Broken Destiny completes its precedent qualities. In playing with the rapier-wielding Raphael Sorel, his slams from Soul Calibur II and Soul Calibur III are basically the same. Unfortunately, my opponent, Sophitia Alexandra, executed moves and slams unprecedented from my previous game play with the deity-like character. Still, not much of the actual fighting moves have changed since Soul Calibur II. Only an additional gravity-defying slam or extra shiny armor has chartered its way into Broken Destiny.

What has changed in Broken Destiny is the noticeable difference in game play between Soul Calibur III and Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny. The characters move with better ease, but the game play requires more understanding of controlling every action. For button mashers, the unfortunate reality is that Soul Calibur has reached almost the Tekken 6 level; you have to know what button does what! As a reformed button masher, Broken Destiny is simple to handle. Executing slams are harder to do—grabbing Sophitia by the rapier takes an effort in enemy proximity and control timing—and creating combos demands some brain power and equally quick fingers . Still, the game is easy to pick up as a beginner or a black-belt gamer, especially with the controls under the same programming as a PS2 platform performance.

One of the most admirable parts of Soul Calibur is its deliberate attention to the major and minor details, whether the aesthetic is in its movements or the presence of environmental elements. In Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny, the appearance of a swinging blade is slowed to a magnificent degree for the gamer to catch the glimmering reflection of the sunlight. The characters, each adorned in bright colors, depending on their personalities and backgrounds, have costumes which sway in the dimensional wind. Even the cherry blossom trees overlooking the arena spills pink flowers across the fighting platform, grounding the battles into a realistic space.

Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny is set to be released in America in September 2009 on the PSP gaming platform. With its release, Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny is sure to please fans and newcomers of the Soul Edge gaming series.

To see the trailer, please go to http://www.gametrailers.com/player/50353.html.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Bottom Line: Get this game is you have a PSP. You won’t go wrong!

Broken Destiny: There’s a new character that will turn your mustaches into a “V”, and his fighting style is, well, suspicious. Also, the featured crossover character is Kratos from God of War. His moves are just as bewildering as Soul Calibur II’s Spawn.