Saint Seiya: Soldiers' Soul
- November 25, 2015
- Dimps
- 10h median play time
"Saint Seiya: Soldiers’ Soul is an enjoyable fighting game that fans of the manga/anime series will absolutely love. Non-fans might be overwhelmed by its story and slightly hard gameplay."
Saint Seiya: Soldiers' Soul is a fighting game based on the popular manga and anime series. Players can choose from various characters, each with unique abilities and fighting styles, and engage in battles across different locations from the Saint Seiya universe. The game features enhanced graphics, improved gameplay mechanics, and a story mode that follows the events of the series.
Reviews
- The game captures the essence of the classic Saint Seiya anime, providing a nostalgic experience for fans.
- The combat system is accessible and fun, featuring a variety of characters and special moves that keep gameplay engaging.
- The inclusion of original Latin American voice acting adds authenticity and enhances the nostalgic feel of the game.
- The graphics and animations are often criticized as being subpar, with some cutscenes feeling rushed and poorly executed.
- The gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, making it less appealing for players seeking a more complex fighting experience.
- The online multiplayer component is largely inactive, limiting the game's replayability for those looking to compete with others.
- story265 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story, based on the "Saint Seiya" anime, is a nostalgic journey through major arcs but is criticized for its simplistic and often predictable narrative structure, lacking depth and engaging cutscenes. While fans of the franchise may appreciate the opportunity to relive key moments, newcomers might find the storytelling disjointed and difficult to follow, with many essential details omitted. Overall, the story serves its purpose for fans but falls short in execution, leaving it feeling rushed and poorly rendered.
“Being a fan of the manga, I am happy that the story mode covers all the major storylines, graphics look great, gameplay is easy to pick up, and there's plenty of characters to choose from.”
“Great game to tell the story of this manga series, well designed level and characters, intense right from the word go in every battle.”
“The storyline is that of the main arcs and you will revive a lot of great moments from the anime.”
“I don't know if the game is bad or the show it's based off is bad, but wow, this story is dumb as hell.”
“The storytelling in this game is so poor and broken that I cannot recommend it to anyone looking for something other than a quick combat with a friend.”
“If you're a fan of the series it might be fun, but for someone who has no idea about anything, this story mode is pretty uninspired, and just straight up boring.”
- gameplay127 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally described as accessible and easy to learn, appealing to casual players, but it suffers from a lack of depth and innovation, often compared unfavorably to other fighting games like the Naruto series. While the graphics are praised and the camera mechanics enhance the experience, many reviewers note that the combat system feels clunky and repetitive, leading to a mediocre overall impression. Fans of the source material may find enjoyment, but the gameplay can become monotonous and grindy, especially for completionists.
“The gameplay mechanics are accessible yet offer enough depth to keep players engaged.”
“The graphics look very nice, the gameplay takes a little to get used to but once you do it's simple enough for you to be able to have fun picking different characters without commitment to just a few, but complex enough to allow you to mix up each match and craft a variety of combos.”
“The best thing in my opinion regarding the combat is the camera; it will always have both characters on-screen during the fighting, which means no lock-on is needed and you don't have the issue with some arena fighters where if you get too close to the camera you can't see anything as the camera here adapts to the gameplay.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's just another fighting game, painfully mediocre.”
“The game's poor fighting mechanics make using special moves useless, as you just guard them, easy peasy.”
“Overall, the gameplay is mediocre; you'll find it a bit interesting if you're a fan of the series, but it's definitely not innovative.”
- graphics124 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising their faithfulness to the anime and vibrant visuals, while others criticize them as outdated and simplistic for a 2015 release. Many users note that while the graphics can be visually appealing, they lack the depth and detail expected from modern titles, often comparing them unfavorably to other games in the genre. Overall, the graphics are described as decent but not groundbreaking, with a need for better optimization and options for lower-end systems.
“Graphics are amazing.”
“The graphics are absolutely stunning.”
“The graphics are loyal to the anime, facial expressions, backgrounds, character models and so on; they're decently made.”
“This game was released in 2015, but its graphics look like it was from 2000.”
“Very mediocre game with 'not bad' battle system, 'very bad' story mode and outdated graphics.”
“Well, what can I say... since I live in Argentina any game is an investment... so almost 11 hours later I can finally say that the game is almost a copy of the last one for the PS3, sadly I have to state that the graphics are more around the PS2 later years than a PS4 or PC-master race material.”
- music78 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of the original anime soundtrack, which they feel would enhance the experience significantly. While some tracks are deemed enjoyable and fitting, the generic background music is often described as repetitive and lackluster. However, players recommend using a mod to incorporate the original score, which they believe transforms the game into a much more engaging experience.
“The game really carries the spirit of Saint Seiya, and the music is excellent.”
“If you're a Saint Seiya fan and if you play with the original Seiji Yokoyama music, this game is the best video game of all time.”
“With a mod to get the anime soundtrack, the game is totally worth it.”
“It doesn't include the original soundtrack and it is just a boss rush kind of game.”
“The PS2 Japanese games have it and make the game epic, but here we get some generic music.”
“As a fan, I am very happy with this game, though the music is horrid... there is a fix to that (you can mod the original symphony, which made the game play 100 times better!) Original music increased the stakes, the drama, and sadness, giving you that goosebumps feeling.”
- grinding32 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized, with many players noting that it requires excessive time and effort to unlock cosmetics, characters, and achievements, particularly for completionists. Earning points for purchases is described as tedious, and losing in grinding modes can feel particularly frustrating, as it often negates progress. While fans of the series may enjoy the gameplay, the grinding can detract significantly from the overall experience, making it a potential turn-off for casual players.
“Huge caveat: if you are a completionist, be warned it takes about 40-60 hours to unlock all the achievements, but I only considered the first 15-25 hours to be actual gameplay (for fun), with the rest of the time spent mainly grinding out the remaining achievements.”
“The problem is that the grinding can become tedious, especially since some of the higher levels' tournaments are very difficult and very few players will be able to defeat them.”
“One negative point could be that you have to grind for points (fighting in any mode) in order to unlock all the armors and fighting stages in order to use them in the free battle mode, and getting all these things demands hours and hours of grinding.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that the PC port is poorly optimized compared to its PS4 version, while others report satisfactory performance with a rating of 7/10. There are suggestions that performance issues may be related to drivers, but overall, the impact on gameplay seems minimal for some users.
“Character performance customization by unlocking and equipping traits.”
“Great game and good optimization.”
“Optimization: 7/10”
“The game was made for PS4, and the PC port is absolutely not optimized.”
“Might be a driver thing; I have to explore more on that, but it didn't particularly impact performance.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as both intentional and absurd, with players finding amusement in its inconsistencies and the clumsy AI. While the gameplay may not be extraordinary, the nostalgic elements and comedic moments, such as frozen characters during cutscenes, contribute to an entertaining experience that can overshadow its flaws. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect, making the game enjoyable despite its shortcomings.
“It's hilariously inconsistent.”
“Game is funny, but for 3.3GB of your disk, don't expect extraordinary gameplay.”
“The frozen characters during conversations are just so hilarious that it makes me want to watch all the scenes again with a better 3D view.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability, with some players noting a desire for more playable characters to enhance the experience. While immediate replayability may be low for some, the fun factor and the potential to unlock everything provide significant long-term appeal, especially for fans of the series.
“Overall, I wish it had more playable characters, like more Silver Saints (Misty, Argol, Albiore), but the sole inclusion of the Asgard Saga characters makes this game so worth buying and playing for every SS lover.”
“It's fun, lots of replay value to unlock everything.”
“I will not play this game again for a while, so immediate replayability is somewhat low.”
“Overall, I wish it had more playable characters, like more Silver Saints (Misty, Argol, Albiore), but the sole inclusion of the Asgard saga characters makes this game so worth buying and playing for every SS lover.”
- emotional6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
While some players criticize the game for its cheap combat mechanics and lackluster story, others find emotional resonance in the nostalgic elements, particularly the iconic character voices and vibrant visuals that evoke strong feelings. Overall, the emotional impact seems to be polarizing, with nostalgia being a highlight for some amidst gameplay frustrations.
“Listening to your favorite saints shouting their most iconic techniques in wild swirls of light and explosions while you shed a tear full of nostalgia.”
“The cheap combat mechanics and the boring story aren't worth 50 bucks, in my opinion.”
“Terrible mechanics and a boring story.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is criticized for frequent glitches, particularly with gameplay mechanics like combos and perspectives, leading to a frustrating experience. Users also mention a poorly designed restart option and overall monotonous gameplay, which detracts from the game's reliability.
“The following troubleshooting failed:”
“[boring, monotonous gameplay, glitches with combos, perspectives, terrible 'restart option', confusing features]”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its nostalgic quality, enhanced by fitting music that draws from previous titles in the series. This combination effectively complements the scenarios and stages, creating an immersive experience for players.
“The atmosphere was right and it felt quite nostalgic.”
“The music, some being taken from previous games, is quite fitting to the scenario, atmosphere, and stages.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization model is viewed positively, with users noting it is more favorable compared to typical cash grabs seen in modern anime fighters from Bandai Namco.
- character development2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development is noted for its diverse range, featuring designs that evoke both humor and intensity, appealing to a wide array of player preferences.
Critic Reviews
Saint Seiya: Soldiers’ Soul Review
"Saint Seiya: Soldiers’ Soul is an enjoyable fighting game that fans of the manga/anime series will absolutely love. Non-fans might be overwhelmed by its story and slightly hard gameplay."
70%Tears in the cloth - Saint Seiya Soldier's Soul review
Saint Seiya Soldier’s Soul is a quaint fighting game that has its small playability value robbed by a unique fatal flaw in the restart option that drags the action and frustrates the player. While the game has some interesting features, it mostly just drags through monotonous gameplay and a confusing story. Too many features are hard to understand, and while unlocking features, items, and stages reminds me of old school fighting games, the problems of Saint Seiya Soldier’s Soul makes the work to unlock them simply not worth the time and effort.
35%Saint Seiya: Soldiers' Soul Review
Saint Seiya: Soldiers' Soul isn't a huge improvement over the somewhat standard Saint Seiya: Brave Soldiers, but it remains a solid and accessible fighter that's fun in short bursts. While the simplistic combat won't hold everyone's interest, a lengthy story mode and countless unlockables ensure that there's plenty to see and do before your cosmo burns out.
60%