------------------------------------------------------------------------------- S O U L C A L I B U R Achievement Guide Xbox 360/Xbox LIVE Arcade --- Authored by: Berserker Email: berserker_kev(at)yahoo.com Homepage: http://www.berserkersblog.blogspot.com --- This document Copyright 2008 Kevin Hall (Berserker) Soul Calibur Copyright 1995-2008 Namco Bandai Games Inc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- Table of Contents Section I: Intro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [IN00] Section II: Achievements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC00] Apprentice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC01] Art Connoisseur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC02] Champion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC03] Close Call . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC04] Conqueror . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC05] Edge Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC06] Guardian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC07] Noble Soul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC08] Ring Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC09] Summon Suffering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC10] Warrior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC11] Zen Warrior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [AC12] Section III: Copyright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [CO00] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Intro [IN00] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This is a short achievement guide that will assist you in performing all 12 achievements in the Xbox LIVE arcade version of Soul Calibur. Just think, your full achievement set in Soul Calibur may help to intimidate your opponents once they view your gamer card before a fight in Soul Calibur IV... or not. The methods listed are not always 100% guaranteed to work. The techniques listed require skill, timing and a bit of luck as well. I am a firm believer that there is no 100% way to perform all tasks in a game since some techniques will work differently for each player, so I have listed several ways to help you gain some of these achievements. If you have any other methods that work well then just contact me and I'll add your tip to the guide! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Achievements [AC00] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Here are the acronyms for some of my move descriptions listed below: DB = Down/Back X = A DF = Down/Forward Y = B UB = Up/Back B = K UF = Up/Forward A = G HCB = Half Circle Back HCF = Half Circle Forward QCB = Quarter Circle Forward QCF = Quarter Circle Forward * All directions assume that the player is playing on the first player side. Also, for certain moves, instead of tapping "Back, Back + button press" to perform a move, you can hold back then tap the button instead. Basically your character has to be moving back quickly for this type of move and "Back, Back" is any easier way to make them dash backward instead of holding back and waiting for them to begin a dash. If you want a full move list for each character select "Command" after pausing the game during gameplay. Here is the list of all 12 achievements totaling 200 gamer points: Apprentice - 5G Art Connoisseur - 5G Champion - 5G Close Call - 15G Conqueror - 25G Edge Master - 30G Guardian - 15G Noble Soul - 15G Ring Out - 15G Summon Suffering - 20G Warrior - 10G Zen Warrior - 10G Below is a more thorough examination of each one: =============================================================================== APPRENTICE - 5G [AC01] =============================================================================== Requirement: Play 3 characters in any mode. Pick 3 different characters in the arcade mode. No real strategy here. =============================================================================== ART CONNOISSEUR - 5G [AC02] =============================================================================== Requirement: Explore the different areas in the Museum. Select the "Museum" option from the main menu then enter the mode under each submenu at least once in order to get this achievement. - Art Gallery - Battle Theater - Exhibition Theater - Character Profiles The achievement will appear as soon as you enter the final mode. You don't have to look around the different Art Gallery collections at all, and for the Theaters and Profiles, just open the pause menu and choose to "Reset" the game through the menu. =============================================================================== CHAMPION - 25G [AC03] =============================================================================== Requirement: Beat Time Attack Mode in under 4 minutes. I find that this one is easiest to get with either Yoshimitsu, Mitsurugi, or Hwang. -- Yoshimitsu Main Moves: a) <- + B, charge Y b) Y, Y To beat Time Attack quickly with Yoshimitsu, you'll want to make use of his "Back + B, charge Y" unblockable attack. If the full move connects then it takes about 75% of your opponent's life bar. Through stages 1-3, the CPU will usually stay on the ground during the entire move it if the kick connects. For stages 4-8, you'll need to release the move a bit early since the CPU will begin to block the move or rise up from the ground early and counterattack. At the start of each round, walk up to the other character and tap "Back + B". If the kick connects then charge Y and allow it to fully charge but if the character blocks the kick you'll want to still charge Y but wait just a half a second to let the CPU try to attack then let go of Y and you'll almost always hit them. Immediately perform move again. Continue to rise and repeat this move and charge the move fully only if the kick knocks the CPU opponent down. If the CPU is near death, use a "Y, Y" combo to finish them off. This combo will almost always hit the CPU eventually. -- Mitsurugi Main Moves: a) ->, -> + Y, Y b) HCB + Y c) Y, Y With Mitsurugi use "Forward, Forward + Y, Y" as your main pressure move against the CPU. This move can easily get you a Ring Out very quickly. Right after hitting the CPU with this move, you can immediately perform the "HCB + Y" unblockable attack and this will hit the CPU about 8 times out of 10. Mitsurugi's "Y, Y" combo is a good way to finish the CPU or you could just spam the earlier CPU opponents with this move. -- Hwang Main Moves: a) ->, -> + Y, Y b) Y, Y c) X, X, Y d) DF + X, X, Y e) K, K, K There is no real strategy to winning with Hwang like there is with the two other characters listed above. The CPU will not even block the majority of Hwang's combos even in the final stages. His "Y, Y" combo is good for countering an attack of the CPU, his "Toward, Toward + Y, Y" attack is a good pressure move, his "K, K, K" combo is an excellent Ring Out combo and all of his other combos hit very quickly either countering the CPU's attacks or confusing them. =============================================================================== CLOSE CALL - 15G [AC04] =============================================================================== Requirement: Defeat an opponent under adverse conditions. Your character must have extremely low life then you must hit a CPU opponent at that time to finish him/her off. The life gauge of the CPU does not matter, so you could easily beat them down to where they have just a bit of life remaining then let them do the same to your character and quickly finish them when your life is extremely low. You'll mainly want to stick with some sort of quick attack such as two hit slash to finish them off quickly before they retaliate. Try this on the Stage 1 or Stage 2 CPU opponents since they are less likely to link attacks. The hard part about this one is getting the CPU opponent to hit you so that you have the required life amount remaining. When I got this one, my character didn't even have any green life whatsoever on her (Seung Mina's) life bar. This one is really best gotten by accident. --> Submitted by neeker This can also be performed in a two-player versus battle. Pick up the second player controller and hit the other character until that character is near death then pick up the first player controller and finish off the second player character. Obviously, you'll want to have your profile loaded with whichever player you win with. Remember that the life bar for the first player has to extremely minimal (practically no green) in order to get this achievement. =============================================================================== CONQUEROR - 25G [AC05] =============================================================================== Requirement: Beat 25 opponents in Extra Survival Mode. The CPU is a real sucker for Nightmare's B attack from a crouching stance, but the only problem is the unpredictability of the CPU's first attack. The best way I have found to chain into the crouching stance quickly is to use Nightmare's "Back, Back + Y" jumping overhead strike then hold Y to enter crouching stance. Right after this, simply tap the B button as the CPU walks toward Nightmare or while they guard the overhead attack and the crouching thrust attack will hit the CPU sooner or later and you'll be victorious. You can also tap "Forward, Y + B" at the beginning of the round to automatically enter crouching stance without the need of a jumping overhead attack. You can use Siegfried in place of Nightmare also. The main problems I have found with this method are from Cervantes, Sophitia and Inferno because of their unpredictable aggressiveness at the start of each round. Inferno is by far the worst so you'll really have to watch him at the beginning of the round. Siegfried and Nightmare sometimes open with the jumping overhead as well, so be careful while fighting them also. Here's a few other characters with moves that make good introductory hits: -- Cervantes: <-, Y + B (all of Cervantes combo attacks can work well also in combination with this move, especially Y, Y, Y and Forward + Y, Y) -- Voldo: Down + X, X, X, B Hold DF + charge X + Y --> Voldo technique submitted by cleavemech When the match starts (after about Cervantes, match 10) 8-way run to Voldo's BL or BR. The enemy should attack. Run up after about half of that attack goes and simply hit "X" or "Y" (don't kick: very bad idea). The opponent should go down in one hit. Beware of one thing though, if the enemy is another Voldo, this may not work due to Voldo's timing with the CPU. The other Voldo usually attacks then shortly after that attacks as you run up, KOing you. This usually works well up till match twenty six or so, so the achievement nets in well after that! Note: Voldo's X 8-way run attack = mid-distance Voldo's Y 8-way run attack = close range (hits multiple times) -- Ivy: <-, <-, then charge Y + B, release (a fully charged version of this attack is unblockable) --> Ivy techniques submitted by pyrestrike ->, Y + B (hold buttons) The CPU usually does not block this move, so it will hit them almost every time. It is also fast enough to counter some of an opponent's attacks. Be sure to hold the buttons while performing this move or Ivy will not extend the whip sword forward. Y + B (during whip stance) This is good move to use after entering a whip stance (when Ivy's sword changes to a whip) since it is very fast and covers a great distance in front of Ivy. -- Kilik/Seung Mina ->, X + Y Down, X + Y -- Xianghua/Hwang ->, -> + Y, Y -- Astaroth DF, Y + B DB + X (can be charged) When fighting your opponents, you don't always want to rush in blindly with the move that I have listed. It is best to stand back and block when the match first starts then wait for your opponent to come to you and then perform the move. Cervantes and Inferno are the main two CPU opponents that rush in at the beginning of a match and also Edge Master is sometimes unpredictable. --> Submitted by neeker Consider Taki and her somersault kick move. Just go ->+B when the fight starts and you're almost guaranteed to land a hit. Even if you mess up the combo, you may still land a sliding kick hit. Best for players who can't do combos well or consistently. =============================================================================== EDGE MASTER - 30G [AC06] =============================================================================== Requirement: Beat Arcade Mode with all characters. You can change the options to make this task easier if you want. Under the main menu, you can go under "Options", "Game Option" then... - Change the difficulty to "Easy" - Change the Fight Count to "1" - Set the Life Bar <1P Game> to "90%" - Check off each character as they are listed below to keep up with them (or you could also view the in-game ranking for each character and look for your initials besides the character you have beaten it with) -- Complete Character Checklist [ ] Astaroth [ ] Mitsurugi [ ] Yoshimitsu [ ] Cervantes [ ] Nightmare [ ] Edge Master [ ] Rock [ ] Hwang [ ] Seung Mina [ ] Inferno [ ] Siegfried [ ] Ivy [ ] Sophitia [ ] Kilik [ ] Taki [ ] Lizardman [ ] Voldo [ ] Maxi [ ] Xianghua --> Thanks to neeker, Kratos1173 and Lt GhostDX for their help on this achievement. =============================================================================== GUARDIAN - 15G [AC07] =============================================================================== Requirement: Perform consecutive bursts with Freestyle set to Guard Impact in Practice Mode. In order to perform a Burst, you need to press Forward + Guard or Back + Guard as an opponent attacks. You can also tap DF + G and DB + G for a burst, but you won't want to use those bursts here. Go to "Practice" under the main menu and choose any character then choose either Taki, Xianghua, Cervantes, Yoshimitsu, Mitsurugi, Ivy, Sophitia, Lizardman, Maxi, or Hwang as your opponent. When the practice match starts, pause the game and go to "Freestyle Settings" then choose "Guard Impact" and set it to "Repel". Now the CPU opponent will repel any of your attacks. Hit the CPU opponent with any attack then tap Forward + Guard to quickly repel her attack and this will give you a Burst in the left hand corner per repel. All you have to do is continuously attack the CPU opponent then repel his/her attack with a Forward + Guard repel burst. Do this 25 times in a row and you'll get the achievement. The Burst counter will keep a count of all bursts performed. The reason why I tell you to choose either Taki, Xianghua, Cervantes, Yoshimitsu, Mitsurugi, Ivy, Sophitia, Lizardman, Maxi, or Hwang is because all of their attacks will be delivered instantly after a repel instead of different timed attacks like you will get with all the other characters. If you choose the others then they will attack with hits that will be either instant or delayed, which will throw off your burst timing. =============================================================================== NOBLE SOUL - 25G [AC08] =============================================================================== Requirement: Beat the game in Ultra Hard without losing a round. You'll have to change the difficulty to "Ultra Hard" for this one and play against the CPU in Arcade mode without losing a single round. To make this much easier, under the main menu, you can go under "Options", "Game Option" then... - Change the Fight Count to "1" With only having to win one round per match, this will greatly increase your chances. I recommend picking Nightmare for this one since the CPU will still fall for his tricks even at Ultra Hard difficulty. -- Nightmare Main Moves: a) <-, <-, Y b) Press then charge Y after overhead strike c) Press then charge Y from crouching stance d) Y from back blade stance (while holding blade behind him) e) Press then charge Y at any time to enter crouching stance f) B from crouching stance g) -> + Y h) DB + charge X i) X, DB + X, X In order to perform this easily with Nightmare, you really need to learn how his stances work. At the start of each round, open it up with "Back, Back + Y" overhead strike then hold the Y button as Nightmare finishes the move. Nightmare will crouch on the ground. At that time, you can either tap the B button to make him thrust his blade forward for a hit (he will remain in the stance after each thrust) or you can tap and hold the Y button for a low hitting upward strike. By holding the Y button, Nightmare will enter his stance where he holds the blade behind him. Tap the Y button again and he will perform an overhead strike with the blade. Now that I described it, let's see how this works against the CPU. The CPU will have to do all kinds of different forms of blocking to get away from the above combination. They will almost always fall for the B thrust from the crouching stance, so you can basically just thrust them to death, but this takes a long time, yet it does work very well after performing the jumping overhead strike. The CPU will not always block the upward strike from a crouch (Y from a crouching stance) and if they don't you can almost always hit the lower stage CPU opponents with a standing overhead strike while they are on the ground afterwards. The lower stage opponents will usually not roll to the side. While at a distance from the CPU, the best form of poking with Nightmare is his Forward + Y thrust. This will almost always eventually hit the CPU as they move toward your character. If they block the move then you can usually perform it again. They don't sidestep this move that often. Nightmare's "Y, Y" combo is a good move to hit the CPU with if they will not fall for any other attack. Another good move to catch the CPU off guard with is Nightmare's "charge down/back + X" turning low slice. This move takes off quite a bit of damage and the CPU must stop everything and guard it low. The CPU will eventually screw up and let this hit them. Be sure to release the move early if the CPU is close, especially in the higher stages. The main beauty of Nightmare vs the CPU is the fact that he can chain together so many moves from different stances and thereby confuse the CPU greatly. Siegfried will work just as well against the CPU, but you'll have a longer Y combo with him (Y, Y, Y). With Siegfried, keep in mind that you can charge the last Y attack in his three hit Y, Y, Y combo to make him hold his sword behind his back. Really, learning to play Nightmare or Siegfried just a bit will increase your chances to get this achievement. They are not hard to play with once you get the feel of entering their different stances. You could also try another character that you're good with. A fast character would be your best bet. Xianghua and Hwang work well. Another good method I have found is to use Astaroth and make use of the following moves: -- Astaroth Main Moves: a) HCB + X b) DF, Y + B c) DB + X (can be charged) d) X, then press and charge X Astaroth's spin throw is quite damaging if the CPU is caught in it. The DF, Y + B move puts constant pressure on the CPU and can work them to one side of the ring very quickly for a Ring Out finish. The DB + X move is good for catching the CPU when they are in the middle of a move much like Nightmare or Siegfried's DB + X sword sweep. The CPU is usually a sucker for Astaroth's X, X combo as well - make sure to charge X during the second press and this will almost always hit the CPU if they are standing. --> Submitted by neeker - Change fight count to 1 as you mentioned. - Change health and time limit to infinity. - With the above settings, you can never die from being hit (infinite health). - You also have all the time in the world to perform ring outs (infinite time). - Nightmare, as you mentioned, is perfect for doing this with his ->+Y. - Force ring outs eight consecutive times on ultra hard under these settings and you'll get the achievement. Just ensure not to get forced out. Really much easier than fighting the hard way. =============================================================================== RING OUT - 15G [AC09] =============================================================================== Requirement: Finish Time Attack Mode with all Ring Outs. You must get "Ring Out" for each round against each opponent in Time Attack. It doesn't matter if you lose a round or a match so long as you get a "Ring Out" finish for all of your wins. To easily do this, pick Nightmare or Siegfried. As each battle begins, back up to the very edge of the ring on your side. Allow the CPU opponents to follow you then stand within grab distance in front of you then quickly tap DB + Y. If this attack connects then your character will stick his sword into the enemy then toss them over his shoulder and out of the ring. The attack must hit the opponent without them guarding in order to throw them - they also have to be right next to your character. The hard part about doing this is the positioning and making sure that the CPU opponent doesn't knock you out. Other moves with other characters that have similar results: -- Yoshimitsu: QCB, X + Y -- Lizardman: X + A -- Ivy: X + A =============================================================================== SUMMON SUFFERING - 20G [AC10] =============================================================================== Requirement: Perform the move Summon Suffering with Ivy. Perform Ivy's Summon Suffering grab attack on a CPU opponent. This achievement CANNOT be unlocked in Practice Mode so you'll have to play against a CPU opponent. Choose the Arcade mode and attempt it on the first few CPU opponents. This can be done in any mode with CPU opponents. Summon Suffering: DF, UB, Forward, Down to DF, DB, X + Y Wow, I sure hope you have an Arcade stick because that is quite a bit of movements there. If you don't have a good arcade controller like yours truly then rotate the left analog or D-pad clockwise or counterclockwise continuously and tap X + Y and Ivy will eventually perform this move. Just make sure that your are close to the CPU opponent when she reaches out to perform the grab. The CPU opponent must be grabbed from the front in order to perform this attack. Ivy will grab her opponent and her sword shards will float in the air then stab her opponent. Thankfully this is the only grab that Ivy has with the X + Y buttons so you'll either attack or grab while attempting this. Make sure to perform the rotations quickly if you choose to rotate the analog or D-pad. --> Submitted by neeker - Cannot be done in PRACTICE mode. - Can be done in VS BATTLE mode with a second controller. - You can map the A+B button to RB in "Freestyle Settings", so when you're rotating the LS, you can periodically press just the RB button (which is now the A+B move) and hope for the best. Usually the move will be performed in about 5-10 seconds upon starting the rotation of the LS, thus unlocking the achievement in the process. =============================================================================== WARRIOR - 10G [AC11] =============================================================================== Requirement: Complete Arcade Mode. Beat the game once. You can change the options to make this task easier if you want. Under the main menu, you can go under "Options", "Game Option" then... - Change the Difficulty Level to "Easy" - Change the Fight Count to "1" - Set the Life Bar <1P Game> to "90%" =============================================================================== ZEN WARRIOR - 10G [AC12] =============================================================================== Requirement: Win a round with a perfect. All you need is a perfect on one round. A "Ring Out" finish does not count as a perfect even if the CPU opponent hasn't hit your character yet. Try for this on the first few stages of Arcade mode. You'll get this one eventually since the CPU is rather easy on the first three stages. This achievement cannot be received through "Extra Survival". You could pick Yoshimitsu and perform his Back + B attack then charge Y directly afterward and allow it fully charge and this should take about 75% of your opponent's life if it connects. Finish them off quickly afterwards with Y, Y slashes. There are tons of other ways you can get this also- What? Did I hear someone say "skill"!? *points out into the reader audience* Arise and be noticed! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Copyright [CO00] - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - This document Copyright 2008 Kevin Hall (Berserker) Soul Calibur Copyright 1995-2008 Namco Bandai Games Inc. This document is for private and personal use only. Do not try to sell this document for profit. This is a free document and should remain free. Do not try to reproduce this document in any way, shape, or form. Do not alter this FAQ in any way. Use of this guide on any other web site, besides the sites that have contacted me, or as a part of any public display is strictly prohibited, and a violation of copyright. If you want to use this FAQ on your site, then contact me for permission first. This FAQ can only be found on a few sites as of now and I am keeping a list of those sites. Contact me if you want to use it. ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ^^^ ^^^ | \ / | | \ / | | \ / | | (*\ /*) | -------- -------- ^^ ^^ / \ / \ \ | --------------- | / \| | | | | | | | | | |/ \ | | | | | | | | | / ----------------- ___ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ / __\ /__\/__\/ _\ /__\/__\ /\ /\ /__\/__\ /__\// /_\ / \//\ \ /_\ / \// / //_//_\ / \// / \/ \//__/ _ \_\ \//__/ _ \/ __ \//__/ _ \ \_____/\__/\/ \_/\__/\__/\/ \_/\/ \/\__/\/ \_/ T E A R T H R O U G H T H E G A M E! ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----