I've spent most of my day playing the online and am impressed at how lag free it is, a lot better than Tekken 5's online. But playing other people is a reminder at how button mashy friendly this series is. People who mash at the buttons can go along way and really disheartens you when you practise with a character all day to then die online against someone who is smashing their head against the controller. And when there is lag you have to give in and button mash yourself or else you've got no hope winning otherwise.

Feature wise Soul Calibur IV is ahead of the competition but its gameplay is still leagues underneath Tekken or Virtua Fighter.