OK; after all of that we mentioned in part 1, (maybe bullocks for some of you); it is time to mention on how this does apply on Sophitia.
As mentioned, the first game in all of the series, is Soul
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Friday, August 5, 2011
Why Sophitia? (Part 1)
Something from fighting games (we could call it dilemma), is that they have plenty of playable characters; as there is no "main hero" and it is the player the one who takes the character all the way to the end in order to know that character's finale.
Though to prevent "confusions," in some series there is already a designated "main hero character." The best one known would have to be Ryu from the Street Fighter games, who represents the "standard" of a fighting game hero; have basis on some traditional martial art (like karate) and be the most balanced character of all in order to fit both experienced and novice players.
Other examples are: The King Of Fighters games where Kyo Kusanagi is the main hero (though K' and Ash have been the main characters of their respective sagas) and Mortal Kombat has Liu Kang (though after he "died" the hero role was switched onto various characters and some people consider Scorpion the hero as he has become quite popular).
There are many other examples, but now I wish to mention that of Killer Instinct as it is a case similar to SC and Sophitia.
KI was a fighting game made by the company Rareware with Nintendo back in 1994, to show the potential the Nintendo 64 had to offer. We really don't want to focus on the story, but when KI was released, it was not clear who was the "main hero" character.
Maybe the game didn't had one at all. But by taking judgement on what we said on Ryu, Kyo and Liu Kang, it all seemed to point out that the hero was the ninja Jago. However no clue was given on this, aside that he was younger than the sole female character from the game; Black Orchid (or just B. Orchid). Usually there is the un-established rule that the main hero character might have some romantic relationship with the "first main" female character of the game. Plus there is another un-established rule in that the male must be older than the female to have a "better watchable" relationship for the audience.
Well, in this case Orchid is way older than Jago; but still that doesn't stop the possibility of them being a couple.
Finally all things were cleared on Killer Instinct 2. It turns out that the one who defeated the final baddie in KI 1 (Eyedol) was none other than Orchid! Making her so far with this as not only the main female character, but the "main heroine character overall the game." She is the "hero" of the KI games! And to make things more odd (specially for those that shipped these 2), it turns out they are both long lost siblings!!!!
Could Orchid really be the main character of the whole KI series? Let's remember, KI 2 appeared back in 1996. The story deals with most of the characters getting sucked into the past after Orchid defeats Eyedol; in the past, they face Eyedol's rival and fellow warlord Gargos.
KI 2 was (so far) the last game of the series. No other has been made and it seems less likely KI 3 will exist as Rareware is no longer affiliated with Nintendo. If KI 3 had been made, we could had known the canon aftermath of KI 2 (though there really is no need of it, if Nintendo or Rare say something; but nothing has come from them so far regarding this).
So it is not clear if Orchid once again saved the day, remaning the undisputed heroine of KI. Or if someone else was the one to beat Gargos, and become the permanent new hero (or heroine) or/and rivals Orchid for the title.
(Notes: We are not sure if before Orchid, there was already an "overall" heroine in a fighting game; that doesn't involve an all female (or at least most of it) cast, or at least unannouced by surprise like in Orchid's case. That is why so far here at SSBC we consider her the very first fighting video game heroine.
Also, we are not saying Orchid is the very first female videogame character overall nor in fighting games. It seems Mrs. Pac Man was the very first one overall, as some say it is Samus. And sadly we dare to say as that not many people noticed or believed that Samus was a woman; one could say that it was thanks to Chun Li that female characters were taken seriously; despite she was not the "overall" main character of her series, but yes the "main/first" female one).
But what does all of this have anything to do with Sophitia? Well we didn't expect for this to take quite a lot, so stay tunned for part 2.
Though to prevent "confusions," in some series there is already a designated "main hero character." The best one known would have to be Ryu from the Street Fighter games, who represents the "standard" of a fighting game hero; have basis on some traditional martial art (like karate) and be the most balanced character of all in order to fit both experienced and novice players.
Other examples are: The King Of Fighters games where Kyo Kusanagi is the main hero (though K' and Ash have been the main characters of their respective sagas) and Mortal Kombat has Liu Kang (though after he "died" the hero role was switched onto various characters and some people consider Scorpion the hero as he has become quite popular).
There are many other examples, but now I wish to mention that of Killer Instinct as it is a case similar to SC and Sophitia.
KI was a fighting game made by the company Rareware with Nintendo back in 1994, to show the potential the Nintendo 64 had to offer. We really don't want to focus on the story, but when KI was released, it was not clear who was the "main hero" character.
Maybe the game didn't had one at all. But by taking judgement on what we said on Ryu, Kyo and Liu Kang, it all seemed to point out that the hero was the ninja Jago. However no clue was given on this, aside that he was younger than the sole female character from the game; Black Orchid (or just B. Orchid). Usually there is the un-established rule that the main hero character might have some romantic relationship with the "first main" female character of the game. Plus there is another un-established rule in that the male must be older than the female to have a "better watchable" relationship for the audience.
Well, in this case Orchid is way older than Jago; but still that doesn't stop the possibility of them being a couple.
Finally all things were cleared on Killer Instinct 2. It turns out that the one who defeated the final baddie in KI 1 (Eyedol) was none other than Orchid! Making her so far with this as not only the main female character, but the "main heroine character overall the game." She is the "hero" of the KI games! And to make things more odd (specially for those that shipped these 2), it turns out they are both long lost siblings!!!!
Could Orchid really be the main character of the whole KI series? Let's remember, KI 2 appeared back in 1996. The story deals with most of the characters getting sucked into the past after Orchid defeats Eyedol; in the past, they face Eyedol's rival and fellow warlord Gargos.
KI 2 was (so far) the last game of the series. No other has been made and it seems less likely KI 3 will exist as Rareware is no longer affiliated with Nintendo. If KI 3 had been made, we could had known the canon aftermath of KI 2 (though there really is no need of it, if Nintendo or Rare say something; but nothing has come from them so far regarding this).
So it is not clear if Orchid once again saved the day, remaning the undisputed heroine of KI. Or if someone else was the one to beat Gargos, and become the permanent new hero (or heroine) or/and rivals Orchid for the title.
(Notes: We are not sure if before Orchid, there was already an "overall" heroine in a fighting game; that doesn't involve an all female (or at least most of it) cast, or at least unannouced by surprise like in Orchid's case. That is why so far here at SSBC we consider her the very first fighting video game heroine.
Also, we are not saying Orchid is the very first female videogame character overall nor in fighting games. It seems Mrs. Pac Man was the very first one overall, as some say it is Samus. And sadly we dare to say as that not many people noticed or believed that Samus was a woman; one could say that it was thanks to Chun Li that female characters were taken seriously; despite she was not the "overall" main character of her series, but yes the "main/first" female one).
But what does all of this have anything to do with Sophitia? Well we didn't expect for this to take quite a lot, so stay tunned for part 2.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Some history first...
In the middle of the 1990's, 3D CGI videogames were starting to appear in arcades and new home systems like PS1 and the Sega Saturn. Some of them were fighting games, among them there were present games like Killer Instinct, Virtua Fighter and Battle Arena Toshinden. In 1996, a game would appear under the genere of those previously mentioned games; and that game is Soul Edge.
In Soul Edge, the characters used various weapons to fight off eachother, and though it was not the only game to implement this; the story was distinguished as it takes place in the 16th century, but with some differences and fantastic elements. Giving it a touch of an epic tale.
It had a second game released in 1998, but instead of being called Soul Edge 2, it received the title of Soul Calibur. The game had improved graphics, as well many new characters along with some returning ones from the first game. From there on, all games in the series are released under the Soul Calibur label with its respective sequel number; but calling everything from Soul Edge to the latest game as the "Soul Series."
Despite the Soul games were excellent fighting games, they were never present in any Nintendo console; because of the whole Nintendo 64 and CD VS cart controversy. But that would change back in the year 2003, when Soul Calibur II was announced for all the current game consoles from that time! Including Nintendo's GameCube.
However, each console version needed to have different content, that content would be guest characters. There were 3 versions in total. The XBox version with comic book character Spawn. The PS2 with Tekken's Heihachi. And the GameCube version with Link from Nintendo's The Legend Of Zelda games.
Honestly, Link seems to be the one who fits better than Spawn and Heihachi.
After this happened, what was in our minds was that perhaps a Soul Calibur character, would appear in the next Smash Brothers game as a guest. And this was a few years after Meele, not expecting a third game for some time. And way before the whole "third party character" concept would be even present in Smash (despite the whole rumors on Sonic & Tails present in Meele after the usual EGM April Fool's joke; and despite the fact that Hideo Kojima asked Sakurai to place Solid Snake in Meele! Something we would found out of sometime after the Brawl trailer introducing Snake). We really didn't had in mind other third party characters, aside from those of Soul Calibur, as they are fighting game characters, Smash Bros is a fighting series and so they would fit right in. Plus Namco needed to "return the favor."
(Also, we really were not considering that if a SC character would get in, it would open the doors to other third party characters like Snake did. All we felt was that Namco should return the favor).
After SCII, no other game in the series has been present in a Nintendo console. Well, aside that odd Legends adventure game. The series has continued on its own in the competition consoles. And they have even found themselves other guest characters, 3 from the filmic Star Wars series (Darth Vader, Yoda and Starkiller) and even Kratos the God Of War.
The next game in the series will be Soul Calibur V. And it seems to have some changes from previous games (notable in the characters) plus no announcement that it will be present on Nintendo's next console the Wii U.
Elements like the ones mentioned might affect the chance of having a Soul characters in future Smash games (plus, some believe that the Namco representative should be between Pacman and Kolona. Between them, we believe PacMan is the right choice as he is a videogame legend, plus has already been part of a Nintendo xover, and we believe those characters should get into Smash; as it is the same condition as Soul Calibur). But still we would like to have someone in. But who? And so we have decided to support the character of Sophitia Alexandra, under the alliance group called The Holy Church of Sophitia Alexandra.
In Soul Edge, the characters used various weapons to fight off eachother, and though it was not the only game to implement this; the story was distinguished as it takes place in the 16th century, but with some differences and fantastic elements. Giving it a touch of an epic tale.
It had a second game released in 1998, but instead of being called Soul Edge 2, it received the title of Soul Calibur. The game had improved graphics, as well many new characters along with some returning ones from the first game. From there on, all games in the series are released under the Soul Calibur label with its respective sequel number; but calling everything from Soul Edge to the latest game as the "Soul Series."
Despite the Soul games were excellent fighting games, they were never present in any Nintendo console; because of the whole Nintendo 64 and CD VS cart controversy. But that would change back in the year 2003, when Soul Calibur II was announced for all the current game consoles from that time! Including Nintendo's GameCube.
However, each console version needed to have different content, that content would be guest characters. There were 3 versions in total. The XBox version with comic book character Spawn. The PS2 with Tekken's Heihachi. And the GameCube version with Link from Nintendo's The Legend Of Zelda games.
Honestly, Link seems to be the one who fits better than Spawn and Heihachi.
After this happened, what was in our minds was that perhaps a Soul Calibur character, would appear in the next Smash Brothers game as a guest. And this was a few years after Meele, not expecting a third game for some time. And way before the whole "third party character" concept would be even present in Smash (despite the whole rumors on Sonic & Tails present in Meele after the usual EGM April Fool's joke; and despite the fact that Hideo Kojima asked Sakurai to place Solid Snake in Meele! Something we would found out of sometime after the Brawl trailer introducing Snake). We really didn't had in mind other third party characters, aside from those of Soul Calibur, as they are fighting game characters, Smash Bros is a fighting series and so they would fit right in. Plus Namco needed to "return the favor."
(Also, we really were not considering that if a SC character would get in, it would open the doors to other third party characters like Snake did. All we felt was that Namco should return the favor).
After SCII, no other game in the series has been present in a Nintendo console. Well, aside that odd Legends adventure game. The series has continued on its own in the competition consoles. And they have even found themselves other guest characters, 3 from the filmic Star Wars series (Darth Vader, Yoda and Starkiller) and even Kratos the God Of War.
The next game in the series will be Soul Calibur V. And it seems to have some changes from previous games (notable in the characters) plus no announcement that it will be present on Nintendo's next console the Wii U.
Elements like the ones mentioned might affect the chance of having a Soul characters in future Smash games (plus, some believe that the Namco representative should be between Pacman and Kolona. Between them, we believe PacMan is the right choice as he is a videogame legend, plus has already been part of a Nintendo xover, and we believe those characters should get into Smash; as it is the same condition as Soul Calibur). But still we would like to have someone in. But who? And so we have decided to support the character of Sophitia Alexandra, under the alliance group called The Holy Church of Sophitia Alexandra.
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