Cassandra Alexandra
 | It has been suggested that this article be merged into Playable characters in the Soul series and Talk:Soul (series)#Merger proposal. (Discuss) Proposed since July 2008. |
| Cassandra Alexandra | |
|---|---|
| Soul series character | |
| File:Cassandra Alexandra.jpg Cassandra as she appears in Soulcalibur IV. | |
| First game | Soulcalibur II |
Cassandra Alexandra (カサンドラ・アレクサンドル, Kasandora Arekusandoru) - Valiant Princess - is a fictional character from the Soul series of fighting games, debuting in Soulcalibur II. The younger sister of Soul Edge character Sophitia Alexandra, Cassandra's main goal is to relieve her sister from the burden of the Soul Edge and the oracles of the blacksmith god Hephaestus.
Cassandra has been mentioned as early as Sophitia's Soul Edge profile, though her name was mistranslated as Kathandra. She's also briefly mentioned on Sophitia's Soulcalibur profile as well, both witnessing Taki bringing her unconscious sister home and going with Sophitia to a shopping trip, in which Sophitia met her future husband Rothion.
Besides her appearances in the fighting sagas, she has made a cameo appearance in Smash Court Tennis Pro Tournament 2 as an unlockable character.
Background Story
As stated earlier, Cassandra's first appearance occurred in the third game of the saga, Soulcalibur II. Originally Cassandra replaced Sophitia entirely from the game's roster, taking her spot and similar movestyle. Despite this, Sophitia was later added to the list of characters on the home versions of Soulcalibur II, placing both sisters together as selectable characters. Cassandra carries two homages to past Namco games: One of her unlockable weapons is the Red Crystal Rod, which comes from Namco's Tower of Druaga and its sequels; and her third costume is modeled after Valkyrie, the heroine from Namco's Valkyrie no Densetsu.
As stated in Cassandra's profiles, four years after the events on Soulcalibur, Cassandra visits Sophitia's home, only to be greeted by the sight of Sophitia's two children fighting over a metal shard of Soul Edge that Sophitia's husband, Rothion, had found. Angered by her sister's panicked reaction, Cassandra ran to the Eurydice Shrine, screaming at Hephaestus for endangering her sister on behalf of his ego. After briefly passing out from exhaustion, she saw the metal fragment resonating with the holy Omega Sword, the sword her sister used on her past journey. Not wanting to see her sister take on another dangerous quest, especially now that she has a family, Cassandra stole the sacred sword and, sneaking out of her home, she took the task of destroying Soul Edge.
Cassandra returned in the currently last installment of the saga, Soulcalibur III, as a starting character. She remained largely the same, with slight upgrades on her fighting style that sets her apart from Sophitia, and new costumes.
Her profile follows her travels towards the east, where she finds a town covered in evil energy. Trying to help the habitants, much like Sophitia did in her last trip, Cassandra tracks the core of the evil in a castle atop the mountains. However, she discovers the sacred weapons she carried to have cracks all over. Forced to flee the city after being surrounded by the corrupted city-folks, she travels back to Greece to ask her brother-in-law, Rothion, to forge her new weapons. Once there, she was informed by Rothion that Sophitia left to destroy Soul Edge on her own. After receiving a new pair of weapons from Rothion, Cassandra sets out to search and join her sister in this quest.
Cassandra was confirmed, alongside her sister Sophitia and Voldo, to appear in the upcoming sequel Soulcalibur IV, sporting a complete overhaul on her visual design. While her profile is already available in the official Japanese site, no official translation has been released as of yet.
Soulcalibur III ending
At the end of the Tales of Souls mode, Cassandra is shown attacking and destroying Soul Edge with one blow. She is pushed back by the shockwave, and discovers that her sword broke in the process. The game then loads a sacred shrine scenario, as Cassandra is trying to place the still-broken sword in an altar. The player is then provided with a button input that determines the outcome of the ending:
No Input- Cassandra lays down the sword as Sophitia appears on the scene and calls her. Both then leave, as the sword falls down in two pieces behind them.
Input- Cassandra is unable to place the sword, instead holding it in her back as Sophitia appears. During the conversation Cassandra drops the tip of the sword, which Sophitia notices. The game then loads a forgery stage where Cassandra, as punishment for breaking the sword, is forced to reforge it, even though she does not know how to fix it.
Appearance
Weapons
Omega Sword & Nemea Shield
- Cassandra's weapons in Soulcalibur II. According to the Weapon Gallery, the sword and shield used first by Sophitia in Soulcalibur. After Sophitia's return from her second journey, they were placed in the Eurydice Shrine. The weapons are made by Rothion using sacred ore given by Hephaestus. Cassandra stole them to use in her travels, and they were cracked during her visit to a town filled with evil energy.
Digamma Sword & Nemea Shield
- Cassandra's weapons in Soulcalibur III. The Digamma Sword is the replacement of the damaged Omega Sword, while the shield is just the one used in Soulcalibur II, only reforged.
Stages
Eurydice Shrine Gallery
- Cassandra's stage in Soulcalibur II. This stage is the gallery of the Eurydice Shrine, Sophitia's stage on the past games. It has a fountain of cold water on one corner, and an altar where the Omega Sword was placed. The shrine itself is a replica, made by the humans, of a temple built atop the summit by Hephaestus. The gallery is said to be built around a giant staircase for priest' use. Originally, this stage was not shared by other characters, but with Sophitia's inclusion in the home versions, she was given the stage as well.
Old Toledo - Burning Gallery
- Cassandra's stage in Soulcalibur III. It's the gallery of a mansion in Toledo, Spain. It belongs to a wealthy merchant who is on a personal quest to pursue Nightmare's massacres. He has gathered many records, and even hired an artist to draw a portrait of Nightmare based on the information, which can be seen in-game on one of the burning walls. The mansion has been set on flames, apparently the work of Zasalamel according to the Tales of Souls mode and the stage's own profile.
Critical Finisher
Cassandra slashes her opponent, and playfully knocks them over. She then jumps onto her opponent's head and, using her shield, smashes their face, which causes clouds of hearts to appear. She then gets up and says, "Ow!"