Finally! With all the main cast done, I could have a look at some of the other art hidden in the official guide book and fan book of Soul Edge/Soul Blade. And there’s a rather big surprise for those of us who didn’t scour the Japanese sources way back in 1997. You know Edge Master, the bearded guy in Soul Calibur who could use all weapons? Who was introduced out of the blue as Kilik’s master? Well, he wasn’t completely out of the blue. He was created at least as far back as this book. The official guide book is kind of a story about him and what he knows about all the characters. That he later became playable was basically fan service to really dedicated fans. And there’s plenty of art of him too.

Then there’s Weapon Shop’s Owner, who has a section dedicated to the various weapons in the game. He never appeared in any later games (he’s not the same guy who hired the maids in Soul Calibur III) but he has a rather interesting design as well.

The fan book is made up to be the journal of one Fernandez F Pandilla, who chronicles the world and its inhabitants on his voyages around the world. Seriously, it’s crazy how much world building Namco did with this game. Although a wall of Japanese text, there’s some interesting info to be found, like officially putting the story of Soul Edge in the year 1584 (the dates of birth for all characters are listed and we know how old they were in that game). Among some small pictures that aren’t worth scanning, I found a note on Sophitia’s sister, who we would all get to know five years later. Here ”Casandra” is mentioned to be the reincarnation of Aphrodite, a fact that I’m pretty sure was changed later on.

And finally the book contains some post cards, two of which I’ve scanned here.

Well, that’s it for these two books, which are worth tracking down if you’re really into Soul Edge/Soul Calibur and know Japanese. Otherwise you will do just fine just looking at all the pictures I’ve gathered.