Editing Soul Edge (section)

==Development and release==
''Soul Edge'' was developed as an experiment by Namco to explore the possibilities of a weapon-based fighting game;<ref name="makingof">{{cite journal |journal=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=55 |title=The Making of Soucalibur |pages=53–54 |date=August 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nowgamer.com/features/894728/the_making_of_soul_calibur.html |title=The Making Of: Soul Calibur |publisher=NowGamer |access-date=2013-08-11}}</ref> [[Samurai Shodown (1993 video game)|''Samurai Shodown'']] was one of the first of this type, while ''[[Battle Arena Toshinden]]'' was the first in 3D.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best-selling weapon based fighting videogame series |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.es/world-records/110520-best-selling-fighting-videogame-series-%E2%80%93-weapon-based |website=[[Guinness World Records]]}}</ref> ''Soul Edge'' was the first [[motion capture]] based video game created by using passive optical system markers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.motioncapturesociety.com/resources/industry-history |title=History of Motion Capture |publisher=Motioncapturesociety.com |access-date=2013-08-10}}</ref>

''Soul Edge'' was initially released in [[video arcade|arcades]] in 1995. A ''Gamest Mook'' series guide book (GMC-30) was published by Shinseisha on April 30, 1996.<ref name=ag>{{cite web |url=http://www.arcade-gear.com/Games/Soul_Edge/Soul_Edge.htm |title=Soul Edge |publisher=Arcade Gear |access-date=2013-12-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140131105544/http://www.arcade-gear.com/Games/Soul_Edge/Soul_Edge.htm |archive-date=2014-01-31 }}</ref>

A couple of months later, Namco released a fixed version, labeled ''Soul Edge Ver. II.''<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Webb|first=Marcus |title=Up and Coming Coin-Ops |magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|issue=20|publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |date=August 1996|page=18}}</ref> Hwang (initially a [[palette swap]] of Mitsurugi for the Korean version of the game) was introduced to Japanese players with a new move list, Cervantes became playable, Guard Impacts and Air Combos were implemented, all the characters received upgraded move lists, and new stages were added.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://flyers.arcade-museum.com/?page=flyer&db=videodb&id=5625&image=1 |title=The Arcade Flyer Archive - Video Game Flyers: Soul Edge Ver. II, Namco / Namco Bandai Games |publisher=Flyers.arcade-museum.com |date=2007-07-31 |access-date=2015-11-29}}</ref> The overseas PlayStation version was renamed ''Soul Blade'' to avoid potential complications due to [[EDGE Games]]' earlier "EDGE" trademark.<ref name="edge">{{cite web|url=http://www.ipo.gov.uk/tm/t-decisionmaking/t-challenge/t-challenge-decision-results/t-challenge-decision-results-bl?BL_Number=O/337/02 |title=Trade mark decision |publisher=[[UK Intellectual Property Office]] |date=2002-08-14 |access-date=2009-06-01}}</ref>

===PlayStation===
On December 20, 1996, ''Soul Edge'' was ported to the Sony PlayStation for the Japanese market. A limited special edition came with the Namco Joystick controller. An official tribute book ''Soul Edge Official Fan Book'' (ソウルエッジ オフィシャルファンブック／年代記) was published in the ''Chronicle'' series by ''[[Famitsu]]'' on March 31, 1997.<ref name=ag />

The port kept the ''Soul Edge Ver. II'' roster of ten characters and added five unlockable characters, including [[Siegfried and Nightmare#Inferno|SoulEdge]], the final boss of the game. Other PlayStation-specific features include:
* A new costume for each character, chosen from various works sent by fans, giving each one a total of three different costumes, plus two color variations for the Player 1 and Player 2 costumes. It also includes{{Mdash}}besides the standard Arcade mode{{Em dash}}VS mode, Survival, Team Battle, Time Attack, and Training modes.
* A new RPG-styled mode called Edge Master mode, which works as a kind of story mode for the ten initial characters. The mode presents the selected character's story as a book, while the player moves in a map to various locations and fights in battles, sometimes with handicap rules. Generally, each chapter of the book rewards the player with a weapon.
* An opening CGI cinematic and individual endings done using the game's engine rather than still images as in its sequels ''[[Soulcalibur (video game)|Soulcalibur]]'' and ''[[Soulcalibur II]]''. Each of the ten normally selectable characters have two endings, usually one [[happy ending]] and another tragic ending. These endings are accessible by pressing a special button/button sequence during certain times, indicated by black bars moving away, while others involve a short minigame, such as Mitsurugi avoiding gunshots. [[Multiple endings|This type of ending]] was finally brought back in ''[[Soulcalibur III]]''.
* The inclusion of seven extra weapons per character, which have different designs and statistics, composed of Power (inflicts more damage), Defense (receives less damage), Strength (damage dealt with enemy's weapon gauge), Durability (resistance of player's weapon gauge), and Weight (changes character's speed). Certain weapons also have a special ability, such as the ability to damage through defense or restore/drain the player's health.
* The inclusion of three different in-game soundtracks to choose from: the original arcade soundtrack, a studio-recorded version of the arcade soundtrack called "Arrange Soundtrack" and the Khan Super Session, made expressly for the home version.
* In the English version, all non-Asian characters have their English voice as default. (The concept of speaking different languages was followed by ''[[Tekken 4]]'' since the character Julia Chang from ''[[Tekken 3]]'' speaks in her ending.)

Versions labeled ''Soul Blade'' came out in 1997. In the North American version, the opening cutscene where Sophitia would have been nude is censored.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ex.org/2.2/35-soul_edge.html |title=Soul Edge |publisher=Ex.org |access-date=2012-02-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001052052/http://www.ex.org/2.2/35-soul_edge.html |archive-date=2012-10-01 }}</ref> In the European version, Li Long's pair of [[nunchaku]] were changed to a three-section staff, since [[BBFC]] guidelines at the time banned any depiction of nunchaku.<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Lee|last=Nutter|title=Rumble in the Bronx |magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]] |issue=23|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=September 1997|page=66 |url= https://archive.org/stream/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023/Official_Sega_Saturn_Magazine_023_-_september_1997_UK#page/n66/mode/2up |access-date=November 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>European manual, page 20.</ref>

===Soundtracks===
{{Main|Discography of the Soulcalibur series}}

Two soundtrack CDs were released for the game: ''Soul Edge Original Soundtrack - Khan Super Session'' and ''Super Battle Sound Attack Soul Edge''.