The game introduces a variety of modes, such as Story, Arcade, and the innovative Tower of Lost Souls, where players face challenges for rewards.

Notably, the Critical Finish system and the unique Force Meter mechanics for guest characters add depth and strategy to combat.

Armor, weapons, and accessories may increase health, attack, or defense; they may also grant skill points that allow the character to equip special traits affecting playstyle.

Standard characters can also be modified in this manner, albeit only modestly, allowing custom costumes and skill sets to be used in Special VS. mode.

Namco developed the Soul Gauge to mitigate the advantages of constant guarding, thus enhancing the game's tempo and making matches more offensive.

[5] The Star Wars guest characters, Darth Vader, Yoda, and the Apprentice, utilize unique attacks powered by the Force.

The Apprentice, the main protagonist of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, is playable on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions.

Most characters are still driven by a desire to either obtain, destroy, or defend one or both of the legendary swords now wielded by Siegfried and Nightmare, with most facing Algol as the final boss of Story mode.

The Premium Edition of Soulcalibur IV included a 48-page softcover art/comic book illustrated in full color, an XL 100% cotton T-shirt, and a tournament chart that allowed fans the opportunity to document battles among friends.

It was packaged in a metal case and released on the same date as the regular edition, along with exclusive access to additional customization content for this version.

Shortly after the initial release, various pieces of paid downloadable content became available, including music tracks from the original Soulcalibur, customization equipment,[12] and weapon packs.

[13][14] However, both pieces of DLC were later removed from PSN and XBL due to licensing issues following the purchase of Star Wars by Disney.

[24] The game was praised for its polished graphics, deep Character Creation mode, and long-awaited online play capability.

Reviewers noted that the gameplay was accessible for newcomers and beginners while still offering plenty of depth and technicality for veterans and experienced players, including an abundance of single-player challenges in Tower of Lost Souls mode.

[27] At the same time, Yoda's short range and low damage output were deemed problematic, making him both overpowered and underpowered simultaneously.

He informed fans that he was open to opinions and requests via Twitter, asking that messages be short and simple due to his limited English skills.

Fans were encouraged to continue showing support and interest to help secure the development of Soulcalibur V.[37] On May 11, 2011, Namco Bandai officially announced the new game, which was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on January 31, 2012.