Algol

Algol (Japanese: アルゴル, Arugoru) is a character in the Astral Lineage series of fighting games and one of the main antagonists of Soulcalibur IV. He can be played like other standard characters, but must be unlocked by defeating him in Story Mode. He appears as one of the final bosses along with Siegfried and Nightmare. Algol has also returned for Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny and Soulcalibur V. As the original wielder of Soul Edge, likely responsible for much of its power, and the creator of Soul Calibur, he is ultimately the cause of the events of the series as a whole.
What lies in his soul is Absolution.
In Soulcalibur V's promotional material, he is referred to as "The Great Hero King".
==Character Overview==
In the words of Hideo Yoshie, the main character designer of Soulcalibur IV, Algol is "a character that obviously proves the setting of being the strongest character ever in Soulcalibur series" (though he is later noted to be weaker than Night Terror in New Legends of Project Soul).
Algol's costume originates from a culture so ancient that it was not recorded in history, and the designer says it was very difficult to design it for that reason. The "bird" was decided to be the final motif of Algol's armor, although there were many other ideas such as the lion and dinosaur. A black tattoo of an eye is visible on his chest if his middle armor is shattered. His nails are long, almost talon-like, following the bird theme.
Algol is seen on the opening video with brown hair and blue eyes, showing him in his living human form.
==Appearance==
In his debut appearance, he appeared as a man of peak Olympian physique, thick eyebrows and long, black hair tied together in a set of accented braids each ending in a sharp hair piece. Ancient tattoos were also adorned on his torso and he bore a large scar on the left side of his face. Following his resurrection, his hair became a pure white and his eyes became a glowering yellow and also possessed long fingernails while his hands constantly emit a red and blue aura, right and left, respectively, due to the power of Soul Edge and Soul Calibur coursing through his veins. His arms also bear distinct large scars which open up to reveal the weapons hidden in his body. He can also change his hands into the forms of Soul Edge and Soul Calibur as well as a pair of energy cannons. Design-wise, Algol was designed in mind to be a character whose wardrobe was so ancient that it was not recorded in history. As such he wore a dark breastplate, bird-shaped shoulder pads, a long scaled fauld with a thick drape of cloth lined by various ancient characters and talon grieves and a pair of bracelets. The outfit is complete with a long scarf tied around his neck with the majority of it hanging behind his back. Combined with the weapon structures in his body, he overall invokes an apt bird-like theme to compliment his ancient nature.
Following Soulcalibur V, Algol has done away with his armor to show off his full physique and wears a similar cloth with a much lighter shade and shows his feet possessing talons, as well as having darker skin than he did in Soulcalibur IV.
==Abilities==
Due to possessing copies of the Soul swords, and having control of the Astral Chaos realm, Algol is the most powerful of almost all Soulcalibur characters with Night Terror being the sole exception. Algol possess high fighting skill with his replica Soul Edge & Soul Calibur, being able to fight on par with Mitsurugi, and he also has skill with Zweihänders like Soul Edge (Nauplius). Even unarmed, he was also capable of defeating Arcturus (wielding Soul Edge), and was able to break the sword with his bare hands. He is one of two people in the series to be immune to Soul Edge's possession. After gaining the power of Astral Chaos and becoming an avatar of war and domination, he re-appeared in the normal realm by simply willing a new body into existence, his entire body became a weapon, with him being able to generate numerous powerful weapons from his frame, he could also alter his body's height and weight to whatever he wills it to be, and his blood stream became pure power. He is also capable of levitation and flight. Whilst inside Astral Chaos, Algol possess supreme reality warping abilities, shown by how he created the Tower of Glory with a simple thought. Due to having mastered the chaotic energy of Astral Chaos (which is the purest form of power), Algol is a god who creates life and entire worlds on a whim. 
==History==
===Soulcalibur II===
In Soulcalibur IIs Weapon Master mode there is a country called "Algol", likely named after the star, as are the other countries.
===Soulcalibur III===
When Soulcalibur III was in the making, the preview sites stated that Soul Edge was once used by "a king who was forced to kill his son".
===Soulcalibur IV===
Algol, also known as "The Hero King," was able to obtain Soul Edge, and with his indomitable will, he resisted the sword's control. According to the legend, he used the sword to spread peace among the lands, building the Tower of Glory as a monument to his reign. His son, Arcturus, jealous of his father's power and unaware of the sword's malevolent properties, stole Soul Edge for himself and was possessed. Faced with no other choice, Algol battled and defeated his son with a fatal strike.
Deeply remorseful after his son's death, Algol endeavored to create a sword to counter the evil within Soul Edge. The legend says that, using purified shards obtained from the battle with his son and the assistance of various sages, Algol was able to create Soul Calibur after many failed attempts and the sealing of his own soul inside the Astral Chaos, leading to the creation of Soul Calibur's spirit. However, the "successful" ritual produced unexpected results: the blade created was extremely similar in nature to Soul Edge due to the restlessness in Algol's soul. The tribe that was tasked with the protection of the new sword slowly purified it into the weapon as it appears in the series, sealing the Hero King's soul, keeping his thirst for power dormant over the centuries. Within the Astral Chaos, Algol's soul fell into a deep slumber. As he slept, the chaotic energies of Astral Chaos transformed his soul into an avatar of war and domination.
During the immense surge of power released when the cursed sword and the spirit sword clashed, Algol's soul, then formless, awakened and absorbed a small fraction of the energy. With what little he gained, he built himself a physical body fashioned after his older one as well as a tower built in the image of his old Tower of Glory, which he deemed the "Tower of Remembrance", to reside in. Algol knew that it all would not last—once the power he absorbed had been exhausted, everything he created would disappear like a mirage. He needed to obtain the swords if he intended to remain a reality. The Tower of Remembrance's sudden appearance would draw warriors to him. The swords, he knew, must be amongst them. Forging himself weapons based on memories of the cursed sword and the spirit sword, he waited patiently for the first arrivals.
===Soulcalibur V===
When Nightmare opened a portal to Astral Chaos, Algol desired to conquer the mortal realm. He clashed with Mitsurugi, but during their fight Soul Edge was destroyed and Algol was pulled back into Astral Chaos. Always a man in search of a conquest, Algol placed his eyes on taking over the real world by corrupting it with the energy of the Astral Chaos. In trying to do so, he's attempting to control the energies of the realm, which forms his ethereal body.
Edge Master is the only one who notices this "corruption" going on, and has entered the Chaos to fight the Hero King. However, he's not sure he can keep up with him, even if going all-out.
Algol desires to reclaim Soul Edge - which he considers to be the symbol of his power as the ultimate ruler, and Soul Calibur - which he considers to be symbol of his time as a mortal king - as he believes they are the only weapons worthy of being wielded by him.
===Soulcalibur VI===
Algol awakens when Mitsurugi battles Iska Acht in Astral Chaos, Algol speaks to the duo (himself unseen) recognizing Mitsurugi due to having fought his original timeline counterpart and thus tells the warrior to seek him out for a "rematch".
==Personality==
Algol is a serious and honorable individual, he holds a deep hatred of those who created the demonic sword, Soul Edge. Since the sword was responsible for cursing the soul of his son, Arcturus, Algol was forced to kill his son. Because of that, Algol became an angry and vengeful man, wishing only to destroy the cursed sword and those that follow it.  Despite appearing malevolent, craving power, and playing a somewhat antagonistic role in Soulcalibur IV, Algol still possesses a noble soul and is willing to help others. In Sophitia's ending, for example, he saves her from Soul Edge's corruptive wrath and protects her children from the sword, sympathetic towards her situation since his own son suffered the same fate. Many of the good and neutrally-aligned characters spare Algol in their endings, stating that they have come only for the swords, and that he himself is not evil. Algol considers Soul Edge to be the symbol of his power as the Hero-King and Soul Calibur to be the symbol of his time as a mortal ruler, and thus the only weapons worthy of being wielded by him.
==Weapons==
*Stream of Power
==Fighting Style==
Algol's moveset revolves around strong, fast, close combat attacks and powerful special combos. The purple bubble projectiles are used in conjunction with attacks or movements to occupy, juggle, or otherwise set up the opponent for a powerful combo. When the CPU uses Algol, his projectiles gain homing abilities. He is equipped with a variety of moves to keep enemies within melee distance, including the aforementioned teleportation move, a forward leap (which can be supplemented by various attacks), and an attack throw which automatically hits if the opponent is backstepping.
In Soulcalibur IV, Algol is banned in most tournaments due to his fighting style of over used juggles and combos that frustrates or annoys the player. In Soulcalibur V however, he is now playable in tournaments, as effective gameplay with him requires heavy use of the gauge.
===Soulcalibur IV===
====Command of the Flow of Power====
Although he was resurrected, Algol is still no human. It is made up of the malice that Soul Edge has accumulated over thousands of years. Although Soul Calibur is charged with the mission of correcting the imbalance, it is still just a part of Soul Edge.
Power courses in a torrent through his body, Algol uses his tenacious spiritual power to hold back the enormous power that would destroy all. By controlling all of this power, he is not held back by any normal boundaries and can use any fighting technique he can imagine. Equipped with a battle sense that can only be likened to great kings of ancient times, he can turn any part of his body into a blade and can attack the enemy's very soul.
It would be no exaggeration to say that Algol exists simply to maintain his high and unassailable position.
===Soulcalibur V===
====Mastery over the flow of chaos====
All of the souls that Soul Edge devoured were swallowed up by Astral Chaos, the source of the cursed blade's power. Once within Astral Chaos, the weaker souls were either nullified or doomed to wander the chaotic realm for eternity. Only the souls of the most stalwart heroes were able to maintain a sense of self in this dark dimension.
For the Hero King Algol, a hero among heroes, the chaotic world of Astral Chaos was nothing more than a new frontier to be conquered.
In order to master the flow of chaos, one must be solid yet flexible, good yet evil. Anyone who could achieve this impossible balance would become the absolute ruler of all, creating and destroying entire worlds as they saw fit. With the patience of eternal ambition, Algol continued to nurture his influence over Astral Chaos. Though his mastery is still in development, it possesses limitless potential and could easily overwhelm any opposition.
==Soulcalibur IV Ending==
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Algol defeats Siegfried and claims Soul Calibur, using his power to resurrect himself. However, even with his new body and power, he is unable to undo the past. As the new sovereign of this world, he decides he must not look back, claiming a true sovereign doesn't have that luxury.
The text-only epilogue then says "What the resurrected Algol aims to achieve is an eternal rule that will never die."
==Quotes==
<tabber>
Soulcalibur IV=
*"I'll show you!" — Character selection, 1P
*"Prepare yourself!" — Character selection, 2P
*"Fighting is my all. It is my existence!"
*"Do not expect any mercy from me!"
*"Show me your strength!"
*"Raise your weapon and prepare to battle!"
*"It does not matter who you are. Let your blade answer for you."
*"What do you hope to achieve? Pathetic fool."
*"None will stand in my way. Stand down and join me!"
*"You value honor more than your own life? Very well."
*"Your soul shall remain in my heart."
*"Recklessness deserves no pity!" — Spoken after ensuing a "Perfect!"
*"Weak and inexperienced, but worthy nonetheless." — Spoken after victory with low HP.
*"Rest. Embraced by the legend of the Demon Star!" — Spoken after victory with a "Critical Finish!"
*"That was quite entertaining. You have done well." — Spoken before fighting the player in a cinematic sequence.
*"This shall be my first battle in ages." — Spoken before fighting the player in a cinematic sequence.
*"You are a worthy opponent." — Spoken before the fighting the player in a cinematic sequence.
*"Strong one, you shall be the sacrifice for my resurrection!" — Spoken before fighting the player in a cinematic sequence.
*"I will destroy any who stand in my way!" — Spoken in Story Mode.
*"So, you seek power. Very well, try to seize it from me!" — Spoken to Kilik, in Story Mode.
*"You all still lack experience. There is more for you to learn." — Spoken after completing Stage I of Story Mode.
*"Millennia has passed, but now it is time to reclaim what is mine!" — Spoken to Nightmare, in Story Mode.
*"You have served me well during my absence." — Spoken after completing Stage II of Story Mode.
*"Time no longer holds any meaning. I am eternal!" — Spoken to Zasalamel, in Story Mode.
*"Did you think you could fool me with your tricks?" — Spoken after completing Stage IV of Story Mode.
*"That is the sword of my oath, my eternal memory." — Spoken to Siegfried, in Story Mode.
*"The time has come for me to become whole once more!" — Spoken after defeating Siegfried, in Story Mode.
*"In this timeless place..." — Spoken in his Story Mode ending.
*"I shall become whole once again!" — Spoken in his Story Mode ending.
*"All I have desired is now within my hands." — Spoken in his Story Mode ending.
*"This body, this power." — Spoken in his Story Mode ending.
*"Everything, but..." — Spoken in his Story Mode ending.
*"I must not look back." — Spoken in his Story Mode ending.
*"A true sovereign does not have that luxury." — Spoken in his Story Mode ending.
*"All through the ages, a parent's love for their child surpasses any weapon." — Spoken to Sophitia, in her ending.
*"But remember, if you are misguided in your beliefs, you will only bring harm to those you wish to protect." — Spoken to Sophitia, in her ending.
*"Time is cruel. Even with all this power, I cannot undo the past." — Spoken to Sophitia, in her ending.
*"Now, brave mother, return to your child." — Spoken to Sophitia, in her ending.
*"Why do you hesitate? I don't need your mercy." — Spoken to Setsuka, in her ending.
*"Impressive. You have shattered the power of this sword." — Spoken to Mitsurugi, in his ending.
*"Now, take my power. Do with it as you please." — Spoken to Mitsurugi, in his ending.
*"Well done." — Spoken to Mitsurugi, in his ending.
*"It appears I could not control the power." — Spoken to Kilik, in his ending.
*"Spare me your pity." — Spoken to Kilik, in his ending.
*"I, Algol, have no regrets." — Spoken to Kilik, in his ending.
*"Your power exceeds that of my own." — Spoken to Astaroth, in his ending.
*"I am impressed!" — Spoken to Astaroth, in his ending.
*"You...you dare mock me?" — Spoken to Cervantes, in his ending.
*"My battle, my resurrection?!" — Spoken to Cervantes, in his ending.
*"My son..." — Spoken to Talim, in her ending.
*"You would show mercy to your opponent?" — Spoken to Yoshimitsu, in his ending.
*"You dare mock me?!" — Spoken to Yoshimitsu, in his ending.
*"This is the end, now fall!" — Spoken before Critical Finish
*"Pathetic!"
*"This is...true power!" — Spoken during Critical Finish
*"You're mine!" — Spoken after Critical Finish
*"Begone!"
*"Foolish!"
*"Weak!"
*"Perish!"
*"How exciting!"
*"Not a chance!"
*"Stop struggling!"
*"You disappoint me!"
*"Can you withstand this?!"
*"Come, worthless dog!"
*"How's this?!"
*"I need more power..."
|-|
Soulcalibur V=
*"I will teach you the way true kings fight."
*"Your words will earn you no mercy."
*"Sleep for eternity!" — spoken before Critical Edge
*"The mighty Algol has no equal!" — spoken during Critical Edge
*"You are...nothing!" — spoken when Taunting
*"Interesting..." — spoken when knocked out by Mitsurugi
*"Evocative." — taunting Edge Master
*"Know my wrath!"
*"Afraid?"
*"Foolish."
*"Give in."
*"Farewell."
*"Stand down."
*"Prove yourself."
*"Brace yourself."
*"Delightful!"
*"Submit."
*"Attest."
*"Is that it? Disappointing."
*"This is... true power!"
*"Entertain me!"
*"Kneel... and surrender!"
*"Sleep."
*"You are not my equal."
*"I surpass... all humans."
*"Stay down, pests!"
*"Accept your demise."
*"Kneel before my... authority!"
*"Shatter to dust!"
*"Crawl to my feet and beg for mercy, mortal!"
*"Very soon now, all gods shall bow down to me!"
*"I find your failure amusing."
*"Good and evil mean naught to me."
*"What?!" — spoken when hit by a tremor.
*"How?!" — spoken when hit by Guard Impact.
*"How crude!" — Spoken after losing by Ring Out.
*"Pitiful...!" — Spoken after losing by Ring Out.
*"Become a part of me once again." — Spoken when fighting against Nightmare, α Patroklos, Elysium or Pyrrha Ω.
*"Finally! The swords and I will become one!" — spoken after defeating Nightmare, α Patroklos, Elysium or Pyrrha Ω.
*"You dare to challenge me? Foolish." — spoken when fighting against Mitsurugi.
*"Inexperienced and weak! But still, a worthy opponent." — Spoken after defeating Mitsurugi.
*"You think you can best me?" — spoken when fighting against Edge Master.
*"Give yourself... To my world!" — spoken when using his command throw on Edge Master.
*"Brings back memories..." — spoken when Edge Master wins a round against him.
*"Stay, old man. You may prove of some use to me." — spoken after defeating Edge Master.
*"Sword of Kings... Return to me!" — spoken when using command throw on α Patroklos or Elysium.
*"Sword of Conquerors... Return to me!" — spoken when using command throw on Nightmare or Pyrrha Ω.
*"There must be an end." — Spoken when losing a battle, when time runs out.
*"You refuse to stand aside..." — Spoken when losing a battle to Edge Master, when time runs out.
*"Resistance... is death!"
*"You dare to surpass me? — Unused.
</tabber>
==Stages==
*Tower of Remembrance - Degradation (SCIV/SCBD)
*Tower of Glory: Most Holy Dichotomy (SC5)
==Theme Music==
Soulcalibur IV
*"The Supreme Sword"
*"Thanatos"
Soulcalibur V
*"Regalia"
==Gameplay==
===Tower Of Lost Souls===
Algol appears in Tower of Lost Souls as the final boss of the Ascend Mode, on the floor "Final Judgment", and oddly he also appears in Descend mode in Floor 40.
TOLS Ascend Mode: Final Judgment
*Skills On Final Judgment
*#Auto Unblockable Attack S
*#Soul Gauge Boost S
*#HP Drain S
*#Nullify Ring Out S
*Default Skills
*#Soul Repel
*#Impact Edge
*#Soul Gauge Damage A
*Skills On Descend Mode Fl.40
*#Auto Unblockable Attack A
*#Soul Gauge Boost A
*#HP Drain A
*#Nullify Ringout A
*Story Mode Final Boss Skills
*#Strong Impact
*#Will Power
*#Nullify Ring Out S
==Critical Finish==
Wasat Almeisan: Algol blasts his opponents into the air with bolts of energy from his hands. He then teleports above them, and punches them to the ground. Once they hit the ground, he ensures that they stay there by dropping his throne on top of them, and then sits on his throne, to patiently await the next arrival.
==Critical Edge==
Al Gamar Qahhar/Al Shams Qahhar: Unlike the other characters, Algol has two parts to his Critical Edge and both spend an entire gauge though it is one of the most powerful in the game as it can take off more than half of the receiver's health. He starts by raising his fist in the air and shouts "Sleep for eternity!", bringing down his throne on top of them, stunning them from the sheer weight of it. Performing the combination again while in this state will cause Algol to teleport on top of the throne and declare "The mighty Algol has no equal!", crossing his legs which causes the full weight of him and his throne to crush his opponent.
==Trivia==
===General===
*Algol is also the name of the star system the original "Phantasy Star" series (1987-1994) takes place in.
*In Soulcalibur II's Weapon Master Mode, there is a city named after Algol (Chapter 9). In an extra chapter of the mode, his son, Arcturus, is also included as an ancient knight.
*Algol places high on most "tier lists" made by the tournament community. Although he is a boss, he doesn't have any overpowered feature, except the damage of the second part of his Critical Edge in Soulcalibur V, which is very difficult to use as it requires precise timing.
*Algol is one of two character's in the Soul series strong enough to successfully use Soul Edge without being affected by its malice (i.e. going insane, becoming a host, etc.), Talim is the only other character who can also wield Soul Edge without turning evil. However, Talim has yet to acquire Soul Edge in a canon storyline. In addition, all characters, including the good ones, can use Soul Edge without any insanity in Soulcalibur II.
*Algol's character may have been inspired by the legendary Sumerian hero-king Gilgamesh. He is master of the Tower of Lost Souls which shares many thematic similarities with Namco's Tower of Druaga, which is itself based upon the Gilgamesh epic.
*While his main weapon is the Stream of Power, he is noted to also use his throne as a weapon in several of his moves (most notably his Critical Edge and Critical Finish moves).
*Custom characters can't mimic his fighting style.
*Algol's Critical Edge and Critical Finish names are in Arabic, but are written incorrectly. His Critical Finish, "Wasat Al-meisan" should be "Wasat Al-meidan", which means "middle of the battelfield". His Critical Edge should either be "Qahhar Al Qamar/ Qahhar Al Shams" meaning "conqueror of the moon/ conqueror of the sun", or it can be "Al Qamar Al Qahhar/ Al Shams Al Qahharah" meaning "conquering moon/ conquering sun".
*Algol's facial features resemble Bryan Fury from Tekken. Coincidentally, both are fighters, have silver hair, are undead, a scar over their left eye, wear tattoos, & have a shirtless costume.
===Soulcalibur IV===
*In Chain of Souls, Algol is the only character being linked to both Siegfried and Nightmare by a black arrow, meaning they are Same; wether this is because they are all three main bosses in the game, it is yet to be confirmed.
*In the fourth stage of Algol's Story Mode, he fights Arcturus, who is actually an illusion created by Zasalamel.
*Algol's equipment is called "Hero King" equipment (e.g. Hero King's Breastplate, Hero King's Bracelets), and his title is "Algol the Hero King".
*According to the Soulcalibur IV Guide released by BradyGames, there is a dark soul residing inside of Soul Calibur, which is a half of Algol's soul, while the Hero King appearing in SoulCalibur IV and Soulcalibur V is in fact the other half of Algol's soul. It is safe to assume that Elysium is in fact a half of Algol's soul. This is partially contradicted by New Legends of Project Soul, which states that Algol's soul wound up in Astral Chaos after his death and was transformed into an avatar of war and conquest.
===Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny===
*Algol appears several times in Quick Match mode. The most noteworthy one is the "Warrior King of 100 Swords", boasting an impressive 400 wins and zero losses. He ranks #1, with the highest title, and username is "olcadan".
===Soulcalibur V===
*Algol's version of Soul Edge and Soul Calibur are the Soulcalibur IV versions instead of the Soulcalibur V version.
*Along with Ivy and Astaroth, Algol's outfit is the third to feature a snake theme. Precisely, his shoulder cloth is held in place by a stylized cobra head.
==Etymology==
Algol is the name of a trinary star system in Perseus. It is Arabic for 'winking demon', and is named for the fact that β Persei B regularly eclipses β Persei A, so that the star appears to periodically brighten and dim. The full name for the star system is "Ra's Al-Ghul" (Arabic: رأس الغول), meaning "Head of Al-Ghul", where the "Al-Ghul" in Arabic may also refer to folkloric undead creatures that are found in graveyards or vast open deserts, and consume flesh. Ghoul in English is derived from "Al-Ghul" in Arabic, and the origin of his name is shared with the Batman villain "Ra's Al-Ghul".
==Relationships==
*Father of Arcturus, whom Algol was forced to kill while the youth was possessed by Soul Edge.
*Created the spirit sword, Soul Calibur with its spirit form Elysium being a piece of his soul.
*Fought Mitsurugi, but their fight was interrupted before it could be finished.
*He had a rivalry with Edge Master back when he was still a mortal.
*He is wary of the power of Night Terror.
*Seems to have found a soulmate in Kamikirimusi (based on her ending where both of them are standing side-by-side). (non-canon)
*Temporarily possessed the Conduit in Soulcalibur VI.
==Series' Appearances==
*Soulcalibur IV (Unlocked by defeating him in Story Mode)
*Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny
*Soulcalibur V (Unlockable character)
*Soulcalibur VI (Mentioned)
==Gallery==
===Soulcalibur IV===
File:AlgSC4art2.jpg|Artwork
File:Algol2.jpg
AlgSC4cg2.jpg|Figurine
501651.jpg
SC4 Algol.jpg
===Soulcalibur V===
Soul Calibur New Legends Of Project Soul 098.JPG
Soul Calibur New Legends Of Project Soul 099.JPG
Soul Calibur New Legends Of Project Soul 152.JPG
Soul Calibur New Legends Of Project Soul 192.JPG
File:Soulcalibur-V 2012 01-04-12 074.jpg