Voldo (ヴォルド, Vorudo) is a character in the Soul series of fighting games. Voldo made his first appearance in Soul Blade and has returned for all the following sequels.
Voldo first appeared in Soul Edge, offering the first insights of his unpredictable play style and mannerisms. Later, in the sequel, Soulcalibur, he gained many of his staple moves and traits that would later stay in his reappearance during following games Soulcalibur II, Soulcalibur III and Soulcalibur IV. He is one of the few characters to have been present in every version (either arcade or home) of almost all of the games in the series; in the main series, he, Siegfried, Mitsurugi, Nightmare and Cervantes are the only characters to have appeared in every installment. Voldo remains one of the most well known and popular characters in the series due to his unique playstyle and disturbing appearance. Voldo is incapable of sight and speech. Thus, making him reliant on his senses and only being able to make grunting, groaning and hissing noises.
What lies in his soul is Allegiance. In Soulcalibur V's promotional material he is referred to as He Who Is Bound By Blind Allegiance.
Appearance[]
Due to his appearance, Voldo is considered as an oddity, even among the Soul series' cast. Following his debut appearance in Soul Edge, all of his costumes had a very direct approach to the sado-masochistic slave theme which is associated with him. Voldo almost always wears a leather harness, which resembles a head trainer, covering his eyes and mouth. Most of his costumes also include other fetish elements, such as spikes, strings tied tightly around his body, thongs revealing his buttocks and parts of his costumes are made from see-through fishnet. In Soul Calibur IV his initial concept even had a ball gag, but this wasn't included in the game, possibly due to its offensiveness or to avoid a higher rating. His final design in Soul Calibur IV includes an element from his 2P costume from Soul Edge - monoculars. However, in this costume, he has three of them, two where his eyes should be and one in the middle of his forehead.
Voldo's Soul Calibur V outfit is seemingly less bondage themed, though he does sport a very outlandish suspender depicting a spider. When he loses the colorful fur during battle, it's revealed that he's dressed in his usual way.
Biography[]
Voldo's Edge Master Mode in the first game on the series, Soul Edge, revealed his past as the right-hand man of Italian weapons merchant Vercci, known as the Merchant of Death, due to his business with the Spanish Armada. Vercci desired Soul Edge to form part of his collection of rare weapons, and Voldo stood as the head of the expeditions in his search, even contracting the services of the feared Spanish Captain Cervantes de Leon, and later accompanied Vercci when he decided to take the search personally. When word came that the Italian Wars broke on Italy and that Vercci's possessions were the first targets, Vercci grew angry. He moved his fleet, his only remaining possession, on an uninhabited island off the coast of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea and dug a 50-mt deep shaft that would serve as his tomb and vault. Voldo would later be instructed to slay the sailors that helped in the construction to avoid the location of Vercci's Money Pit to be revealed, then later shut himself with his deceased master. The Money Pit would later become Voldo's staple stage, featuring in every game in different locations like the main vault (in Soul Edge) or the Top Tier (in Soulcalibur II). Voldo would remain sealed underground, turning himself into the guardian of the tomb and slaying those who ventured to steal, making rumors of the island, its treasures and its "ghost guardian" spread around the globe. Years later, Voldo would hear his master's voice commanding him to search Soul Edge once again, making him leave the tomb to do so.
In his second appearance in the sequel Soulcalibur, it is stated in his profile that Voldo's search of Soul Edge ended in failure, and he returned to the Money Pit to find it flooded by a storm. After saving what he could, Voldo remained inside for the 3 year span between both games, later to reemerge from the pit following a woman with the essence of Soul Edge, Ivy, who tried to find leads on the sword for herself.
The profile on his next appearance, in Soulcalibur II, states how Voldo returned to the Money Pit after taking Yoshimitsu's katana, mistaking it for Soul Edge due to its evil aura, only to find years later an intruder with Soul Edge fragments. Voldo realized the katana was not Soul Edge and set out on a new search, collecting fragments while seeking it.
His appearance in the fourth game, Soulcalibur III, states he, during one of his periodic visits to the Pit, found the tomb ransacked and the sword he mistook for Soul Edge stolen alongside the fragments he collected in his travels. Since the thieves were apparently interested in Soul Edge, he decided to track them down and force them to reveal any information of the sword they know. He also came to realize he was someday going to die and leave the pit unprotected, so he also started to search a worthy successor, which his ending states could be Lizardman (Aeon Calcos), though this is not canon.
In Soulcalibur IV, Voldo does find Soul Edge with Nightmare at Ostrheinsburg. As he picked up the sword, he heard Soul Edge's voice, in disguise of his master's, telling him that he has done well in finding Soul Edge and that now he must offer his soul. However, the true voice of Voldo's master spoke to him, warning Voldo of the Evil Sword's trickery. Whether this was a spirit, or simply Voldo's imagination remains a mystery. It seems Voldo took Soul Edge into his guardianship, protecting the sword from those that sought it, but in turn also protecting humanity from its malevolence by preventing it from ever being wielded.
According to Soulcalibur V, Soul Edge's illusion of Vercci was shattered from Voldo's mind by a purifying blow from Kilik's Kali-Yuga. He returned to Vercci's Money Pit with the intention to become its guardian once again, only to find it had been ransacked by thieves in his absence. Voldo spent the next several years murdering the ones responsible and retrieving every piece of treasure stolen. Even after the collection was complete, Voldo continued to search, this time for the object his master had always desired and he had been so close to acquiring: Soul Edge.
In 1607, Voldo serves under Graf Dumas, and battles Patroklos when he attempts to kill Dumas. Later, after Patroklos reunites with his sister, Pyrrha, they are ambushed by Voldo. Patroklos is wounded by him, and Pyrrha is forced to take up arms and fight him.
Endings[]
Soul Edge[]
Voldo opens the door to Vercci's tomb. He approaches the throne, but begins to rub Soul Edge on his face.
Good Ending: He places the sword on the altar. Vercci's ghost appears and says to Voldo that he has done well. He asks Voldo to guard Soul Edge and sit on his throne.
- The player can switch the camera view from Voldo to Vercci's ghost while he talks by pressing the X button.
Bad Ending: By pressing left then right very quickly, Voldo begins to caress the blade faster and faster until it shatters and Voldo slumps downward looking at the pieces in despair, while he hears Vercci exclaiming his name.
Soulcalibur[]
The moment he grasped the evil sword, a flood of evil energy coursed through Voldo's body and made him writhe in agony.
"Entrust your soul to the sword..." A familiar voice echoed in his mind. As he gave into the power of the sword, the pain dissolved miraculously and his memory along with his youth returned.
The image of his dead master was reflected in his eyes, now wide open. His master's wish was finally fulfilled, as was his. In the empty solitary darkness of this place, he found eternal bliss.
Soul Calibur 2 - Voldo Ending HQ
Soul Calibur II Voldo's Ending
Soulcalibur II[]
In the familiar darkness, Voldo welcomed the moment of bliss. He carries the sacred sword to the alter. His master's wish was about to be fulfilled. At the very moment, their dearest wishes came true, and Voldo heard a familiar voice again. He would lurk in the shadows for eternity. To protect his master, even to this day.
Soulcalibur III[]
Soul Calibur 3 - Voldo - Ending B
Soul Calibur III Voldo's Ending B
Voldo is seen at the secret money pit, carrying Soul Edge in his hand. He puts a rattling barrel on the ground, steps forward, and offers Soul Edge to his master, who is speaking to him through a giant statue. The input command shows up as Voldo's master congratulates him for his success in retrieving Soul Edge.
Input Ending: Voldo turns around, remembering the barrel he placed on the ground, and knocks on the barrel. The barrel breaks open revealing Lizardman (Aeon Calcos) wearing Voldo's mask. Voldo and Lizardman bow to the master statue as the scene fades out.
Soul Calibur 3 - Voldo - Ending A
Soul Calibur III Voldo's Ending A
No Input Ending: Voldo's master tells him that even though he did a good job in retrieving Soul Edge, it's still not enough. Voldo's master orders him to retrieve souls to appeal to Soul Edge. Voldo leaves to do this, but he has become possessed by Soul Edge.
Soulcalibur IV[]
Soul Calibur IV ★ Voldo ★ Ending
Soul Calibur IV Voldo's Ending
As Voldo looks at Soul Edge, Vercci's voice can be heard saying "Now take this sword and give your soul to me." Before Voldo goes to grab the sword, he looks back at a Vercci, who is depicted as a bright, floating light. Vercci cries out, "Voldo! Don't be fooled!" The screen fades to black and then shows Voldo placing Soul Edge onto a throne. A group of thieves/soldiers then enter the room, but they don't make it far as Voldo takes out every one of them. He then bows to Soul Edge and walks away.
The text-only epilogue says that the cursed sword will never be held by mankind again as long as the guardian of the sword keeps his vigil.
Fighting Style[]
Voldo is easily recognizable by his strange and unique style of play. His moveset is based on contorting his body in unnatural ways, making him an extremely unpredictable fighter. He also has many stances that compliment his odd style, like his Mantis Crawl in which he stands on his four limbs face-first. Also unique to Voldo is his ability to fight with his back towards his opponent. He uses a different set of attacks in this mode, though he returns to face-forward mode to execute grabs. Due to the nature of his weapons, Voldo has one of the shortest range in the game, which is considered a major flaw. Also, due to his lack of eyesight, Voldo will sometimes miss the opponent if they are quicker than him. Despite these difficulties, he is generally considered as a high tier character by the tournament community.
Soulcalibur IV[]
Self-Taught[]
During his long, lonely vigil protecting his master's treasures in the Money Pit, Voldo's body and soul slowly adapted to the lightless environment of the vault. His eyes lost their sight, but instead he developed the ability to detect enemies in the blackness. His powers of conscious reasoning faded and he came to be guided by pure instinct.
He eventually forgot that he was a man, and his movements have become alien and inhuman. Inexperienced fighters become so confused they do not even realize they are being attacked, and veteran warriors find that their battle experience is for naught in the face of this bizarre opponent.
Soulcalibur V[]
Personal style[]
The "Money Pit" where Vercci kept all of his treasures was literally a dark pit where even the sun's light could not reach, and though it was ideal for the safe storage of valuables, no one in their right mind would ever use it as a primary residence. Yet Voldo lived there for many decades, his loyalty to Vercci granting him immunity to the hardships associated with life in the Money Pit.
Life in perpetual darkness had robbed Voldo of his sight, but in exchange had granted him enhanced hearing. Voldo would use his powerful sense of hearing in conjunction with his superhuman agility to protect his master's treasure from thieves.
The eerie movements displayed by Voldo's agile body push the limits of what could be considered human, yet Voldo's katar techniques were all developed through the many years he fought by his master's side as Vercci's trusted right-hand man. It was Voldo's gratitude, trust, and devotion that had honed his skills to such a keen edge. What could be more noble and human than that?
Critical Finish[]
Great Gear of Madness: He attaches himself to his opponent from behind, whom he sets on fire rolling around. Voldo then jumps up and slams the opponent to the ground.
Critical Edge[]
Wheel of Madness: Voldo start his Critical Edge with a bow, and then attacks his opponent in a circular shape, in the end he will suprees his opponent and back to normal slightly hurts them.
Relationships[]
- Servant of Vercci.
- Viewed Rock as a kindred spirit.
- Stole Yoshimitsu's katana sometime before Soulcalibur II. Shares a Destined Battle with him in Soulcalibur II and in Soulcalibur III.
- Servant of Nightmare in Soulcalibur IV and V.
- Cured of his malfestation by Kilik during the events of Soul Calibur IV.
- Defeated by Patroklos and later by Pyrrha during the Soul Calibur V story mode.
Soulcalibur (Chinese Manhua)[]
- In Volume 2 (Act.8), Voldo appears and attacks Ivy by surprise during the trap. Voldo however stops his attack when Lord Vercci appears and commands him to do so.