TEKKEN 8 - Release Date and Exclusive Content Reveal Trailer
It's not the right thread for this, but I only put this video here so I can comment on how jealous I am of T8 having 32 characters in the game's base. I'm not jealous of the fact that they "forgot" characters during the process, adding newbies in their places to renew the cast, but with 32 characters and none of them being a guest it would be like a dream come true for SC7.
I wouldn't sweat it being in the wrong place, Lisa: with only two to twelve posts a month on the entire site right now, I don't think anybody is going to get on your back about consolidating discussion in just one thread. Actually, imo, it would be pointless to post anything otherwise.
Anyway, I disagree in pretty strong terms that Soulcalibur would be better without guest characters--a logic that I've never understood. Aside from the fact that I think these characters bring a little extra charm to each entry, I enjoy seeing the devs work their magic in translating a guest's aesthetic and movement design into the eight way run system: I think they've historically shown an extremely high talent for seeking characters that work well with the Soulcal mechanics (including some characters where you wouldn't think it until you see the final product) while showing fidelity to the original design. Virtually every other fighter series has jumped on this cross-promotional IP-suckling bandwagon in the last ten years, but Soulcalibur was one of the first to do it, and still arguably the best.
And even I didn't much care for the guests, I'd still be ok with it as a practice, since it undoubtedly brings new buy-in from fans of other franchises, helping to greenlight Namco's decision to make each new SC game, and helps bring in new players for the community. I just think it's a win-win all around, and the people who don't like it just because "BUT...but...but...you don't get to play them in the next game!!! D*:" (and I'm not saying that's you reasoning, Lisa--it's just a common complaint I have seen from people when explaining why they don't like guests), I would suggest they are being extremely OCD/myopic in the face of the benefits.
That said, 32 is a nice base for a day-one roster in a 3D fighter, it must be said. I really wish Tekken and SC both made an effort at launching with 30-32 character day-one, with a goal of hitting 40-50 by the end of the season passes. Actually, what I really wish, is that we could cut the junk single-player content down considerably and have an entry with nearly the entire past roster, but I know that's just not going to happen, for a number of reasons. Actually, I'd be shocked to see any Soulcalibur game launch with more than 30 characters going forward. If I had one request, it would just be that they make some necessary cuts to the lame, goofy magic energy wizards (Azwel, Algol, ZWEI), so we have space for some long neglected legacy characters and,
gasp, maybe even an original character with...you know, an actual fucking grounded weapon style that's new to the series, for the first time in twenty damn years!?
Anyway, all predictions and gripes aside, the big point for celebration here is that, with a release date for T8, we can now speculate meaningfully on a rough timeline for Soulcalibur. We can probably expect it some time around two to three years from Jan 2024. Although, given the complexities involved with T8's ongoing support model, and the usual Project Soul constraints, it could be as soon as 20 months later or (quite easily) four years or more after T8 drops. Which is a pretty wide span of time, I'll grant you, but at least this announcement sets the clock running! Another question is...will there be an 8WR by the time it releases?