It appears that the Soul Caliber franchise has a new art director. Take a look at the new Taki and the new Ivy.

Now, I’m generally pro-good looking people in my games, and I don’t mind a bare midriff now and then. Most people want to play avatars that look either attractive or cool. We’re in the entertainment business, and most people want good looking people in their movies and TV shows.

Still, Soul Caliber seems to have fallen well into ‘you can’t be serious’ territory. I can only imagine they are somehow responding to DOA. Which is a shame. Other than being totally superior in terms of game mechanics, Soul Caliber also had the distinction of being the fighting game you can play in front of your parents and/or girlfriend.