So, I’ll start off first by saying that I cannot wait until 2008 because of this game alone. I’ve bee a junkie of this series since its debut in 1997. I love it. Perhaps too much. But anyways.

Many fighting games have had story lines that to me feel like an afterthought, something tacked-on to make the ensuing violence have reason and substance. Sometimes the fighting can be done well enough so that this sloppy fare can be forgiven, sometimes not. The Soul Caliber series has always seemed above the usual lot. Namco (now Namco Bandai of course) has provided provocative story lines along with outstanding gameplay. I’m not saying that the writers deserve a Pulitzer prize or anything. But you can tell that actual effort has been afforded.

And now here we are on the eve of the fourth installment. As you can see in the trailer the graphics have received the necessary boost and the story line has been expanded (Nightmare on his own eh? Niiice). Everyone seems to have evolved and developed (whats up with Raphael?). The fighting seems as visceral as ever, if not more so. And happily another new character has been introduced (unless Seung-Mina carries a short sword with her now I guess that could happen). Everything looks as if its coming along quite nicely.

Now can we have a release date please? Like today?

Pretty please?

With sugar on top?

How about sugar served on the small of the back of a beautiful woman?

No dice? What a drag.

I guess we’ll just have to wait folks.