KageKazenami
[11] Champion
I wanted to ask what you guys think of a new gameplay aspect. I wasn't paying much attention to it before, but now I've looked at the gameplay again I've realized that the characters with explicit magical elements make much more use of it than in past games. For example, characters that didn't use magic during that actual fighting in the past do, and those who did use it even more prominently.
This includes:
Overall, I like it. Magic always existed but was treated as an afterthought in past games. I think characters who are supposed to be sorcerers or have inherent magical power should actually use them to fight. It also helps separate them from the ones who don't use magic at all, like Mitsurugi, Xianghua, Maxi and Siegfried.
- Kilik entered a possessed state during his Soul Charge, which is different from the others. In the past, the Evil Seed was a lore element that had no impact on gameplay.
- Zasalamel using dark sorcery to create vortexes and black holes, and control time.
- Yoshimitsu (who had some magic before) has a magical trait of draining some health from his opponent by taking their life force after a combo, and his CE has him literally ripping out their soul and crushing it.
- Nightmare summons a demonic horse during is CE, as opposed to just slashing them.
- Taki had some magic moves, but it now it's use far more in tandem with her fighting with teleportation, bombs, and blasts showing up much more. Her CE has her using a demon seal to hold them in place.
- Ivy also uses magic far more than just having a unique weapon. One of her moves involves her summoning a mystic bow and arrow to strike her airborne opponent, and another has her using magical discs.
- Groh has various stages where magic becomes more prominent depending on how much he's using.
- Geralt of course mixes swordsmanship with sorcery just as much as his home game.
While I'm sure this bothers some who complain about things being "too fantasy" or "keep magic out" among other things, as has been stated, I feel that Z.W.E.I. and Viola's addition in SCV, and even Algol in SCIV, pointed towards this being something to expect eventually. Personally, I enjoy what I see of it and would like to see this continue. It adds to the characters and gameplay, and it seems like a natural progression for the series to take, especially with it having been in the lore in the first place.
It's also worth appreciating that it seems like it may be doing a good job at attracting the attention of newcomers more than it might otherwise be able to get. I'd say that's definitely a good thing for the series we all love.