Gamespot got ahold of the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the Soul Calibur IV demo, and they say it's promising, has impressive graphics, and holds true to the classic Soul Calibur gameplay. Also noteworthy: the difference between the two versions comes down to minor discrepancies. IGN got their own hold of the game, too, and have a video of Yoda in action. Check it out:

As well as new characters, Soul Calibur IV will introduce a couple of new gameplay mechanics to the series. The first is the critical attack, which can be used to break through the guard of a particularly defensive player. If you manage to land several attacks on a players while they're blocking, their defense will eventually become weakened and their health bar will flash red. If you land another powerful attack when this happens, the character will stumble backward--giving you a chance to hit all four face buttons and perform the critical hit. Each character unleashes his or her own particular finishing moves--in Siegfried's case, he strikes his opponent down with a highly charged slice from his sword.

Soul Calibur IV is looking very promising in the run up to release, with an impressive graphics engine and the unmistakable Soul Calibur gameplay both in place. There's little to choose between the two versions, and ultimately it may well come down to your choice of Star Wars character or preferred controller. The game is set to launch in the US on July 31 and Europe on August 1, so we don't have long to wait to start slicing each other up online.

chautemoc via gamespot.com »