the game are simply palette swaps of the 1P ones. Also, out of all the returning characters from Soulcalibur V, only Mitsurugi, Kilik, Patroklos and Pyrrha have been given new outfits, while Zwei reused his 2P outfit from the same game.
  • Forged by Fate is the first game in the series to feature stages that are all multi-tiered. It is also the first game since Soulcalibur II to feature unique stages that are exclusive in Story modes (including the Weapon Master mode in Soulcalibur II’s case).
  • The development team considered including Sophitia, Edge Master, Algol and Dampierre as playable characters at various points of Forged by Fate’s development and release, but the characters were ultimately dismissed for balancing purposes and for the sake of roster variety.

Gallery[]

Character Portraits[]

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