One month ago, Bandai Namco released what is likely the final SoulCalibur 6 Season Pass 2 DLC character. Hwang is a Korean swordsman playable in the first SoulCalibur, with a legacy dating back even further to 1995’s Soul Edge (the first title in the Soul series). The character took a break and reappeared in Soulcalibur 3, only to remain a non-playable background figure for the rest of the series.
Let's review the community's reaction to Hwang's competitive viability, aesthetic, and story now that he's back in SoulCalibur VI 15 years later.
Lifeforce Techniques and Auras
Hwang is a close-to-mid-range fighter, excelling in neutral. Sword moves and strong kick attacks comprise his basic skill set. Hwang’s kit is augmented by "lifeforce techniques" that use talismans to do a variety of actions such as starting combos and closing distance between opponents.
However, executing these talismans comes at the cost of your lifeforce (LF) requiring a player to pay attention to more than just the HP bar. In a beginner’s guide, Force of Nature calls Hwang a “high risk, high reward” character because moves can literally cost you your life.
Auras are an important part of Hwang’s build. Hold the horizontal attack [square] and kick [circle] buttons and a direction to use auras that either boost damage or heal your character. For example, green aura gives you +1 LF when entering yellow health, and allows some of Hwang’s moves to heal you on hit. Red aura gives you +2 LF when an opponent is in Soul Charge and opens up the opportunity for a lethal attack move to deal with the situation accordingly. According to community feedback on Reddit, lifeforce management and auras are simultaneously the most interesting and difficult part of Hwang’s design. Four-time EVO finalist Jovian “Shen Chan” Chan tweeted to ask fans what they think about Hwang’s lifeforce mechanic:
it's like having some heroic points to use so it's cool
— Hayate EIN ~Season3 please!~ (@Hayate_Ein) January 6, 2021
balance wise, CE +3LF is too important, SA should be giving a bit to balance
one SideThrow(to mix the break) or new combo ender cancel into Aura would feel more usuable
236B -2LF only for combo, maybe a CH/TJ stun or LH
You can also take a look at Nichol’s lifeforce and auras video below to get more of a feel for Hwang’s intricacies.
Aesthetics and Soul Chronicle
Hwang comes with a distinct backstory and a long history in the Soul series, making it important to reflect that legacy in his aesthetic. Most feedback has been positive, with any complaints being that the fighter’s martial arts skills are not pronounced enough in the SC6 skillset, and costumes are not Korean-inspired enough (though you can make some design edits with Create a Soul).
To the credit of the design team, attention to detail is definitely on display with Hwang’s theme song. The game’s developers recently tweeted comments on the complex arrangement of the song, which has roots in the character’s Soul Blade stage music, “Horangi Arirang.”
The music in the second half of the video is an arrangement of Hwang's stage BGM 'Horangi Arirang' from Soul Blade at the director's insistence. You can hear it at the right moment in the story, so enjoy it! (1/2)https://t.co/BwJDSfEeIS
— SOULCALIBUR (@soulcalibur) January 5, 2021
Individual character Soul Chronicles are integral to Soulcalibur, and Hwang’s story seems to be a hit with fans. One player calls the addition their second favorite Soul Chronicle in the game. Another states that the Hwang story is a perfect setup for Soulcalibur 7, or future DLC (though this is not in the cards as we know). The absence of fellow Korean swordsman Yun-seong in Hwang’s Soul Chronicle is notable, though a recent video by Mark Yoon speculates that he will appear in a future release. Given the close relationship between the two fighters, it would make sense.
What are your thoughts on Hwang’s build and design? Let us know and show off your sword and martial arts skills by entering the next Soulcalibur 6 Open Series event hosted by the Playstation Competition Center.