Here are my SC5 suggestions/requests/demands lol scratch that last one...
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(All listed from 1 to 7 in order of personal preference)
Small things
1. Battle Recorder/Uploader, as long as it's stable; Possibly all matches could be recorded for playback by anyone for things like records, as well as the ability to convert/edit your own recordings
2. Fix random DCs online, perhaps add more modes and make the menu screens more flexible
3. Bring back classic characters, but no more clones please.
4. Bring back Charade and Edgemaster, to me they tie in too closely to be left out.
5. Include more modes throughout the game, especially single player, but no repeats of the Tower, a poor replacement for story elements such as Edge Master mode in previous games.
6. I'd like it if the way the attributes in the CaS mode are allocated is changed, many people seemed forced to use things they didn't want out of necessity. Not me, as I don't play special vs. anymore (though it was all I played on SC2), but needless to say this system can be improved.
7. Finally, what SC4 had in the way of extras was nice, but unlockables need to have a certain satisfaction attached to them beyond doing what you've just done, slightly differently, ie weapons and armour. Galleries and theatres were a nice feature of the old games, put the time in to include them properly.
Big things
1. I know everyone's probably said/going to say it and it probably still won't be enough, balance, can never have too many playtests.
2. Guest characters, there's a lot of stigma attached to including these, so make sure it will be done well/right before anything is commited, as they'll be no going back, having invested your most important resource in them.
3. Having said that, when I bought SC4 it was online that made me comeback for more, improving online is a given but...
4. The single-player game should not be left in the background, I'm a long-time fan with the patience to pick up the new techniques as slowly as I need to. For most players these days it will be the single player that helps them learn the game, make the story enjoyable again, I know it's also a given. These things should be considered well before anything else, so they can be easily integrated once the real work's done.
5. No game can rely on online for everything, let alone replay value, don't make the mistake of putting too much faith in online. It can be a game killer...
6. Lastly, I've seen what you're capable of, from Soul Edge/Soul Blade to Dreamcast SoulCalibur, and Tekken to TTT2, I trust in you, make us proud... Again
7. One more thing, I don't really look at the move lists, but when I did it seemed random which moves were included, I'd stumble on a JF or something only to find it unrepresented. Could we please have all the JF's listed, I don't mind hidden moves like Iron Fist Posession however.
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Other Things
Character Creation:
Aside from guests and online, this is the best way to encourage new players and keep them playing. Just what I'd like to see, would be a little more variety, I've always liked the attribute element, but as I mentioned above it could be improved. Personally, I'd like to see slightly more options to keep them interesting and less generic, and of course more weapons and items. The main characters with accessories for example, were rare and what they had was a little generic.
We could also have some more types of characters, more then just humans, perhaps beasts, like Lizardman, or perhaps even androids/robots, or some of the skeletal type monsters faced in SC4.
Guest Characters:
Everyone jumps on the cynical bandwagon very quickly don't they, but that's not all guests are about. To me, for a guest to be a real success they have to introduce a unique style to the game, something you wouldn't see in the game otherwise. Heihachi added iron fists, Spawn added his hell chains and cape, and Link was Link... (Not that I ever played that version lol)
Personally, I'd like to see the return of SW characters, the story element they had was out there, but so is stabbing someone in the guts only for them to hop right back up.
As I said about the story, it's easy to just let it go over your head and not notice the numerous touches SC4 had in it's single player to make the story that little bit more unique. The CaS is a good example of this, I'd like to see the CaS having a better background, which could also include SW CaSouls and their unique fighting styles.
Another, less serious, suggestion for a guest of mine is Manny Calavera, of Lucasarts' Grim Fandango. Not a current game or one likely to see a sequel, but a cult following, make him more secret, maybe involve him in Zasalamel's story as his Reaper, come to send him to his 'afterlife'. Just so long as it adds the character without taking away from SC5, no Guybrush or LeChuck, no matter how much they pay you lol.
That is all on guests, there's enough suggestions out there to keep you going I'm sure, just no more Kratos, they sure are handing him out these days. But if you do keep SW, be sure to keep the originals, and keep improving them, such as Yoda, no matter how many people moan he was a brave choice and a great achievement in terms of character design for this series.
Far as guests go they can add valuble support to the development, but should not be allowed to hijack the game itself.
Music/Voiceovers:
I've always liked the music in all the SC series, but recently I've noticed (which is to say I haven't) it being a little shallow. BGM is just that, but it should help immersion as opposed to being ignored altogether. The only music that I really notice is the character select music, which naturally seems to add to the style of the game. As such I wouldn't suggest anything too radically different, I have some suggestions however;
For signature stages a signature theme is in order, but it might be nice to give the characters their own theme, and a selectable theme for the CaS'. Lots of recent games have gone into using independant music, with lots of variety, maybe give the gamer a choice of their soundtrack that has lots of variety.
As for voiceovers, the main cast should be no problem, however the CaS is more complicated. I would suggest having more different types of voices for different types of CaS'. The whole CaS system needs more options for the characters on the whole so the only thing I'm going to suggest is to keep the entirety of the system in mind when developing it from the beginning to the finished product.
Stages:
The stages in SC4 weren't awful, the SW stages in particular were great, including the authentic music was a nice touch. However most of the stages made no sense in real terms, taking into account how the characters got into that position and such.
What I'd really like to see however is some more interactive levels. I don't mean anything like Tekken's floor breaking, smaller things perhaps, like a particular wall. Perhaps smashable windows, or other things that a character could be smashed through for appropriate fall damage.
Things that have already been done like the ring fire were also nice touches. As a basic start I'd say levels upon the levels that affect the gameplay differently, perhaps with different hazards at different stages, for example, RO's or the ring of fire, something perhaps that would damage your opponent when knocked/forced into it. I'd also say to try and minimise RO danger at early stages of matches, no more Seesaw or tiny square stages. Again please try and have the levels make a degree of practical sense.
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Character Changes
Just a little list of things I'd like for my favourite characters;
Yoshimitsu
He comes across as fairly lonely, so I'd like to see him get a sidekick, someone who mixes up his style with that of another weapon. His mechanical hand is a novel feature, maybe (perhaps for the other characters with a similar option as well), this could be expanded to do more in the way of unique abilities. Don't get me wrong, his DF stance is very cool, but that ends up being relied on all the time and it's the only ability his mechanical hand adds.
Lizardman
This character, on the other hand is built on loneliness, but this needs expanding, he's fairly violent and savage naturally but he was a man and his fighting style is very civilised (for a reptilian). I like this, as well as his playful attitude, I'd just like to see some more powerful moves and JFs. Also make his tail less superficial so it affects his actual combat ability.
Talim
The one with the wind needs a slightly more grown up voice by now, more JFs as well I'd say.
Cervantes
He has two swords, give them both guns perhaps, he could do with some more reliable range aspects.
Astaroth
Finally, an old favourite, destroying the myth that big characters have to be slow and clumsy. Two things, 214A, make it a potenial ring-out like it always should of been, and 66B, give it back it's mid hit, perhaps give it less tracking to compensate. Other then that, great job so far with him!
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I'd say that's it for the moment, thank you all for your attention.
