Editing Soul Edge (section)

{{Short description|1996 video game}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}{{Infobox video game
| title = Soul Edge
| image = Soul Edge arcade flyer.png
| caption = Japanese arcade flyer for ''Soul Edge''
| developer = [[Project Soul]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://games.ign.com/objects/943/943662.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821010505/http://games.ign.com/objects/943/943662.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 21, 2007 |title=IGN: Project Soul |publisher=Games.ign.com |access-date=2012-02-11}}</ref>
| publisher = Namco<br>'''PlayStation'''{{vgrelease|NA|[[Namco Hometek]]|EU|[[Sony Computer Entertainment]]}}
| series = ''[[Soulcalibur]]''
| director = Teruaki Konishi
| producer = Masuya Oishi
| designer = Hiroaki Yotoriyama <br /> Koh Onda <br /> Takayasu Yanagihara
| artist = Hiroshi Kuwabara <br /> [[Tarō Okamoto]] <br /> Kouji Mitsunaga
| programmer = Shinobu Nimura
| composer = See [[Discography of the Soul series|discography]]
| genre = [[Fighting game|Fighting]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| arcade system = [[Namco System 11|System 11]]<ref>{{cite journal|title=Soul Edge|journal=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=12|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=December 1995|page=123}}</ref>
| platforms = [[Arcade game|Arcade]] <br /> [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]
| released = '''Arcade'''<br /> February 20, 1996<ref name="nam">{{cite web|url=https://www.bandainamcoent.co.jp/corporate/press/namco/51/51-046refer.pdf|title=
「ソウルキャリバーⅢ」参考資料|author=Bandai Namco}}</ref>{{efn|Some magazines claimed a premature release date of December 1995<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Protos: Soul Edge |magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=76|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=November 1995|page=217}}</ref>}}<br /> June 8, 1996 (''Ver. II'')<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-06-05 |title=News |url=http://www.next-generation.com/news/0696.html |access-date=2023-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970605151042/http://www.next-generation.com/news/0696.html |archive-date=1997-06-05 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-06-06 |title=Soul Edge 2 Hits Arcades |url=http://www.next-generation.com/news/061096h.html |access-date=2023-04-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19970606055550/http://www.next-generation.com/news/061096h.html |archive-date=1997-06-06 }}</ref><br /> '''PlayStation'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/action/soulblade/similar.html?mode=versions |title=Soul Blade Related Games |publisher=GameSpot.com |access-date=2012-02-11}}</ref><br /> {{vgrelease|JP|December 20, 1996}} {{vgrelease|NA|January 15, 1997<ref>{{cite web | url=https://psxdatacenter.com/games/U/S/SLUS-00240.html | title=Soul Blade - (NTSC-U) }}</ref>}}{{vgrelease|PAL|May 1, 1997<ref>{{cite web | url=https://psxdatacenter.com/games/P/S/SCES-00577.html | title=Soul Blade - (Pal) }}</ref>}}
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Soul Edge'''''|ソウルエッジ|''Sōru Ejji''|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1996 [[fighting game]] developed and published by [[Namco]] for [[Arcade video game|arcades]]. It is the first installment in the ''[[Soulcalibur]]'' [[Soulcalibur|series]]. Introduced at the JAMMA trade show in November 1995,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/maximum-the-video-game-magazine-issue-2-november-1995-uk/page/112/mode/2up|title=1995 JAMMA Show Report |magazine=Maximum: The Video Game Magazine|publisher=EMAP|issue=2|date=November 1995|pages=114|accessdate=January 2, 2021}}</ref> the full [[arcade game]] was released in February 1996 on [[Namco System 11|System 11]] hardware,<ref name="nam" /> the same board used by [[Tekken (video game)|''Tekken'']] and ''[[Tekken 2]]''. Later in December an upgraded and expanded version of the game was ported to the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]; this version was renamed to '''''Soul Blade''''' outside Japan and released in 1997.

''Soul Edge'' is a 3D fighting game and was the second such game to be based on weapons, following ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=SOUL BLADE - (NTSC-U) |url=https://psxdatacenter.com/games/U/S/SLUS-00240.html |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=psxdatacenter.com}}</ref> (itself preceded by the 2D ''[[Samurai Shodown]]'' series). The plot centers upon the eponymous sword, rumored to offer unlimited power to anyone who can find and wield it, leading to nine warriors attempting to pursue the tenth who is rumored to have the sword. The game was a commercial and critical success, with praise given to graphics, gameplay and characters. It was followed up with ''[[Soulcalibur (video game)|Soulcalibur]]'' in July 1998.