Despite assurances from developer Namco that the Xbox Live Arcade version of Soul Calibur would feature "no major additions or subtractions" over the beloved Dreamcast edition, the recent port lacks the original's substantial Mission Mode.

Essentially the game's single-player campaign, Mission Mode provided players with hours of additional gameplay through various objective-based fights, and also served as a means to unlock new content. All of the unlockable items, such as characters and concept art, are now immediately available at the game's outset.

Mission Mode's absence eliminates the bulk of the single-player gameplay from the fighter, which was released yesterday as a $10 download on the Xbox 360.

All of the title's other modes--Arcade, Time Attack, Team Battle, Practice, Survival, Extra Survival, Museum and the offline-only Vs Battle--remain intact.

Namco has yet to comment on the reason behind the exclusion. It is likely that the 188 MB title entered development while the previous 150 MB XBLA file size limit was in effect, though prioritizing bonus artwork over an entire gameplay mode seems curious.

Namco's re-release of the Dreamcast and arcade fighting classic Soul Calibur will arrive as one of the Xbox 360's Xbox Live Arcade downloads this Wednesday, July 2. Priced at 800 Microsoft Points ($10), the game runs in high-definition and, according to Namco, features "no major additions or subtractions" from the Dreamcast edition. To see the port in motion, check out Shackvideo.

Though Soul Calibur includes online leaderboards, it does not sport online multiplayer. That feature is reserved for the upcoming full-fledged sequel, Soul Calibur IV, which hits PS3 and 360 on July 29.

Namco Bandai sends along a new Soul Calibur Xbox Live Arcade trailer, offering a minute of footage featuring Voldo, Maxi, Yoshimitsu and Cervantes.

A port of the 1999 Dreamcast fighter, Soul Calibur Xbox Live Arcade is expected later this year. Shackvideo users can use the HD Stream.

Namco Bandai sends along the first screenshots from the downloadable Xbox Live Arcade edition of its fighter Soul Calibur, due out on Xbox 360 this summer.

Though it does not feature online multiplayer, the XBLA rendition of Soul Calbiur will have all the content of the beloved Dreamcast version along with online leaderboards.

An exact release date have yet to be revealed, but we expect the title to hit in advance of the July 29 debut of Soul Calibur IV (PS3, X360) and its online multplayer.

When the original Soul Calibur was announced as an upcoming Xbox Live Arcade title yesterday, it was not immediately clear whether the project would be ported from the excellent Dreamcast edition or the less-than-perfect arcade rendition.

We checked with Namco on the matter, and can now happily confirm that it is the former case.

"The game is based on the Dreamcast version with no major additions or subtractions," said a Namco Bandai representative to Shacknews.

Look for the 'Cast-derived, high-def Soul Calibur to hit Xbox Live sometime this summer.

Update: Namco has confirmed to Shacknews that the Xbox Live Arcade edition of Soul Calibur will be based on the Dreamcast edition of the title, not the less-fondly remembered arcade edition.

Original Story: The first entry in the Soul Calibur series of fighting games is heading to the Xbox 360's online Xbox Live Arcade, Namco representatives announced at a press briefing yesterday.

Soul Calibur on Xbox Live Arcade will be presented in HD resolution, and feature all of the standard arcade, training, story and survival modes from the original.

Though online leaderboards will be available, only the original game's local offline multiplayer is planned for inclusion.

The downloadable title is expected to arrive this summer, most likely in advance of the July 29 release of Soul Calibur IV on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Fresh from its 2008 Editor's Day, publisher Namco Bandai has issued a smattering of screenshots and artwork from many of its upcoming titles, including Warhammer: Battle March (PC, X360), Tales of Vesperia (X360), Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm (PS3) and more.

If available, more information can be found by clicking on a game's name. Be sure to scope out the full post for all the goods, as there is so much media we couldn't possibly put it all on our front page.

Soul Calibur IV (PS3, X360) - July 29, 2008

Warhammer: Battle March (PC, X360) - September 2008 ... Read more

Publisher Namco Bandai has announced that Soul Calibur IV (PS3, X360) will ship to North American retailers on July 29, according to a report from GameSpot.

Like many other highly anticipated titles these days, the latest entry in the Project Soul-developed 3D fighting series will arrive in both regular and limited editions.

While the standard $59.99 release will just contain the game, the $79.99 Premium Edition will arrive in metal packaging, complete with an art book, tournament kit, and unspecified "extra customization content."

Revealed last June, Soul Calibur IV is the first of the franchise to feature online multiplayer. Continuing the tradition of Soul Calibur II's console-specific characters, it includes Star Wars icon Darth Vader as an exclusive playable character for the PlayStation 3 version, with counterpart Yoda appearing only in the Xbox 360 edition.

Check back with Shacknews later this evening for our hands-on impressions from the latest build of Soul Calibur IV.

Namco Bandai has released a set of screenshots for its upcoming fighter Soul Calibur IV (PS3, X360), featuring returning characters Amy, Cervantes, and Zasalamel.

The company also unveiled two more pieces of concept art from Project Soul's upcoming fighter, due out this summer on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Unlike previously gratuitous galleries, the following Soul Calibur IV screenshots are completely safe for work. Mostly. Namco also released a few pieces of concept artwork for Project Soul's anticipated sequel, due out this summer on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Namco Bandai has just delivered 19 new screenshots of Project Soul's one-on-one fighter Soul Calibur IV, which is slated to arrive on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this summer.

According to the company, the new screens illustrate two new environments and reveal the return of veteran combatants Maxi, Mina and Yun-Seong as playable characters. Sadly, the media blast did not include any additional glimpses of Yoda and Darth Vader.

A new face voice joins the ShackCast this week, as Aaron Linde comes aboard from Destructoid. He and Chris Faylor visited Valve this week and checked out Turtle Rock Studios' co-op zombie shooter Left 4 Dead, as well as the upcoming Badlands map remake for Team Fortress 2.

Also on tap is discussion of Star Wars characters in Namco's Soul Calibur IV (PS3, X360), Valve's acquisition of Turtle Rock Studios, and David Jaffe's wishes for a one-console future. Nick Breckon also reflects a bit on the Consumer Electronics Show.

As usual, this is all capped off with reader mail (including one from sgtsanity!). Don't forget to send in your questions and comments about video games, the Shack, or the ShackCast to shackcast@shacknews.com!

Play or download the podcast now, or browse the episodes through iTunes, RSS, or Digg. (Digg experts: if you have any idea why our podcast isn't updating properly through Digg, please contact us! You're our only remaining hope!) ... Read more

We meant to show you guys this one earlier but it slipped by in favor of the other CES content. A few people did notice it showed up on the FileShack ticker over on the right side this morning though. Straight from Namco comes the CES 08 trailer announcing the boggling inclusion of Yoda & Darth Vader in the upcoming Soul Calibur IV.

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Registered users can also use the HD stream.

Update: Namco Bandai has released a trailer of Yoda and Darth Vader's in-game antics.

Original Story: Star Wars icons Darth Vader and Yoda are officially playable characters in Project Soul's Soul Calibur IV, with Darth Vader exclusive to the PlayStation 3 edition and Yoda exclusive to the Xbox 360 version. Yes, really.

Publisher Namco Bandai announced the news today and then proved it true by releasing pictures of the two squaring off against the ever-unbalanced Tira and the well-endowed Taki, both of whom are returning characters.

Even more inexplicable than the appearance of Darth Vader and Yoda in the fantasy-oriented historic fighting game is the suggestion that the primitive weaponry and armor of the other participants is somehow able to block lightsabers.

It's the first time the Star Wars crew has dabbled in the fighting genre... Read more

Namco Bandai released a flurry of new screens today for Project Soul's upcoming Soul Calibur IV (PS3, X360). The shots show off Astaroth's new look as he spars with Cassandra, and also feature a fencing match between prettyboy Raphael and the Joan of Arc-like Hilde.

Soul Calibur IV retails sometime in 2008. The Wii-only spinoff title, Soul Calibur Legends (Wii), retailed last month.

Namco Bandai just sent along a new batch of shots from the fourth entry in the fighting series known as both Soul Calibur and Soulcalibur, highlighting the game's sexually charged focus.

PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 owners will be able to experience everything Soul Calibur IV has to offer in 2008.

Appealing to a different crowd, the company also released new screens of the Wii-exclusive Soul Calibur Legends, showcasing the muscular Astaroth. The action-adventure brawler arrives in stores November 20.

The first Wii outing of the Soul Calibur franchise is complete and has entered replication, developer and publisher Namco Bandai announced today. The game, which is referred to as both Soul Calibur Legends and Soulcalibur Legends, is a Wii exclusive and arrives in stores on November 20.

Unlike other entries in the series, Legends focuses less on one-on-one fights and more on action and adventure. According to Namco, players will use the Wii Remote and nunchuck to "master orchestrated attacks to crush scores of enemies or large bosses." Over ten different stages are available in single-player mode, and the game offers both two-player co-op and versus.

The next fighting game in the Soul Calibur series, Soul Calibur IV, is currently in development for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and is scheduled to arrive in 2008.

Our friends at Namco Bandai have unleashed a screenshot bonanza showcasing their fall lineup.

The media barrage illustrates the third-person action-adventure Soul Calibur Legends (Wii), the not-so-friendly skies of Project Aces' Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (X360), a rolling good time in Beautiful Katamari (X360), and the legions of light gun bullet sponges in Time Crisis 4 (PS3).

Developed internally at Namco Bandai, all four titles release this fall.

Here's the Tokyo Game Show trailer for everyone's favorite button masher, Soul Calibur IV. The fighting game sequel will be released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 some time next year.

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Click here for the HD stream if you're a Mercury subscriber.

GameSpy, GameSpot, IGN and 1UP have Soul Calibur previews up, offering impressions of a brief demonstration of this Wii action adventure game.