It's weird that I play this game competitively but actually care if the story is legit or not. So when it was announced that SCv was 17 years after four...I was like "yes!" Because I am so over most of the characters in this game.
As a competitor I don't care if the entire roster is changed. Give me a cool character and I will make things work. All we care about is balance and entertaining matches.
However, as a fan of the series I really want a good story in SCv. And not just that, I want the characters to have a depth to them that solidifies their personality, culture and purpose to the story.
Part of why it wouldn't bother me if SCv had nothing but new faces, is because of the delivery of the single player in SC4. The single player experience sucked to say the list. The characters were very bland. I felt that the culture side of each character was missing. These characters are from France, Korea, Britain etc..that didn't translate in their dailogue or there costume designs. The story didn't make an ounce of sense. SC4 also had no weapon demonstrations to familiarize yourself with the various disciplines. I actually hope they take the Tekken route and have character speak their native tongue in SCv.
A character driven game needs character depth. Otherwise, SC4 to me was like Halo with just the mulitplayer. It lacked immersion.
After several installations in this series, I ask...who the hell are these characters? Do you really know anything about Taki, Mitsurugi, Talim, Tira...etc? Their background, where they're from, what makes them who they're, where they live. Will Taki and Mistsurigi ever hit it off? Will Maxi ever kill Astaroth? The more I look at the characters in Soul Calibur, despite how many games I have played in the series, the characters are strangers to me. So why would I care about them?
I main Yun Seong, Nightmare then Zasalamel. I picked up Yun Seong because I liked his design. In SC2 he was introduced as an arrogant teen, out to prove himself. He had swagger, his comments were corky, his move-set was very flashy...a typical show off. People find him annoying which to me is lol worthy, but as a character he had a lot personality and potential to grow. In SC4 I couldn't even play him seriously.
I play nightmare because he's cool. But Zas is black specifically Sumerian. Potentially one of the most powerful characters in the game. He has all these fancy mind fuck powers in the story that never translate to his moveset.(which is silly) Also he potentially has the most interesting background story.With all his power and knowledge he can influence the story very significantly.
So In SCv, I am really hoping for great story and character depth. Especially for the returning characters. Mitsu apparently has a brother...just that detail makes his story that much more interesting to me.
Traditionally, the game's story matters to the casual gamer. SC3 had the right idea, I hate reading text. Namco does this in Tekken as well. Less of that and more cut scenes...like Mortal Kombat 9. I want to be immersed in the game, in all it's attributes, both with the move-set as a competitor and the story as a fan of the series.
