E3 2011: Soulcalibur V -- Sibling Rivalry

Sophitia's family has weathered incredible hardship. A beautiful warrior touched by the gods, Sophitia gave birth to two children: a son, Patroklos, and a daughter, Pyrrha. Due to Sophitia's involvement with the great swords of history, Pyrrha came under the influence of the evil blade Soul Edge as a child. Now, years later, battles will be waged by both Patroklos and Pyrrha, with the swords waiting at the center of the conflict. This is the stage for the story of Soulcalibur V.

Here at E3 2011, I sat down with Soulcalibur V Producer Hisaharu Tago to talk about the next member of the long-running Soulcalibur series. Patroklos and Pyrrha are not only the newest fighters in the Soulcalibur roster, but they'll also serve as the main characters of the story. Tago was unable to describe the specifics of the story, but it will take place 17 years after the events of Soulcalibur IV.

Soulcalibur V is still in its early stages, so I wasn't allowed to play personally. I did look on as Tago and another Namco Bandai representative showed off how Pyrrha and Patroklos perform in battle. Both warriors, like their mother before them, use short swords and shields. Patroklos looks to be an aggressive fighter with repeated, savage thrusts. His demeanor in the ring is confident and ferocious.



Pyrrha, alternatively, is a swifter, softer fighter. Her attacks, which often launch her opponent into the air, sport the same beauty as those of her mother. Pyrrha also vocally apologizes to her opponent mid-match when inflicting damage. This stands in stark contrast to Patroklos, who slams his sword against his shield in lofty boasts.

Pyrrha and Patroklos are just two of the new characters that will be introduced to the Soulcalibur universe. Tago noted that of the expected 20 to 30 character roster, half will be entirely new to the series. The other half might be familiar, but all will have aged and changed considerably over the 17 year gap that separates Soulcalibur V from the rest of the pack.

I don't know what else to expect in Soulcalibur V because it's still very early in development. But one thing's for sure: the fate of Sophitia's children is at stake, and you'll play a critical role in shaping it.