Sophitia

General CVG character
name=Sophitia Alexandra


caption=Sophitia as she appears in "Soulcalibur IV"
series="Soul" series
firstgame="Soul Edge"
voiceactor=Lynn Harris ("Soul Edge", "Soulcalibur")
Diane Holmby ("Soulcalibur II - IV")
japanactor=Michiko Neya
Chie Nakamura ("Soulcalibur Legends", "Soulcalibur IV")
inuniverse=Soul character
age=25
birthplace=
birthdate=March 12th, 1566
height=5 ft 6 in (168 cm)
weight=56 kg
bloodtype=B
weapon=Sword and Shield
weaponname=Omega Sword & Owl Shield ("Soul Edge")
Omega Sword & Elk Shield (later games)
fightingstyle=Athenian Style
family=Father, Achelous
Mother, Nike
Younger Sister, Cassandra
Younger Brother, Lucius
Husband, Rothion
Son, Patroklos
Daughter, Pyrrha

nihongo|Sophitia Alexandra|ソフィーティア・アレクサンドル|Sofītia Arekusandoru is a fictional character designed for the Soul series of fighting games. Sophitia made her first appearance in "Soul Edge" and has returned for "Soulcalibur", console ports of "Soulcalibur II", "Soulcalibur III" and Soulcalibur Legends, all of them as a hidden character. She returns in "Soulcalibur IV" as an unlockable character.

Creation and conception

As a character introduced in "Soul Edge", Sophitia's weaponry, a sword and shield combination designed to be unique amongst the other weapons in the game, were selected before other elements of the character. Her design and concept were then built to revolve around it, starting with gender, then physical measurements, and lastly background details. After her appearance and movement were fleshed out by a concept artist, her character was rendered as a 3D model by a design team that worked solely on her, [De Marco, Flynn (2007-09-20). [http://kotaku.com/gaming/tgs07/soul-calibur-director-katsutoshi-sasaki-on-weapons-characters-and-storyline-302211.php Tgs07: Soul Calibur Director Katsutoshi Sasaki on Weapons, Characters and Storyline] . Kotaku. Retrieved on 2008-07-30] and then animated by a motion designer using motion capture to create her in-game movements.OPM staff. [http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3146108 Behind the Game: Soul Calibur III] . 1Up.com. Retrieved on 2008-07-30] During this phase the team additionally worked with the "Soulcalibur" story creators, refining the character's own role in the plot as needed throughout development. [CVG staff (2005-10-10). [http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=127163 Soul Calibur III Interview] . CVG. Retrieved on 2008-09-05]

Design

In video games

The daughter of a Greek baker, Sophitia worked at her family bakery. She lives in Athens, a part of Ottoman Empire. She has always treasured her country's culture and prayed often to the city guardian, Athena, the goddess of wisdom. One day, as she bathed in a forest spring, a bright light appeared and took the shape of a man. He revealed to her that he was the Olympian god of fire and forge, Hephaestus, and told her of the evil blade Soul Edge--that the existence of such a powerful blade would put shame to his name, as he had not created it, and that if anyone were to discover it, it would bring much pain to the world. Hephaestus ordered her to come to the Eurydice Shrine and receive a holy weapon, the Omega Sword, so that she could destroy the Soul Edge. Upon gaining her equipment, she ventured forward. Sophitia did eventually track down the Soul Edge in a port in Valencia, Spain; and she fought its possessor, the dread pirate Cervantes de Leon, destroying one of the twin blades. However, shards of the evil sword flew with great force from her powerful blow wounding her too greatly to finish the fight. Just as Cervantes was about to deliver a finishing blow to the endangered Sophitia, a mysterious female ninja, Taki, saved her and proceeded to kill the evil pirate. After the battle had finished, Taki carried Sophitia on her back to her home in Athens, where her sister, Cassandra, had been waiting for her. Cassandra was the only member of her family or group of friends to believe her story at the time. While recovering from her wounds, she was also taken care of by a local blacksmith named Rothion. The two eventually fell in love.

Three years later, she had returned to her life as a baker's daughter, spending her days without a sword or shield and entertaining her eventual marriage to her betrothed, Rothion. However, one night, she had had an ominous vision of a knight in azure-colored armor and a second sword of immense evil--a sword she knew that had to be the real Soul Edge. Following this dream, she received a second oracle from Hephaestus to destroy the remains of Soul Edge, who then supplied her with holy metal, which Rothion used to forge a new Omega Sword and shield; she set out on a second journey to destroy the cursed sword. On this second journey Sophitia, who healed the lands polluted by evil, eventually stopped feeling the evil presence of the blade. She continued for a while, but once she was sure someone else destroyed the blade, she immediately ended her travels and returned to her home as quickly as possible. There, she soon married Rothion and gave birth to both a son and a daughter. But a strange shard that Rothion had received from a mysterious customer four years later brought a halt to her newfound happiness. Upon bringing the metal fragment home, their two children, Patroklos and Pyrrha, scrambled to fight violently with each other over the artifact. The evil aura the fragment emanated caused Sophitia's old wounds to ache, as they had been undoubtedly infected with the evil energy of the Soul Edge seven years previous, explaining her children's predilection for the bizarre aura. Cassandra had seen Sophitia's distraught expression and proceeded to grab the shard from her grasp and run out the door, running away from home soon afterwards. A couple of weeks later, Sophitia decided that if she was to free her children from the evil sword's curse and ensure her sister's safety, she had to embark on a third journey. But because Cassandra had stolen Sophitia's previous weapons, which she had stored at Eurydice Shrine, Rothion forged her a new set to destroy the cursed Soul Edge once and for all.

Her journey took her to Ostrheinsburg Castle, which was blanketed by a thick fog. From the fog emerged a small girl in green clothing with a large ring-like blade (Tira). The girl casually told Sophitia that Soul Edge was not in the castle and she also told her that she wanted to play with her children with a smile that was neither gentle nor heartwarming. Sophitia lunged at the girl, but she easily dodged her, and disappeared into the fog. Sophitia quickly returned home and was relieved to see that her family was safe, but she was unsure whether or not to continue her search for Soul Edge. She went to the Eurydice Shrine to pray to Hephaestus for guidance, where the girl in green was waiting for her.

As they fought, Sophitia noticed an emotion from the girl other than madness. She realized that the girl had never felt happiness. With a look of hatred in her eyes, the irritated girl simply pushed Sophitia away and left, leaving these words before leaving: "You're annoying...when the time comes, I'll come for your children". Sophitia then made up her mind. She was going to destroy Soul Edge for the sake of her children. Asking her husband to keep their children safe, Sophitia left to continue her search for the cursed sword.

It would be during her ongoing search for Soul Edge that Sophitia would confront several of Nightmare's loyal followers. One day, as she was recuperating by a flowing stream, a dark cloud began to cast a shadow across the sky. She sensed that the sword was regaining power, and as such her resolve to see its destruction would have to increase. Just then, she was once again confronted by the small girl, Tira. Sophitia drew her sword to attack, but the girl simply giggled. "I have a secret to tell you. Wanna hear it?" "I have no time for games, servant of the Azure Knight! If it means the safety of my family, then your life's end is all I seek!" Suddenly, the girl's demeanor changed drastically to something so vile and disturbing it shook Sophitia to the core. "Pathetic human! Your child's fate has already been sealed!!" Sophitia looked on in horror as an image of her daughter, Pyrrha, infected with the curse of Soul Edge's power, flashed through her mind. Her journey called for her to continue on in search of the evil sword, but she had no choice but to return home. Upon her arrival, her fears were confirmed. Pyrrha had become possessed by Nightmare's dark infection, but it lay dormant and listless. Then, as if resonating across the world, she heard the girl's wretched voice in her mind: "Serve my master, or your family will fall to his power."

Sophitia, a warrior chosen by the gods themselves to smite the evil Soul Edge, made a choice that day. A choice that would tear her soul apart. A choice she felt she had no alternative but to uphold. As images of Pyrrha's darkness spreading to her beloved husband and son ripped through her mind, she rose to her feet and embarked on a new journey with a heavy heart. No longer would she seek out the Soul Edge to destroy it. Instead, she would aid in its harvest.... Upon defeating Algol, the Hero King, Sophitia took hold of the demon sword in an effort to end her family's suffering. Soul Edge, once a polar opposite to the purity of her heart, fed upon the countless murders on her conscience in serving Nightmare's command and began to possess her soul with the very madness that claimed Siegfried years prior. Algol, reminded of his battle with his own son, stopped Soul Edge's malice and freed her daughter of its infection, commending Sophitia for her bravery but reminding her of her true goal: protecting those she loved- a goal that could never be achieved under Soul Edge's influence.

In the end, her legacy fell quiet amongst future generations. But her family would survive, and thus her ultimate goal truly was complete.

Gameplay

The Omega Sword is a holy weapon given to Sophitia by Hephaestus, the Greek god of forge. This implement of battle was made by Hephaestus himself using a sacred ore, and had divine properties. It suffered heavy damage during the battle with Cervantes, and after his defeat it was retrieved by Hephaestus. The sword Sophitia used during her second quest was a replica of the original, along with a new shield, both weapons made by Rothion, Sophitia's beloved soon-to-be husband. Hephaestus gave Rothion holy ore which he would work to make both weapons. After Sophitia returned from her second quest, the weapons were put on an altar. And four years later Cassandra stole the Omega Sword for use in her journeys, but the weapon was cracked during that adventure. When Sophitia decided to start her third journey, Rothion repaired the sword for her. The Omega Sword is well-balanced; it has no special effects. In Soul Calibur 4, Sophitia's critical finisher consists of two strikes of the sword, stunning the opponent. Sophitia then prays, and a bolt of lightning strikes the opponent.

Promotion and reception

In a 2002 poll by Namco prior to the release of "Soul Calibur II" regarding their favorite character, Sophitia placed second with 18% of the tally, behind Seong Mi-na. [ [http://ps2.ign.com/articles/101/101406p1.html Soul Calibur 2 -- New Screens And Character Info] . Retrieved on 2008-08-02] UGO.com praised Sophitia in their "Top 11 SoulCalibur Fighters" article, placing her at seventh place and describing her as "a regular little spitfire", noting her attack strength and visual appeal. [ [http://www.ugo.com/games/soulcalibur-best-characters/?cur=sophitia Top 11 SoulCalibur Fighters] . UGO.com. Retrieved on 2008-08-29] She was also listed by "Tom's Games" as one of the fifty greatest female characters in video game history. [Wright, Rob (2007-02-20). [http://www.tomsgames.com/us/2007/02/20/the_50_greatest_female_characters_in_the_history_of_video_games/page14.html The 50 Greatest Female Characters in Video Game History] . Tom's Games. Retrieved on 2008-08-02]

References