Broken characters are not a strange concept for fighting game fans, as even the most cheri??shed and acclaimed franchises within the genre have a few within their mix.

But which among this wide array of infamous faces can be considered the strongest, or for some, most ??unfair? For all looking to see where their worst nightmares sit at the table, here are the 10 most broken fighting game characters in history.

10. Phoenix/Dark Phoenix (Marvel Vs Capcom 3)

Although one of the most fragile members of its roster, Phoenix opens our list for one reason above all, she has a boss-like second phase. To be more specific, Phoenix can turn into Dark Phoenix and recover all of her HP in all MvC3 versions if defeated while having five-meter bars. But like most bosses, she does ?not simply rise from the ashes, as the health regen is paired with a full-screen Hyper, a 20% All DMG boost, and the ability to perform enhanced versions of all of her already upper-tier moves.

As a statement of how good the character is, even after being heavily nerfed with the release of Marvel Vs Capcom Ultimate??, Phoenix is still one of the most broken membe??rs of its roster to this day.

9. Hilde (SoulCalibur IV)

One of the most straightforward characters here, Soulcalibur IV's Hilde terrorized the community in the game's heyday given her long-r??ange and known Doom Combo, which allows her to either get a guarantee ring-out from almost anywhere in most stages or start a massively damaging loop by chaining set charged attacks.

To no one's surprise, ?that caused her to be eventually banned from multiple tou??rnaments, as matches involving her would often end as soon as she managed to score a hit.

8. Bayonetta (Super Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS)

In 2016, Nintendo decided to stay true to a fraction of Bayonetta's true power for her debut as the final DLC of Super Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS (or 4), which resulted in the Umbra Witch being able to zero-to-death targets no matter her placement by performing Witch Twist mixups. But wait, what if you beat her to the punch? In this case, she can, to this day, lock you in place by performing Witch Time for a guaranteed combo as well as stop you on your tracks from a distance by using a?? wide array of different projectiles that, if hit, will open y??ou for a TOD.

Even if nerfed heavily since her debut, it's no surprise why many still dread meeting Bayonetta when returning to SSB4 on either its native? platforms or on the Nintendo Switch.

7. Pet Shop (JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Heritage for the Future)

One of the most well-known broken characters in fighting game history and a highlight in a game famous for its unbalance, Heritage for the Future's Pet Shop is the definition of a frustrating matchup, as apart from being able to automatically avoid lows and flying to create distance, he can also make use of homing projectiles and hit you at all times by dro?pping stalagmites with his Icicle Break Special.

The latter is what segments his spot here, as his ability to u?se the ability while being attacked and freely act while his ??projectiles are on the screen allows Pet Shop to perform multiple unblockable mixups, many known to lead to TODs.

6. Sailor Uranus (Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon S: Jougai Rantou!? Shuyaku Soudatsusen)

Arc System Works's Sailor Moon S is, for many, the most broken fighting game ever released, given its over-the-top damage calculations and easy TODs, but no member of its rost?er comes close to Sailor Uranus. The reason for that does not lie in her damage or the various applications of one of her specials. Instead, it's all about h??er broken Shadow Dash move, which allows Uranus to traverse almost the entire screen at unmatched speed and becomes invincible if performed as a reversal when on the player 2 side.

The above ??allows her to both avoid most attacks and perform easy punishers, which can lead to her TODs and a few highly damaging special moves. Like most characters here, Uranus is currently banned from many competitions.

5. Lab Coat Android 21 (Dragon Ball FighterZ)

Lab Coat Android 21 is both Dragon Ball FighterZ 's last DLC character and one of the most recent personifications of DLC-meta. The reason? She was in a league of her own at launch by having both no noticeable weaknesses and the ability to lower the DMG of enemies by?? 21% while also increasing her Special DMG by the same amount through her Photon Pulse command grab —which, of course, could be easily performed mid-combo for a guaranteed hit.

The above led to the character being slightly nerfed a few months post its release, as well as banned from multiple tournaments. Today, Lab Coat 21 is still considered a top tier, even if she is no longer alone at ??the top.

4. Meta Knight (Super Smash Bros Brawl)

Super Smash Bros. Brawl's version of Meta Knight is considered by many as the most broken character the Smash franchise has ever produced, a title he earned in part given his phenomenal mobility, omnidirectional moves, and ability to juggle opponents to oblivion through his Shuttle Loop attack. The biggest reason, however, lies in his ability to stall, as Meta Knight players can force time-out wins by?? both planking and then siz-zagging (or scrooging) below the arena or by performing his vanishing move Dimensional Cape before making a s?eries of key inputs to trigger a glitch and stop him from reappearing.

As a surprise to no one, the above saw Kirby's rival being banned from multiple compet?itions, while those who still consider him legal decided to apply specific rules to guarantee fair play.

3. Gill (Street Fighter 2nd Impact and 3rd Strike)

Another character capable of resurrecting, Gill is infamously considered the most broken character in the Street Fighter 3 series, which says a lot considering the series' other great surprises, such as 2nd Impact's Ibuki.

Available for the first time in the home console port of 2nd Impact, Gill brings to the field all you can expect of a boss character by pairing his already-mentioned ability to come back at full life with unblockable AoE suppers and the ability to deal massive amounts of chip damage, the latter which can cause you to be defeated without him having to land a sin?gle clear hit. To top it all off, he can also perform TODs.

2. Akuma (Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo)

Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo's Ak??uma is both one of the most ruthless bosses in fighting game history and one of its most broken fighters. Showcasing what I can only assume to be a lore-accurate description of the Destroyer of the Heavens, Akuma can send off extremely fast projectiles, has access to an unbelievable on-air fireball, and can perform improved versions of all of Ryu and Ken's moves. That is t??hen paired with the highest damage in the game and an ability to —like Pet Shop�perform unblockable mixups at will.

1. Ivan Ooze (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Fighting Edition)

The most infamous face when the subject is broken characters and by far the most unfair to ever be featured in a fighting game, MMPR: The Fighting Edition's Ivan Ooze is a nightmare capable of performing a wide array of spammable and multi-hit homing moves, most of which possess invincible variants. Also, did I mention that he is immune to throws, is the only character in the game capable of flying, and makes his inability to block meaningless through the way a??ll of his moves?????????????????????????? —that's right, all of them�can lead to TODs?

Now that you know who are the most broken characters to ever debut in a fighting game, don't forget to also check out the 10 best fighting games that aren't Street Fighter, Tekken, or MK.

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But it was not to be... TWO BEE... 2...

No-one can deny that NieR Automata's exquisite but highly hazardous android 2B is a perfect fit for Bandai Namco's fantasy fighter Soulcalibur, and as such nobody really batted an eyelid when the hack 'n' slash hero was announced for Soulcalibur VI back in 2018??. But according to producer Katsuhiro Harada, things could have been different.

Speaking on Twitter, Harada noted that both his own fantastic fighter Tekken 7 and NieR: Automata are both approaching the seven million sales milestone. This led the charismatic producer to recall how, initially, 2B was slated to make her fighting game debut in Tekken, not Soulcalibur, a move that would have seen the Y?oRHa android square off against the likes of King, Asuka Kazama, and L??ing Xiayou.

"Originally, there was a time when 2B was planned to become a guest character for Tekken, and we were moving forward with it behind the scenes," remembers Harada, in a series of tweets translated by Eventhubs' Nicholas Taylor. "However, the discussion changed to 'Isn't she actually a better fit for Soulcalibur?' and that's what happened."

Ultimately, I think we'd all agree that Soulcalibur was a more snug fit for 2B, given her haute couture battle fashions and penchant for bladed weaponry. That said, it would've been great to see her throw down with Tekken's Alisa Bosconovitch – all-out cyborg warfare that would probably shift the entire planet off its axis. Tekken would go on to receive its own cast of guest stars, including Street Fighter's Akuma, Final Fantasy XV's Noctis, Fatal Fury's Geese Howard and... erm... The Walking Dead's Negan.

NieR: Aut?omata's 2B was initially planned as a guest for Tekken [Eventhubs / Harada]

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The second season pass wraps up with some goodies

The second season pass for Soulcalibur VI is about to wrap up, and it's going out in a good way. Hwang, one of the characters who first appeared in franchise precursor Soul Edge,?? will f??inally be made playable when he's added next month as the 13th piece of DLC for the game.

But that's not all. Because on December 2, the game will be getting its 14th DLC pack as well that adds some paid and free goodies to the game. If you love customizing characters, get ready for more options that include new bits from the Tekken universe, as well as a new st?age and new episodes with Nightmare and Mitsurugi.

And now the wait begins for the complete edition on next-gen consoles.

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Lady Snowblood

Another blood-spiller is sharpening their blade and preparing to make their vengeful return in Bandai Namco's Soulcalibur VI. As revealed during this morning's Japan Fighting Game Publisher Roundtable event, Setsuka is making her long?-await?ed return to the steel-clashing franchise, as the third character of Season Pass 2.

Originally debuting in 2005's Soulcalibur III, Setsuka is an unassuming but deadly swordswoman, originally offering the appearance of a courtesan in order to track the legendary samurai Mitsurugi, whom she holds personally responsible for the death of her mentor, Kokonoe. Able to pass through towns and countryside as a demure, beautiful woman, the ever-alert Setsuka is able to take her foes with sudden surprise, unsheathing her blade from her par??asol and making short, violent work of? any would-be opponents.

The Setsuka DLC launches August 4 and also includes the new Murakumo Shrine Grounds stage, a new Groh episode, and custom costume parts that will allow players to create Tekken antagonist Heihachi Mishima. The DLC will arrive alongside the Version 2.20 update, bringing a new run of balance changes and bug fixes to Soulcalibur VI and its noble roster of fighters.

Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.

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'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, EA Sports FIFA 20, Mortal Kombat 11, Warface, NBA 2K20, SoulCalibur VI, and BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle'

As arenas remained closed and in-person esports events continue to take a hit, more and more organizations, including EVO, are making the move to online tournaments. This past week Ubisoft announced a new initiative for online Rainbow Six: Siege organized play, and you can now add Sony to that list as? of today.

Announced by way of their official blog, Sony says that they're kicking off a new tournament series on June 1. It's called "PS4 Tournaments: Open Series," and will build off of 2019's Challenger Series. The idea is to get people competing in seven games (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, EA Sports FIFA 20, Mortal Kombat 11, Warface, NBA 2K20, SoulCalibur VI, and BlazBlue Cross Tag Battle) in weekly online tournaments for rewards (PS4 themes, elite avatars and cash prizes of $100 and "a share of" a $1000 prize pool). "High performing players" could also get invites to invitational tourn??aments.

Sony is hosting broadcasts for FIFA 20, Mortal Kombat 11 and Call of Duty specifically: which they're seemingly dubbing as the biggest draws of the tournament. As a note, there is very little crossover with EVO, as only SoulCalibur VI is a part of the upcoming festivities. Another interesting factoid: since Mortal Kombat 11 was cut from EVO this year, it'll now have m?ore of a cha?nce to shine in an organized play environment in 2020.

To join in on all this chaos, go to the events tab on your PS4. You will need a PlayStation Plus membership to participate, Sony says. Good luck! You'll need it to beat our own Chris Moyse at Mortal Kombat 11, or myself in BlazBlue or SoulCalibur.

Competition Continues [PS Blog]

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Crossed Swords

In one of the most fitting video game crossovers in some time, Samurai Shodown poster boy Haohmaru is preparing to lock blades with the roster of Bandai Namco's majestic 3D fighter Soulcalibur VI, a??nd wil?l arrive as a paid DLC character on March 31.

Haohmaru made his debut in SNK's 1993 classic Samurai Shodown, quickly establishing himself as its lead character and going on to appear in every SamSho title to date. Recognised by his stoic style and huge shock of black hair, Haohmaru is a wandering ronin with a deep-rooted sense of honour and justice. His specific and methodical sword skills typify the whole flow and style of Samurai Showdown's meticulously paced combat.

The new trailer below reflects how perfectly suited Haohmaru is to Soulcalibur's sword 'n' sorcery combat, with the vagabond's fighting style and distinct special moves making the transition to the Bandai Namco fighter with ease. More importantly, it's great to see SNK titles mixing with the big leagues again, (see also Geese Howard in Tekken 7), as the company has been on verge of vanishing forever more times than I care to remember.

Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One. Samurai Shodown is available now on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo?? Switch.

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Just ippon over to another franchise

As part of the ongoing EVO Japan 2020 fighting game tournament, Bandai Namco has streamed a brand new trailer for its swords and sorcery fighter Soulcalibur VI, giving us a good look at its next DLC character, Haohmaru, who will be taking time out from Samurai Shodown the square off against Mitsurugi, Taki, Voldo and the rest of the SC crew.

As the poster boy for SNK's classic fighting franchise, Haohmaru brings with him quite a pedigree. A stoic and noble warrior, an exceptional swordsman, and a masterful tactician in combat, Haohmaru will slide right into the Soulcalibur universe, where he will join fellow guest stars Geralt from The Witcher and 2B from NieR: Automata.

You can check out the Haohmaru's trailer below, recorded from live stream by YouTuber Rikukey2.

While we do know that Haohmaru will be the next DLC character to arrive as part of Soulcalibur VI's season two pass, no specific date has been re??leased for the wild-haired samurai. It's a fair bet to say that fans will probably not be kept waiting much longer.

Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One. Samurai Shodown is available now on PS4 a?nd Xbox One, and arrives on Nintendo Switch February 25.

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Heads up for Hilde

Bandai Namco has announced that season two of noble fighter Soulcalibur VI will begin next week, November 25, on all platforms. The first new roster addition for season two, Hildegard Von Krone (or just "Hilde" to her buddies) w?ill be made availabl??e to purchase the following day on November 26.

A new Japanese overview trailer takes a look at the new features headed to Soulcalibur VI in season tw??o. This includes Hilde herself, an?d new fight mechanics such as the "Resist Attack" counter and the powerful new "Soul Attack." Of course, you can't throwdown without a battlefield, and season two will be adding new stage "The Sanctuary of Steel Wolves," alongside new training venue "Underground Labyrinth: Sealed Corridor."

But that's not all... Season two will also revamp elements of the Soulcalibur VI UI, add a new chat function to game lobbies, bring about a new selection of customisation items to dress up your homegrown warriors, as well as the usual ru??n of balance tweaks and bug fixes. All in, it's going to be a pretty exciting w?eek on the Stage of History.

Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

Soulcalibur VI Season 2 begins November 25 [Gematsu]

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Royal Rumbler

At the culmination of the Soulcalibur VI World Invitational 2019 tournament, which took place this weekend in Las Vegas, producer Motohiro Okubo took the stage to reveal the next DLC character stepping onto the Stage of History: Soulcalibur IV's Hildegard von Krone.

Von Krone - best known as simply "Hilde" - is a young woman of noble blood who had the responsibilities of the kingdom thrust upon her when the evil that plagues the land drove her father, the King, to madness. As the heir to the throne, Hilde was forced to step up at a very young age, guid?ing her people against the ever present menace of the Azure Knight.

Hilde achieved this through her steel nerve, tireless patriotism and indomitable spirit. A born leader and even better warrior, Hilde strides confidently into battle armed with both a spear and a short sword, effectively weaving together combat bo?th at range and up-close to make her a severe threat for any foe, regardless of their size or abilities.

A trailer, which you can check out below, denotes Hilde as the first DLC character from SCVI's second season pass. Hilde will be followed by Samurai Shodown's Haohmaru at a later? date, with two as-yet-unrevealed figh??ters rounding out the content in future.

Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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As the kids say

Soulcalibur VI is still doing its thing. While Bandai Namc?o's 3D weapons fighter doesn't quite make the same noi??se as some other games in the genre, it remains a popular title within the fighting game community at large, and a sharp test of skills on the competitive circuit.

Following on from this weekend's Asia League Finals - held at the SEA Makor 2019 in Singapore - Bandai Namco dropped a new video for the sword and sorcery release, showing off new moves, deflects and combo enders. These moves, one would assume, will be arriving in Soulcalibur VI as part of its upcoming season two content, which will also bring with it four new DLC characters (including Samurai Shodown's Haohmaru) and a slew of balance changes.

While there is still no arrival date for the season ??two content, hopefully producer Motohiro Okubo will have more details for us soon. In the meantime, have a look at the video below and see what new technique is coming to your favourite fighter on The Stage of History.

Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC, and Xbox One.

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Season Two on the way

Just before the top eight of Tekken 7 got underway at today's Evo 2019 tournament, Bandai Namco revealed exciting news regarding new content headed to their steel-clashing fighter Soulcalibur VI.

First up, Cassandra Alexandra will be made available as tomorrow, as the final DLC character for the game's initial season pass. Debuting in Soulcalibur II, Cassandra is the sister of veteran roster member of Sophitia, though she carries a somewhat lackadaisical personality compared to her more steadfast sibling. Cassandra will be a??vailable to purchase tomor??row, August 5.

Also revealed was the existence of a whole new season of content. Season Two will add new mechanics to Soulcalibur VI, along with the addition of four further DLC characters. One such character was then revealed immediately, and it's none other than Haohmaru, poster boy for SNK's Samurai Shodown and more than a snug fit for Soulcalibur's intense weapon-based combat. More informa??tion on season two will be coming at a later date.

Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

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Purrfectly attired

Tomorrow will see a new batch of cosmetic DLC arrive in Bandai Namco's fantasy fighting title Soulcalibur VI. Among the new additions headed to the wardrobe are a range of snazzy formal attire, such as glamorous dresses and tuxedos, along with regal-looking armour for the less fashion-consci?ous members of the roster.

Over 150 customisation items will be made available, as well as a whopping 97 music tracks from previous Soulcalibur releases. However, more importantly than all of that, is the apparent ability to have kittens perched on your fight?er's head and shoulders. Actual Cat Hats. I know we all tend to frown on paid DLC, - and understandably?? so - but that's before I saw this image, and now I'm kind of turned around on the subject.

Those less impressed by the pure pleasure of a feline fedora might find something more their taste in the gallery below, which features characters such as Sophitia, Rock, Mitsurugi and others looking pretty dapper. The "Character Creation Set B" DLC launches tomorrow, May 16, and is expected to cost around $6, or is included as part of the SCVI Season Pass.

Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Version 1.30 out now

Project Soul has released the latest update to the sword and sorcery fighter Soulcalibur VI. Update 1.30, which is available now on all platforms, makes adjustments not only to the SCVI roster of warriors,?? but also affects stage siz?es and the guard metering system.

Considering the latter first, performing defensive maneuvers such as Reversal Edge and Guard Impact now uses more guard stamina than before, thus putting players who rely heavily on these tactics ??heavily at further risk than before. Maneuverability has been fine-tuned? across the board, with slight changes to actions such as jumping, rolling and the 8-way run.

Two of Soulcalibur VI's stages - Master Swordsman's Cave and Sunken Desert Ruins - have been increased in size, as Project Soul work to reduce the overall frequency of Ring Out in battle. The team are also currently working on improving camera performance, concerned that the view sometimes pulls back too far and can obscure the action. Alongside all these technical changes, individual characters have gone through the usual round of buffs and nerfs. The full patch notes for Update 1.30 can be found right here.

Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One. The latest DLC character, Amy, will be made available for purchase tomorrow.

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Next paid DLC character on the horizon

Namco Bandai has revealed the release date for the next warrior set to step onto Soulcalibur VI's Stage of History. Goth-Lolita Amy is putting on her Sunday best and is p?reparing to start dropping fools as soon as next week

Originally debuting in Soulcalibur II, before being made playable in the following entry, Amy is a demure French girl and Soulcalibur's take on the "aloof aristocrat" trope found in Street Fighter's Karin and Tekken's Lili (although Amy i?s slightly less arrog?ant than her familiars). Armed with a rapier-style sword, Amy fights with a grace and fluidity befitting her charming appearance.

Amy will be made available to purchase on March 26. Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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— SOULCALIBUR (@soulcalibur) March 21, 2019

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A few are crazier than Melee being jettisoned

I've been following Evo for a w?hile now and have personally reviewed nearly every game announced for the main stage this year: 2019 is a huge shift for m??yriad reasons.

It's not just the fact that Melee is missing: there's a lot to unpack here. Shall we?

Samurai Shodown is back, baby.

I know a lot of people were expecting "no Melee" to top the list but really, SNK's comeback kid tale after falt?ering for years is wor?th looking at.

SNK had nearly no presence in the early days of EVO (even if the Capcom-helmed and fantastic Capcom vs. SNK 2 had a good run) with King of Fighters XIII making an appearance in 2012-2014 and King of Fighters XIV having a one-off run in 2017. In 2018, SNK had zero representation after XIV was eliminated for only pushing a paltry 32,760 viewers at its best the year before; the lowest viewer??ship of the entire tournament.

It wasn't always this way for SNK, though. Samurai Shodown was a big deal from the early '90s when the series debuted all the way through its relevance in crossover fighters like 2001's Capcom vs. SNK 2: yet, SNK couldn't keep up the momentum. Things started to die down for Shodown around 2009 and we haven't heard anything from the series since. Now SNK is throwing a curve ball at us and before Samurai Shodown (2019) was even officially unveiled (all we had was a?? teas?er), bam, it's on the main stage of EVO 2019.

It might be a temporary victory, but its a win for SNK nonetheless and another chance for relevance amid?? a typically (now) Arc System Works and (previously) Capcom-heavy history.

There are three Arc reps at Evo 2019, but no Guilty Gear

Guilty Gear Xrd: Rev 2 is arguably the best fighter out right now.

While Dragon Ball FighterZ is clearly the in-game at the moment, Rev 2 absolutely crushed Cross Tag Battle in 2018's stream war (Rev 2 on Sunday had 108,916 peak viewers compared to Cross Tag's 39,919 on Saturday): yet, Rev 2 is the one sitting Evo out in 2019. Hell, Under Night In-Birth ExeLate[st] (published by Arc System Works) is also in! Someone is looking out for Arc but not for Guilty Gear.

Unless there's a new entry or iteration on the way this might be the end of Guilty Gear at Evo for some time. Given that it paved the way for FighterZ it's not a complete loss, bu?t as my current favorite fighter (both to play and watch), i??t's a personal one.

Soulcalibur returns for the first time since 2012

The full embrace of Soulcalibur VI has been heartwarming. This is a series that used to mean so much to the fighting game community and it was completely absent for so many years. Now it's making a triumphant return seven years later and it's bringing The Witcher's Geralt along for the ride??. What a Cinderella story.

There isn't much to say here that hasn't already been said in various ways at the launch of SCVI. Soulcalibur was one of my first ever professional tourney games back in the day so I'm happy to see i?t back in the mix.

The eclectic cast should make for some great match-ups (hopefully we get to see Azwel play but Nightmare and Ivy will likely be among the top picks) and with Guilty Gear gone it might be the game I want to w????atch the most.

No Melee

Depending on who you talk to, Super Smash Bros. Melee not making the main ticket is ??either a long time coming or [Jack's] complete surprise. 

Just last year at Evo 2018 it heralded in 195,164 peak viewers, which puts it in a solid third place after FighterZ and Street Fighter V. That's huge, as Melee beat out Tekken 7 and Cross Tag Battle in 2018: both of which are coming back for Evo 2019. If it weren't for a massive 40,000 viewer boost solely from famous streamer Ninja peeking into the Street Fighter V finals, it would have nabbed second place. But with Smash Ultimate in the mix, which promises to be the definitive Smash experience, something has to give.

Look, I was wavedashing and reading online tech right after Melee caught on and as a huge Smash 64 proponent (and local tourney winner with Ness), I was into the idea of Smash hitting it big. Melee has done a lot for the fighting game community at large but its om?ission after all these years o?f making it in is not a surprise.

It'll live on, likely forever, through conventions (including one practically dedicated entirely to Melee) and even at Evo: just not on the main stage.

NetherRealm is poised for a comeback after low Injustice 2 viewership

W??hile there mus??t be a token western entry (typically NetherRealm) in the mix, that portion of Evo has been wavering for the past few years and it's all Superman's fault.

Last year Injustice 2 had a peak viewership of 20,516 viewers on Twitch. That's half of the next-lowest game: BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle. Mortal Kombat carries more clout and MK11, confirmed for Evo 2019, will likely make a splash. 2016, the last Evo showing for Mortal Kombat in the form of XL, championed 104,568 viewers peak.

NetherRealm is happy to have MK back in the mix as the year before that MKX hit 188,350: just below Melee's 206,839 and Ultra Street Fighter IV'??s 228,776. Everyone l?oves to watch fatalities after a heated match.

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Relatable ol' Lyle

Someday we'll master the realm of time and be on time for a Nintendo Direct. Until then, here's ?what's been happening in the realm of video games:

• Call of Duty single-player is back!
• Hollow Knight has a sequel!
• New DLC for Soulcalibur VI and more!

Since Nintendo has been dabbling in the realm of HD from the Wii U onward, they've become weirdly obsessed with adding detailed hair, fuzz, or other overly detailed oddities to their characters. That said, personally, I've always thoug?ht Yoshi to be some sort of reptile or dinosaur of some kind.

Consid??ering Yoshi has a green body, an extended tongue like a chameleon, and a shell on their back -- one would think that assumption checks out? But, I guess not! Because Nintendo covered Yoshi head to toe in fuzz and now I don't know what to believe anymore.

Discharged question of the week: What even is Yoshi? At this point,?? I'm going with a mistake.

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Goth girls rejoice

Rapier clad, goth-lolita fighter Amy Sorel is heading to Soulcalibur VI as DLC. Being the third DLC character added to the roster, Amy was first introduced in Soulcalibur II as Raphael's adopted daughter before joining the brawl in Soulcalibur III. Bandai Namco announced the update at EVO Japan this weekend with a short trailer showing off her updated loo?k. The date is currently listed as "Coming Soon."

If Amy sounds familiar, it is likely because her potential inclusion was leaked months ago. If that leak is to be believed, it seems Soulcalibur main??stay Cassandra will be comi??ng next. I don't mean to sound like a broken record, but I can't help but feel like these series veterans were cut to sell back at a later date.

SOULCALIBUR [Twitter]

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But who could 'Reptile' possibly be?

As is often the case in the wonderful world of video games, naughty hackers have picked their way through the code of Namco Bandai's fantasy fighter Soulcalibur VI. New entries, made in the?? game's recent 1.11 update, appear to point to six ?new characters headed to the title as DLC roster additions.

The supposed six coded entries refer to the roster slots as "Stone", "Yell", "Star", "Snow", "Reptile" and "Yellow". Of course the SCVI community i?mmediately set about trying to ascertain which characters these words could be referring to. Some examples are Rock for "Stone", Setsuka for "Snow" and, of course, Lizardman for "Reptile".

It should be noted that this is all speculation. Fighting game placeholders have been known to be wrong before and there has been zero word from Namco themselves. At least SC fans might have a hint as to which warriors will be joining the Stage of History this year. Provided y?ou have the dollar to pay for their entry, of course.

Soulcalibur update appears to have coded d?ata for six new characters [Event Hubs]

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Highcalibur creations

Soulcalibur VI's character creation tool is an absolute riot. If you need proof, scroll through this list of player-made fighters. Some of them a?re legitimately neat but most of them are jus??t weird as hell. Definitely do not stop until you get to the flabby-strong Pikachu who has bat wings for ears.

This post, however, is about a project that's designated as legitimately neat. Reddit user MagnificentBunny took the time and care to create all of Darksiders' Four Horsemen?? of the Apocalypse. They ?square off in the video that's embedded above. First, War and Death go at it, then it's Fury and Strife's turn. This kind of infighting isn't unheard of with the Four Horsemen, even though they are usually a cool, calm, and collected bunch.

It all looks quite good, especially considering it's created entirely within an unaffiliated game's customization tool. Also, it's great seeing Darksiders in a fighting game where its characters absolutely make a great fit. Maybe this is the nudge Nintendo needs to add Darksiders to Smash. If there's no room, Nintendo could get rid of four of the Fire Emblem characters and no one ?would know the dif??ference.

MagnificentBunny doesn't just work in once-dead-but-recently-revitalized franchises. They've also made Soulcalibur VI fighters based on Bloodborne; and Arthas Menethil, Illidan Stormrage, Maiev Shadowsong, and Valeera Sanguinar from Warcraft -- mostly Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. They're all embedded below.

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New year, new fixes

Bandai Namco just recently released Soulcalibur VI's 1.10 patch, but that doesn't m?ean it can't immediately look forward to the next one. We already know what update 1.11 hopes to accomplish.

Ahead of everyone logging off for the holidays, Bandai Namco has detailed Soulcalibur VI's 1.11 patch which will go live sometime in January. It reads a lot like patch notes for a fighting game! Particular emphasis is put on balance tweaks and network f??ixes.

Of course, this is far away from being the most interesting Soulcalibur news as of late. Nier: Automata's 2B was recently added to the roster, and that's what has most people's attention. Pa?tch notes just can't compete with the beloved robot lady.

Regardless, here are the full update notes for Soulcalibur VI's version 1.11, which will release sometime?? in Jan??uary:

Gameplay adjustments (PC/PS4/Xbox One):

• Adjusted some aspects of the battle gameplay.
  Example: Fixed instances in which "Astaroth" was able to stay in Soul Charge mode beyond the fixed amount of time. Or instances in which some vertical attacks were not hitting opponents moving in 8WAY-RUN.
• Adjusted certain characters and moves that ended up being more powerful than intended.
  Example: Raphael's Reversal Edge, Azwel's stance change, Voldo's various special stances
• Corrected 2B's movement list, Corrected some inaccurate/erroneous information displayed on 2B's movement list. 

  The tip that specified that activating the following move would result in a continuous combo is inaccurate/erroneous: "During Aggression Shift while soul charged B.B ~ During Aerial Leap B+K." To correct this, we have added information that stipulates the above mentioned move does not result in a continuous combo in all but some of the characters. 

Network issues (PC/PS4/Xbox One):

• The game would get stuck on either the character selection screen or the stage selection screen. This issue will be fixed with the next patch. Temporary fix instructions until the patch: Wait for a few seconds on the stage selection screen.

Ver1.11 Update Note [Bandai Namco Entertainment]

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Classy robo-lassy arrives on The Stage of History

Before the launch of Namco Bandai's Soulcalibur VI, fans were fervently discussing which gaming characters could make an appearance as guest stars in the new fighter. One name came up time and time again, that of 2B, android protagonist of hack 'n' slash RPG NieR: Automata.

Well that theory has now become reality, and the demure-but-deadly battle bot is now available to purchase in-game. 2B brings a host of recognisable moves and attacks from NieR: Automata, from long-range sword attacks to lightning-fast hand-to-hand combat. Even her Pod pal is around to help out and, should things get dire, 2B can even self-destruct, dropping her health to just a ??sliver while potentially causing huge damage to her opponent.

2B, in design and fighting style, looks to be a great fit for Soulcalibur, we'll see how well she fits in with Maxi, Mitsurugi, Ivy et al in the coming few weeks. Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Praise be to Alt-2B

It's shaping up to be a big two weeks for NieR: Automata despite bein?g over a year since it released. We already got a weird as hell quote from director Yoko Taro confirming the game of the year edition this week. Next week??, the depression-bringing android 2B will make her debut on the stage of history.

Releasing on December 18th, 2B will be available to play in Soulcalibur VI. While no price has been set, she is considered to be part of the season pass so those who paid for it shouldn't have to do anything. T?hose looking to?? buy the DLC characters piecemeal will likely have to front the $5.99 that is being charged for Tira currently.

Between Geralt and 2B releasing for Soulcalibur, and Persona 5's Joker being announced for Smash Bros., I think we're i??n the middle of a beautiful era of crossover fighters.

Stand ready for battle: @NieRGame’s 2B will bring her blades to the stage of history on December 18th! Get your copy of @SOULCALIBUR VI: //t.co/qasTVeNWN5 pic.twitter.com/QlLi9arNa2

— BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment UK (@BandaiNamcoUK) December 13, 2018

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That is the question

NieR: Automata and Soulcalibur fans collectively went a little doo-lally over the news that stylish android gal 2B would be coming to the Soulcalibur VI roster in the near future. A live stream, held by Dengeki Online yesterday, lets us catc??h the quietly ch?aotic YoRHa unit in action.

As you can see from the footage below, 2B retains most of her skills and attacks from NieR: Automata, including her use of heavy bladed weaponry, hand-to-hand combat, and her "Pod" sidekick. 2B will also be blessed with not one, but two Critical Edge attacks. When low on health, 2B can activate her skirt-destroying self-destruct sequence, leaving her with a slive??r of health and a cold bum, whilst doing damage to the opponent as a last-ditch effort to save the round.

The stream also gives us a chance to check out 2B's stage which, typically consists of the City Ruins of NieR: Automata. 2B's scanner pal??, 9S, can be spotted watching the battle from a distanc??e. There is currently no specific date for 2B's arrival as paid DLC.

Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Open your mind's eye to the mastery of stopping time with full body oil coverage

If that fedora-wearing loser couldn't stop Lyle, then what makes you think time could? What even is time? I think this "time" is a false concept. But, you know what isn't? This very video game news ?show you're watching now! Which today, includes the following:

• Tomorrow we'll have one final Smash-related Nintendo Direct!
• PlayStation Classic announces its full lineup of games!
• 2B from NieR: Automata is in Soulcalibur VI, and more!

But, to make matters even worse, Nintendo has announced a Direct for tomorrow after our wonderful weekly news programming has a chance to discuss it. They think ?they can use “time” against us? Against Lyle? Against me!?

They can play their little game, with their silly Grinch rumors and talk of “dates,” and this stupid thing called “November.” I ain't buying it. I know this is targeted specificall?y at Pregame Discharge. Now, maybe it's the lack of sleep over these past 141 hours talking, but I know a ploy and conspiracy when I see one.

I won't stand for it. Soon,? we shall conquer this false concept of “ti??me” with enough body oil and caffeine -- we will both be unstoppable.

Discharged question of the week:

Which character are you most excited for in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate?

The post In today’s episode of Pregame Discharge: Final Smash Direct and PlayStation Classic games revealed appeared first on Destructoid.

Love that alt look

Soulcalibur VI is welcoming 2B from NieR: Automata into the fold at some point and people are going crazy over it. Not only is it a fresh relevant pick for a guest character, but Automata also rock??s and popped up on many a Game of the Year list in 2017. 

The trailer dropped over the weekend, but you can check out some extra screens straight from Bandai Namco in the gallery below if that wasn't enough. There's more of a focus on her alternate costume, her Pod (that tiny floating robot) in action and her swath of weapons, including the R050: Spear. You also get a glimpse at her killer Soulcalibur VI style official artwork.

I sincerely hope that 2B heralds in some strange meta-like stuff with her intros and that guest characters add a ton of extra material to the already incredible character editor. This isn't her first guest appearance: 2B has also shown up in Gravity Rush 2, Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, SINoALICE, Valkyrie Anatomia: The Origin and Phantasy Star Online 2.

The post Here’s a closer look at NieR: Automata’s 2B in Soulcalibur VI appeared first on Destructoid.

Geralt vs 2B is now real

Continuing the recent trend of crossover, Bandai Namco has announced that 2B from last year's NieR: Automata will be coming to Soulcalibur VI.  The accompanying trailer reveals a moveset, that pulls heav?ily from her original game, going so far as to incorporate the pod.

While no date has been given, 2B will be bringing plenty of items from NieR: Automata with her to the game. She will once again have Kaine's outfit as an alternate costume, along with several items for the create-a-soul feature, including Emil's head. The City Ruins will act as her stage, and will have music from NieR: Automata.

While 2B is great, and is making me consider the game now, I have a sneaking suspicion that we're going to have a repeat of Tekken 7's initial wave of DLC characters. Expect more characters from other franchises, not ones from the Soulcalibur franchise.

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Nobody is ready for Carly Rae Jepsen

One of the very best elements of Bandai Namco's recently-released Soulcalibur VI is its great character creation tool, Create-A-Soul. Within a week, we have already seen a ton of crazy characters from pop culture, other fighting games, and?? real-life stepping up to throw down on the Stage of History.

However, for some of the community's players it's not all fun and games. Namco Bandai has allowed the use of custom characters in SCVI's online ranked mode, ??where players battle it out for points, rank and leaderboard status, as well as utilising a competitive training ground for their setups, combos and other tacti??cs.

The problem here is that some of the goofy and creative custom characters people are taking into battle are messing with the mechanics; changing hitboxes, causing combos that should work ?to drop, creating combos that shouldn't, or otherwise breaking the game through size, speed, moveset or an amusing combination of all three. Some players are reportedly also creating characters that blend in with darker stages, giving it the whole John Cena strategy.

Some of the community don't see any problem, saying that the complainers are taking the game too seriously. But to be fair, fighting games are serious biznezz for some, literally. It's easy to see their point when Namco could have simply locked custom characters to unranked play or added an option that levels the playing field, such as Injustice 2's "Competitive Mode". Everybody's happy.

Soulcalibur pro-player and commentator Aris made a typically acerbic statement about this on his channel Avoiding the Puddle, and many others have taken to communities such as Event Hubs to voice their displeasure. For these players, it's not a case of banning custom characters from fighting online, just keeping them away from Ranked Mode. It's definitely a change worth considering, but first, I'd prioritize giving SCVI's online more?? stability ??in general. Custom characters or not, lag and long wait times kill everyone's fun.

Soulcalibur VI is available now on PS4, PC and Xbox One.

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Create-a-character

Bowsette is lasting a ?little longer than most people thought it would. I mean it was born out of a Nintendo creation after all, with the insanely weird concept with Toadette becoming a human Peachette (how did that get off the cutting room floor), but nonetheless the community has persevered through external modding and in-game creation tools.

One such tool is the Soulcalibur VI character creator, which folks managed  to play around with this past week to create Bowsette (and Boosette). There's tutorials available if you want to make them yourself, but they both use Azwel's style as well as the Hidden Valley Clan body type. Credit goes to Espiownage for Bowsette (Boosette is available as a dow??nload from the community in-game).

I told everyone the character creator rocked!

Boo Contaldi [Twitter]

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'But the soul still burns...'

Namco Bandai has released the second part of their mini-documentary series looking at classic fighting title Soulcalibur, the latest edition of which goes on general release tomorrow on multiple platforms.

In part two of the Souls and Swords video series, Soulcalibur pro-players and commentators including Kayane, Maximilian, MarkMan, and Aris continue to provide soundbites on the steel-clashing one-on-one fighter and its enduring legacy.

This part is a bit less documentary and a bit more commercial, spending its entire run-time just talking about how great the new game is, over discussing any real series history. If you wanna hear or see a little more about the previous titles, then you can check out the first part of the documentary right here.

Soulcalibur VI launches tomorrow,? October 19 on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

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MarkMan looks at Reversals, Break Attacks and more

We are literally days away from the return of legendary fighting series Soulcalibur, as Bandai Namco prepare to launch the franchise sixth entr?y on ??PS4, PC and Xbox One, bringing back a cast of classic fighters to do battle once again on the Stage of History.

But perhaps it's been a while since you last took Ivy, Talim, Voldo or Cervantes into battle, and you're feeling a little bit of ring rust. If so, Mark "MarkMan" Julio has got your back in this newest video, which briefly looks over some of Soulcalibur VI's new and returning fighting mechanics.

These include the showy Reversal Edge, Break Attacks, Soul Charge, and the all-new one-button Supers: Critical Edge. Button-mashing gets you pretty much nowhere in Soulcalibur, (w??ell, unless you choose M??????????????????????????axi), so these basic techniques must be mastered if you don't want to end up picking up your teeth with a broken arm.

Soulcalibur VI launches on PS4, PC and Xbox One on October 19

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