10 Simple Things That Ruined Major Video Games

Soul Calibur IV contains a vast roster, an expanded customisation creation system, and an online mode, which was a first in the series. With Darth Vader and Yoda serving as playable combatants, it was almost impossible for veterans not to get hyped.

Soul Calibur IV also incorporated a new mechanic to make battles more balanced when facing an overly defensive opponent. Every time a character blocks an attack, it lowers their Soul Gauge. Once depleted, they'll be stunned, allowing their rival to unleash a devastating attack called Critical Finish.

Super Moves like this are commonplace in fighting franchises, usually serving as a simple method to give weakened fighters an opportunity to turn the tide of battle.

However, the Critical Finish doesn't just hurt the opponent - it kills them instantly. Even though it should be satisfying to vanquish an enemy with one hit, taking advantage of this system allows players to cheese their way through brawls. Countering and deflecting have been fundamental to Soul Calibur since its inception, so it's non-sensical to punish people for relying on these legitimate tactics.

Critical Finish was so cheap, the developers wisely replaced it with a more balanced system in the follow-up.