History Fridge / SoulSeries

** "Soul Calibur", literally, means "spirit blade". "Soul Edge", literally, means "spirit blade". Well, that certainly explains the home title of the original Soul Edge as "Soul Blade", but why do these two swords, clearly completely at odds with each other, have the same name? ... Is a question that was perfectly viable when ''Soulcalibur II'', or ''III'', were the most recent. Then ''IV'' comes along and proves some people of being right with their Fridge Brilliance - Soul Calibur has perfectly good reason to have the same name as its nemesis. Not only is it made from a shard of Soul Edge, thereby technically BEING the same sword, but as Siegfried's ending shows, LightIsNotGood - Soul Calibur [[NotSoDifferent has the same desires as Soul Edge]], it's just made specifically to destroy Soul Edge, so it does so, while at the same time fulfilling its own goals. It's better than Soul Edge by virtue of it being the smarter one, but not by much.

** RealityIsUnrealistic. It's much harder than it looks to [[TapOnTheHead knock someone unconscious on purpose]], especially when that someone isn't paying you the same courtesy and is trying to kill you at all costs.

* The next host of Soul Edge after Siegfried was foreshadowed a full decade in advance during the final battle against Veral/Inferno in ''II''[='=]s Weapon Master mode. There, his SequentialBoss fight always uses the "Soul Edge (Complete)" weapons belonging to everyone who's wielded it canonically: Nightmare/Siegfried, Cervantes, and, finally, [[spoiler:Raphael]].

* Why does Pyrrha kill people in self-defense? Surely just beating them into unconsciousness would work. Is it an adrenaline thing? A sign of the repressed anger and bitterness that comes out [[spoiler:in her Omega form]]? A side-effect of her lack of fighting skill?

* Darth Vader's arcade mode had him [[OutOfCharacterMoment uncharacteristically]] giving an EvilLaugh upon picking up both Soul Edge and Soul Calibur, but considering how both swords have a history of corrupting the mind and soul of whoever picks them up, and Vader's very existence was the result of Anakin falling to the Dark Side, one could argue this made Vader quite susceptable to the influence of both swords.

** Sophitia AND Cassandra's sword skills were both given to them by their sword... which Pyrrha now uses. Patroklos actually [[spoiler:used another style (Setsuka's) but started to imitate what he thought was his mother's style (his Sword and Shield style is described as self-taught). Thus he is not only the only member of the family that actually learned to fight on his own... [[{{Badass}} he also did so on his own]]]].

*** The latter.

*** In more FridgeBrilliance, what you're basically describing is GeneticMemory, give or take some AppliedPhlebotinum and SufficientlyAdvancedMagic - not only something that wouldn't be TOO out of place with the SoulSeries, but is also a key element of the ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' series (meaning [[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedII Ezio's]] GuestFighter appearance and CanonWelding with ''VideoGame/AssassinsCreedBrotherhood'' probably justifies this premise even more).

* [[Franchise/TheLegendofZelda Link]] just appears through a time vortex and leaves suddenly after having completed his mission in ''II''. Take a look at his main game counterparts from the eyes of a Hyrulian historian, or even better, the legend of the Hero of Time at the beginning of ''[[TheLegendofZeldaWindWaker Wind Waker]]'', which was released before this game was ported to the consoles. Most incarnation of Link just seemingly appear from nowhere and disappear after the events of their game's end, ''exactly like this Link''.

** Is this stated in her Online Profile or in the Artbook? SCV itself doesn't have any profiles to go off of. Also, how did Patroklos "small amount of evil energy" not increase from his less than heroic actions when this evil energy is explicitly shown and stated to feed off the host's inner sinful deeds? "Sense of Duty" doesn't exactly seem like a good counter for explicit gleeful acts of vengeful cold-blooded murder.

** There has been no retcon to Patroklos' malfested status itself as Elysium's profile makes mention of the "evil energy" that is inside his body. According to her profile, while he has a "small amount of evil energy" in him, his "sense of duty" still made him a viable host in Elysium's eyes. The implication appears to be that since Pyrrha was born first, she inherited more of Soul Edge's taint than her brother did, which made her a more viable choice for Soul Edge.

*** In more FridgeBrilliance, what you're basically describing is GeneticMemory, give or take some AppliedPhlebotinum and SufficientlyAdvancedMagic - not only something that wouldn't be TOO out of place with the SoulSeries, but is also a key element of the AssassinsCreed series (meaning [[AssassinsCreedII Ezio's]] GuestFighter appearance and CanonWelding with AssassinsCreedBrotherhood probably justifies this premise even more).

*** In more FridgeBrilliance, what you're basically describing is GeneticMemory, give or take some AppliedPhlebotinum and SufficientlyAdvancedMagic - not only something that wouldn't be TOO out of place with the SoulSeries, but is also a key element of the AssassinsCreed series (meaning Ezio's GuestFighter appearance and CanonWelding with AssassinsCreedBrotherhood probably justifies this premise even more).

*** In more FridgeBrilliance, what you're basically describing is GeneticMemory, give or take some AppliedPhlebotnium and SufficientlyAdvancedMagic - not only something that wouldn't be TOO out of place with the SoulSeries, but is also a key element of the AssassinsCreed series (meaning Ezio's GuestFighter appearance and CanonWelding with AssassinsCreedBrotherhood probably justifies this premise even more).

*** Not exactly. She only figures out that Soul Calibur is evil in her ending from ''IV''. Since she was canonically knocked out by Sophitia at Osthreinsburg, only to awaken and then be flung into Astral Chaos, Cassandra likely never came to that revelation (and even if she did, she's currently trapped somewhere in the other dimension).

* Alpha Patrokolos and Pyrrha Omega's names have the Greek characters appear different order. This is because alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and omega is the last. [[spoiler: And maybe because Patrokolos and Pyrrha represent the beginning and the end of the Soul Series' main conflict because of how they were hosts for Soul Calibur and Soul Edge but ended up destroying both swords.]]

** Another possible interpretation/meaning: Sophitia wasn't the first warrior Hephaestus recruited. He recruited 24 warriors in all, corresponding to the Greek alphabet. Sophitia was the last one; 'Omega'. Now both Patroklos and Pyrrha are carrying on the legacy of not just their mother (Pyrrha ''Omega''), but ''all'' of the Holy Warriors (''Alpha'' Patroklos). Though this interpretation is kind of tampered by the Japanese sourcebook confirming that Hephaestus has created a new generation of the 24 Holy Warriors himself...
** Another answer could be simply this: Soul Calibur is seen as a helpful weapon who's exsitances offers hope for rebuilding and banishing the threat, the beginning, where edge is supposed to be the destroyer of all. Thus, calibur would be seen as alpha the beginning, a way to keep going, the start of a new journey (I.E. prevent destruction done by soul edge), and edge would be omega, the end, a means to stop all journeys, I way to stop those you dislike.

** It's also a call back to Soulcalibur II; Yoshimitsu [[spoiler: the first]] said both the above (or close variants thereof) as his pre-fight intros.
* As of ''Soul Calibur V'', the Korean characters have all apparently left. Of course, now that they know both Soul weapons are evil it makes sense how they aren't interested in pursuing either of the swords anymore.

** Cassandra figured it out too, and does not return for V. This one's pretty solid.
* Edgemaster randomly hanging out in Astral Chaos seems to be very odd. Until the artbook revealed than Night Terror is loose in that dimension, and could likely, at any point attempt escape (it doesn't actually think, which may be the only reason it does not), as someone far weaker (Pyrrha) cut the dimension open. Edgemaster is in there to make sure Night Terror stays there. Crosses over into FridgeHorror when you also realize Cassandra is trapped in a world with [[TheBerserker an insane berserker]] out to [[DeaderThanDead destroy every soul it finds]]. Even Algol seems to keep his distance.
** Cervantes, Kilik, and Siegfried have also passed through Astral Chaos at varying points in the series (although Siegfried doesn't count seeing as he was Nightmare at the time and therefore Night Terror wouldn't have existed at that point) without encountering it. That also raises the question of what Night Terror exactly is, seeing how it was Nightmare's OneWingedAngel in ''III'' but ''V'''s art book indicates it's something completely different, despite it wielding Soul Edge Complete.
** Edge Master is officially there to deal with Algol (TheManBehindTheMan in ''V''), who is trying to TakeOverTheWorld by corrupting the world with the energy of the Soul swords. He's probably aware of Night Terror's existence, though, seeing as he officially sensed Angol Fear coming to Earth according to ''IV''[='s=] relationship chart.

* Pyrrha wasn't returned to her family and grew up without knowing of them... yet she somehow uses her mom's fighting style (with a bit of Cassandra's too since both of Sophitia kids in ''V'' will be using bits of both Alexandra sisters styles) how could she know this style without growing up with them. her brother Patroklos probably can be hand-waved off as being raised by Cassandra after Sophitia dies/vanishes (not clear what happened officially yet) but not her.

** Sophitia AND Cassandra's sword skills were both given to them by their sword... which Pyrrha now uses. Patroklos actually [[spoiler: used another style (Setsuka's) but started to imitate what he thought was hs mother's style (his Sword and Shield style is described as self-taught). Thus he is not only the only member of the family that actually learned to fight on his own... [[{{Badass}} he also did so on his own]]]].

* PlotHole with SCV's story. In Cassandra and Sophitia's character profiles for SCII and SCIII, it's mentioned that BOTH of Sophitia's kids were tainted by Soul Edge. But by the time SCV comes along, Patroklos has no physical qualms with wielding Soul Calibur despite being born with a taint he should be physically adverse to or that said taint shouldn't been enhanced by his not-so pure intentions and actions. Did they retcon something and only include it in the Art-book?
** There has been no retcon to Patroklos' malfested status itself as Elysium's profile makes mention of the 'evil energy' that is inside his body. According to her profile, while he has a "small amount of evil energy" in him, his "sense of duty" still made him a viable host in Elysium's eyes. The implication appears to be that since Pyrrha was born first, she inherited more of Soul Edge's taint than her brother did, which made her a more viable choice for Soul Edge.

** "Soul Calibur", literally, means "spirit blade". "Soul Edge", literally, means "spirit blade". Well, that certainly explains the home title of the original Soul Edge as "Soul Blade", but why do these two swords, clearly completely at odds with each other, have the same name? ...Is a question that was perfectly viable when ''Soulcalibur II'', or ''III'', were the most recent. Then ''IV'' comes along and proves some people of being right with their Fridge Brilliance - Soul Calibur has perfectly good reason to have the same name as its nemesis. Not only is it made from a shard of Soul Edge, thereby technically BEING the same sword, but as Seigfried's ending shows, LightIsNotGood - Soul Calibur [[NotSoDifferent has the same desires as Soul Edge]], it's just made specifically to destroy Soul Edge, so it does so, while at the same time fulfilling its own goals. It's better than Soul Edge by virtue of it being the smarter one, but not by much.

** Thematically, it also ties in with one of her mother's themes: "Wing of Faith" from the original ''Soulcalibur''.
* Alpha Patrokolos and Pyrrha Omega's names have the Greek characters appear different order. This is because alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and omega is the last. [[spoiler: And maybe because Patrokolos and Pyrrah represent the beginning and the end of the Soul Series' main conflict because of how they were hosts for Soul Calibur and Soul Edge but ended up destroying both swords.]]

* Yoshimitsu [[spoiler: the Second]] has two taunts in ''SCV''. The first is, "It is I, Yoshimitsu!" The second is, "Evildoer...You shall repent!" The brilliance here is not only does he use the correct taunts for obviously evil characters, such as Nightmare, Tira, etc, but also for ''Patrokolos.'' Why is this brilliance? Because in the story mode, Patrokolos was slaying innocents left and right, believing them to be malfested. Yoshimitu's mission statement takes offense to that, to say the least.

* This may be a large HandWave, but Soul Calibur's increasing and largely out of left field KnightTemplar qualities in ''IV'' and ''V'' might make more sense when you realize that the sword is (for the most part) no longer accompanied by the other two treasures. The Dvapara-Yuga is meant to purify Soul Calibur, while the Kali-Yuga channels and cleanses any negative energies that might have incurred within her over the years. Soul Calibur, when she was disguised as the Krita-Yuga, was in close proximity to the Kali-Yuga and Dvapara-Yuga and routinely underwent purification rituals. The same presumably holds true of when Kilik and Xianghua traveled together in ''Soulcalibur''. Without the constant checks and balances imposed by the other two treasures, Soul Calibur, instead of being an unambiguous force for good, reverts back to being the lesser of two evils between herself and her brother (thanks to the unwitting taint of Algol's soul when he sacrificed his life to forge Soul Calibur), and not by much. This is why Talim had a vision before ''IV'' of Soul Calibur becoming more and more malevolent; it took a while for Soul Calibur/Elysium to regress to her original nature. Being trapped in the Soul Embrace with Soul Edge for all of ''III'' might have also served to expedite this: Soul Calibur was already corrupted once by Soul Edge due to being stuck with Inferno in the void for all of those years (remember Soul Calibur (Evil) from ''SCII''?).

*** Possibly FridgeBrilliance: Sophitia was ridden with shards of Soul Edge when she broke the first sword in the battle against Cervantes. Taki was able to surgically remove all except one, as she would risk killing Sophitia in the process. Pyrrha's malfestation is the result of absorbing the energy from this fragment while in the womb. Despite losing Soul Edge after the very first game, Cervantes has never lost access to his supernatural moveset, the reason being that these techniques are the ''memories of Soul Edge''. It could be explained that Pyrrha subsconsciously recalls some of her mother's fighting style in this same manner, though she remains a reserved fighter - this doubly reinforces the theory, as her fighting style is ''extremely'' close to Sophitia's when fully awakened as a Malfested, thus tapping fully into the latent memories of Soul Edge that she absorbed as a fetus.

** There has been no retcon to Patroklos' malfested status itself as Elysium's profile makes mention of the 'evil energy' that is inside his body. According to her profile, while he has a "small amount of evil energy" in him, his "sense of duty" still made him a viable host in Elysium's eyes. The implication appears to be that since Pyrrha was born first, she inherited more of Soul Edge's taint than her brother did, which made her a more viable choice for Soul Edge.

** There has been no retcon to Patroklos' malfested status itself as Elysium's profile makes mention of the 'evil energy' that is inside his body. According to her profile, while he has a "small amount of evil energy" in him, his "sense of duty" still made him a viable host in Elysium's eyes. The implication appears to be that since Pyrrha was born first, she inherited more of Soul Edge's taint than her brother did, which made her a more viable choice for Soul Edge.

* Pyrrha wasn't returned to her family and grew up without knowing of them... yet she somehow uses her mom's fighting style (with a bit of Cassandra's too since both of Sophitia kids in ''V'' will be using bits of both Alexandra sisters styles) how could she know this style without growing up with them. her brother Patroklos probably can be hand-waved off as being Raised by Cassandra after Sophitia dies/vanishes (not clear what happened officially yet) but not her.

** There has been no retcon to Patroklos' malfested status itself as Elysium's profile makes mention of the 'evil energy' that is inside his body. According to her profile, while he has a "small amount of evil energy" in him, his "sense of duty" still made him a viable host in Elysium's eyes. The implication appears to be that since Pyrrha was born first, she inherited more of Soul Edge's taint than her brother did, which made her a more viable choice for Soul Edge.