Time flies, as they say, and we’ll be damned if it hasn’t been over two years since Soul Calibur II gave current console owners new reason to master the fighting game. Hell, we still find ourselves battling it out from time to time with Namco’s weapon-based brawler. Nonetheless, the wheel must always be reinvented, and the Hometek boys have more than a few tricks up their sleeve with today’s release of the PS2-exclusive Soulcalibur III.

"With three all-new characters, unique gameplay modes and an updated fighting engine, Soulcalibur III delivers on the expectations of being one of the most respected and distinguished fighting games of all time," claims Yoshi Niki, business unit director at Namco Hometek Inc. "In this installment, players can create personalized characters with unique fighting styles and personalities to truly immerse themselves in the Soulcalibur universe."

Much of the big fuss this year, as we’ve mentioned, is over the game’s Character Creation mode, where your original warrior can be pretty heavily decked out with the attire, accessories, weapons, and well, fighting styles of your choice. The RTS-inspired gameplay commences in the Chronicles of the Sword, while joining the cast of 25 returning characters are Tira, Zasalamel and Setsuka.

Brush up those weaponry skills and prepare to dig in – Soulcalibur III hits retail with a $49.99 price tag and “Teen” rating.