#878 Soul Blade (PS1) Exclusive Hidden Characters (1/4): Han Myong playthrough.

Channel:

AdmiralMcFish - Bosses and Hidden Characters

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9,040

Published on April 23, 2018 6:36:37 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulAsBvjvU_k

Game:

Soul Edge (1995)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 6:06

2,754 views

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A playthrough of the exclusive hidden character Han Myong in the PS1 port of Namco’s Soul Blade/Edge.

The PS1 port of Soul Edge, renamed to Soul Blade outside of Japan. One of the best PS1 games in existence, and remains one of the most beloved home conversions in existence. Not too surprising for Namco I know, given their fantastic Tekken ports, but this really is something else. Soul Blade absolutely puts its arcade counterpart to shame, with so many new features it’s incredible.

Let me start with one thing I rarely talk about; the intro. There are many good video game intros, but Soul Blade’s is quite possibly the best. It does everything an intro should do; introduce you to the characters and premise of the series in the most awesome way possible. Soul Blade was actually the very first game I got for my PS1. Before that I only had a Mega Drive, so booting up a brand-new system and first being met with Soul Blade’s intro…yeah, that was something else entirely. It was mind-blowing, and it’s the kind of mind-blowing experience which we’ll never really get again in gaming. The game also has an arranged version of the arcade soundtrack, as well as a third soundtrack known as the Khan Soul Sessions with a bunch of new, unique and fantastic songs. They’re not quite as atmospheric as the OST, but it’s still damn good and certainly worth a listen for any fan of video game music.

Then, you have the endings. Sure, the endings aren’t CG and are instead made with the game engine, but that comes with an advantage. You see, many characters have alternate endings. Yes, alternate. These can only be activated with specific button presses during a certain part of the ending, and they drastically alter the outcome, often seeing the character breaking free of and resisting Soul Edge’s control. This is insanely badass for a fighting game in 1996, and it’s only helped by the fact that Soul Edge is an entirely evil, corrupting force. Indeed, by default most of the endings are actually pretty horrifying, seeing the player’s character being consumed by Soul Edge and turning into a bloody-thirsty monster. Yes, the default endings are extremely dark. And you, the player, have the ability to change things through the right actions. It’s basic, but even this level of interactivity is something we’ll probably never see again, which is a damn shame considering how good it is. Killer Instinct 2 is the only other arcade fighter game I can think of where your actions can influence the endings, and that system is even more extensive and rather amazing.

So, great endings. What else? Well, how about a challenge-based story mode for every character? Well, that’s here too. The brilliant Edge Master Mode sees each character setting out across ten chapters, detailing on and expanding their stories as they face a variety of unique challenges and, sometimes, even unique characters. As they complete challenges, players will also earn additional weapons for their character of choice, which can be used both in Edge Master Mode as well as other moves. Each one is unique too, providing some kind of advantage such as increased damage, poisoning or increased defence, amongst others. It’s just wonderfully extensive, and despite a small cast really does help you to get invested in both the cast and the story of the game itself.

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