Which Soulcalibur fighters could really defeat Star Wars’ Yoda? (analysis)

When Star Wars’ Yoda and Darth Vader were revealed as the guest character fighters for fighting game Soulcalibur 4In 2008, there were two reactions. so wizard. And, two, is a guy with an ax or a lady with an épée really going to be viable against someone with Force powers a damn lightsaber? Wouldn’t Darth Vader just instantly Force-choke the entire Soulcalibur cast into submission? And wouldn’t the amputating/cauterizing powers of Yoda’s diminutive lightsaber simply slice through literally everyone andThey are metal weapons

Even mainstream gaming sites worried, “is Star Wars ruining Soulcalibur?” citing, in part, the perceived imbalance between Jedi, Sith, and the roster of Soulcalibur 4. Star Wars fans were surprised at the power and rawness of Soulcalibur’s cast in 2008, but many Star Wars enthusiasts underestimated its potential. The entire roster is available online. Soulcalibur 4Yoda could be defeated in a fight with not a single midi-chlorian.

Fighting games require balance but they also need to be fair. The Marvel vs. Capcom games presume that Street Fighter’s Ryu or Resident Evil’s Jill Valentine are an even match for Marvel’s ancient demon Shuma-Gorath or Infinity Gems-wielder Thanos. Similarly, NetherRealm’s DC fighting games effectively put Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Sub-Zero on even footing. Many questions regarding imbalance can often be dismissed with one word: magic.

The Soulcalibur universe is dominated by magic. The Soul Edge is the magical demon sword that powers all of Soulcalibur’s characters. Star Wars also has a film series that focuses on space wizards and is suitable for young children.

In 1996, Zasalamel was introduced. Soulcalibur IIIIt is also playable 4Heavy magic-user, he is. He’s nigh immortal, and has powers that outclass Darth Vader and Yoda. Zasalamel’s critical finish move, a spectacular technique that debuted in Soulcalibur 4The spellcaster opens a portal into another dimension to telekinetically send his opponent in the void. In later games, Zasalamel was able to stop time in battle, summon tangible spirits and telekinetically smash his opponent into the ground. These powers rival those of his Jedi counterparts. In other words, Zasalamel has the power to kick Yoda’s ass.

Ivy, the mainstay of Series Ivy, is also magically powered. Her Soulcalibur 4This critical finish shows just how deep magic is embedded in her weapon, Valentine (the snake sword), which can split and reform into a projectile-like projectile. Ivy’s magic-infused weapon can be controlled with Jedi-like finesse, its distinct segments swirling and flying through opponents in a way that would strike fear into Vader’s heart (and a four-inch heel deep into his lower back).

That’s to say nothing of Algol, who is literally a god. It doesn’t matter if there aren’t many Soulicalibur members with magical abilities.

This explains why the Soulcalibur roster is so resilient to magic. How else would one explain otherwise normal human fighters standing right up after being struck down by Astaroth’s giant ax, or puréed by Voldo’s katars? Even after being “beheaded” by Yoshimitsu’s execution-style critical finish, Soulcalibur’s fighters keep their heads intact. Soulcalibur is not Mortal Kombat, but somehow its whole roster can take Nightmare’s giant sword through the tummy and keep on fighting. If they can withstand that, surely a lightsaber through the sternum isn’t the instant kill some would think.

That same logic can also be applied to Soulcalibur’s weapons and armor. Whatever material the cast is made of Soulcalibur 4 has made its weapons out of, they are clearly lightsaber-resistant. Viewers Mandalorian know that there’s a material in the Star Wars universe, Beskar steel, that can deflect the white-hot heat of a lightsaber blade. However, even 2008 was a year when people were still making. Soulcalibur 4 were well aware that the lightsabers-versus-metal debate would ensue.

“In [the Star Wars]universe there are two types of materials: Phrik and Cortosis. [the]Power to resist the power [a] lightsaber,” Katsutoshi Sasaki, director on Soulcalibur 4Gamersyde interviewed him at that time. “The idea is that the weapons and equipment from [the Soulcalibur] universe contain materials at high concentration and that’s why the lightsabers can’t cut through all the things.”

Even the Force has its limits. Soulcalibur 4. While Sasaki describes Jedis’ command of the Force as “an absolute power,” the developer limited its use with a special meter for Yoda, Darth Vader, and his apprentice. This is just a spitballing, but maybe the immense distance Yoda traveled through time and space to reach medieval Europe hampered their ability to use the Force.

This argument further supports the assertion that the majority Soulcalibur 4’s roster could beat Jedi are multiple tier lists — essentially a power-level ranking of the available fighters. There isn’t an official or consensus-based tier list for Soulcalibur. However, several community-created lists put Yoda at very the bottom. Vader hovers around the top-middle/average level. In other words: Despite pre-release worries about Yoda’s pint size, it is safe to say that his performance has been excellent. Soulcalibur 4With opponents Attack of the ClonesHe is simply incapable of performing acrobatics that are reminiscent of old-style circus acts.

Polygon reached Lucasfilm and Bandai Namco to get their opinions on Jedi power in Soulcalibur. However, neither company responded. Most likely out of respect for Yoda.