The 15 Hottest Games of Summer

The Scoop: Soul Calibur IV; By: Project Soul; From: Namco Bandai Games; For: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360; Rating: Teen; ETA: July 29

Info: The fifth installment in Namco's Soul Calibur series of weapons-based fighting games about swords with souls and vendettas receives a bunch of new characters, online play, and a little two-on-one roughhousing.

Matt: Astaroth versus Cervantes, Lizardman versus Rock, Yoda versus Darth Vader--hold up a sec, Yoda versus Darth Vader? Who let George Lucas out of his box? Add Dark Side Force abilities such as "push" and "choke" to the roster of potentially cool weirdness, some guy called Starkiller guest-starring as Vader's rag-wrapped apprentice (seriously, wardrobe check please?) and Yoda performing his hilariously cool Episode Two lightsaber ballet.

Darren: Honestly, I'm torn on this one. I will buy (and probably continue to buy) any Soul Calibur game--they are that much fun. But this whole Star Wars angle has me scratching my head. Why stop there? Why not Jar Jar? Why not the guy from Empire Strikes Back who tells Han that his Tauntaun won't make it past the first marker? Matt, we may be witnessing a "Jump the Shark" moment here.