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Astaroth (アスタロス, Asutarosu) is a golem character in the Soul series of fighting games. The original Astaroth made his first appearance in Soulcalibur and has returned for Soulcalibur II, Soulcalibur III, Soulcalibur Legends (as Astaroth α), Soulcalibur IV and Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny.

After he is killed, a new Astaroth appears in Soulcalibur V. However, the original returned in Soulcalibur: Lost Swords and Soulcalibur: Unbreakable Soul. Throughout the Soul series Astaroth is referred to as "Black Giant" and "A Soldier Of The Heretics".

Overview[]

Astaroth Original[]

Soulcalibur[]

Ares, the god of destruction, desired to possess Soul Edge, so he ordered Kunpaetku, the grand priest of the cult order Fygul Cestemus, to seek it out. Astaroth, a golem, was created in hellish heat under the divine protection of Ares to head up the quest. Kunpaetku ordered his creation, Astaroth, to find the demonic blade. As he watched Astaroth depart from the shrine, the grand priest laughed to himself as he planned to keep the Soul Edge and become a god himself. Unknown to Kunpaetku, however, Ares had possessed Astaroth with his servants, the Keres, to ensure that Kunpaetku would not betray him. When Astaroth finally found Soul Edge, he had lost half of himself during the battle with Sophitia.

Soulcalibur II[]

Deciding that Ares would not be pleased with the sword in this condition, he agreed to help the Azure Knight, Nightmare, build his power by collecting souls by slaughtering countless victims. As Astaroth was finally ready to betray Nightmare and take the Soul Edge from him, Kilik, Xianghua, and Maxi stormed Ostrheinsburg Castle, and Astaroth was killed by Maxi. Four years later, signs of Soul Edge began to re-emerge, and Ares resurrected Astaroth in an attempt to retrieve the evil blade once again. This time, though, his body had been infused with the shards of the Soul Edge, making him more powerful than ever before.

Astaroth had set out on the trail for the evil blade, but a problem arose. The grand priest Kunpaetku had realized his golem was not behaving as originally instructed – that another force now claimed ownership over Astaroth since his initial creation. In order to reclaim Astaroth as his servant, Kunpaetku performed a ritual on the lowest level of the cult's temple and unleashed a powerful curse on him. Astaroth fought back against the curse, for he had become an ideal host for the Keres, because of the fragments of Soul Edge he had taken in during his resurrection. He would destroy anyone who stood in his way, and now the cult had become nothing more than an obstacle in his path. Astaroth entered the temple to destroy the cult once and for all, and his whirlwind of destruction mowed down everything in his path.

Soulcalibur III[]

The curse had only fueled him with anger, and he was determined to destroy anything and everything he saw. The temple of the heretics had become a crucible of chaos. Astaroth pursued Kunpaetku into the deepest part of the temple, but the grand priest managed to escape at the last minute. Only the words the priest left behind remained, telling him that he was nothing more than a failed doll modeled after a mere human. Astaroth immediately stopped in his tracks, distracted with this new found horrible knowledge, and began to search the temple's archives for his roots. He had been made in the image of a man called only by the name "White Giant." Astaroth destroyed the facility in which Kunpaetku's ritual had been performed, and his curse faded such that he regained his true strength. He then proceeded to destroy the temple completely until it became unrecognizable debris, and nothing was left but chaos and rubble.

Fygul Cestemus had been wiped from history by the very being that they themselves had created. Astaroth stood within the ruined temple, quietly thinking to himself. If the "White Giant" he had been modeled after was as powerful as himself, then that man must surely be the greatest soul on earth, the perfect nourishment to resurrect the Soul Edge back to its full power. Perhaps Astaroth himself did not realize his own hidden desire to destroy the "White Giant" – to make himself a complete creature, unique without any model. The golem set out, his new objective set, disappearing into the mirages in the distance. Behind him was only a column of smoke rising from a ruinous wasteland; in front of him somewhere was the perfect soul.

Soulcalibur IV[]

Astaroth had been unconsciously fighting the thoughts of him being created in the image of the "White Giant". Perhaps because of this, his body has been twisted to the point where he no longer looks remotely human. But then he finally found the White Giant and nearly killed him. Suddenly, he realized that he had been serving Ares all this time. This thought made him insane, and he destroyed the landscape around him.

Then Tira approached him, and told him that she can bring him to a fitting place where he could hunt a god. However, Astaroth can clearly see that she is a very loyal servant of the evil sword, and she was just using him. Then again, she was right about the fact that he needed a better place to find souls. So he went to Ostrheinsburg and became Nightmare's servant once again, only this time, he plans to devour everything; those who descend upon Ostrheinsburg, and even Soul Edge itself.

Soulcalibur: Unbreakable Soul[]

Note: Non-Canon material starts here

Astaroth has only a minor role in the story mode, as he is defeated by the player and his fragment of Soul Edge is taken.

Note: Non-Canon material ends here

Astaroth Mass Produced[]

Soulcalibur V[]

Fygul Cestemus, a cult that worshipped the twisted god Palgaea, was preparing to effect its grand revival. "Pain...the pain! UAARRRGH!" From the depths of a subterranean temple, newborn lungs screamed in torment.

The cult's man-made giant, Astaroth, had always followed his masters' bidding, until one day 17 years ago, the creature developed a will of his own and rebelled; both Astaroth and Fygul Cestemus were destroyed. But it wasn't long before the priests of Mars and Venus crafted a mechanical woman to retrieve Astaroth's core and return it to the cult, which had already begun to reform.

Factions battled for control of the precious artifact, but it wound up in the hands of High Priest Kunpaetku, who had clawed his way back from the brink of death. If Astaroth's core had been a gift from the gods, Kunpaetku reasoned, unraveling its secrets would grant him the power to create life of his own. He could surpass the gods themselves!

Finally, his research bore fruit. Beaming with triumph, the high priest gazed upon the new Astaroth as he roared and tore at his chains. "Yes, Astaroth, rage! Rage! Very soon the world will know your wrath..." That was only the first of many such monsters he created. Released from their underground lair, a host of them lumbered west, lured by the power of a distant soul...

Weapons[]

Trivia[]

General[]

  • Astaroth is sometimes referred to as the "Black Giant" and "A Soldier of the Heretics".
  • Astaroth appears in Namco's Pac-Man Fever, alongside Soulcalibur II fellow and guest character Heihachi Mishima.
  • Astaroth's skin color is purple in his alternate costume in the original Soulcalibur, Soulcalibur II, and Soulcalibur III. Also, Astaroth's 1P outfit resembles a mysterious creature with purple armor pieces in Soulcalibur IV.
  • Most of Astaroth's weapons were originally Rock's.
  • Astaroth is the youngest character in the Soul series, being only three years old in Soulcalibur. Ironically, he's also one of the tallest. In Soulcalibur V, many new Astaroths are being made so they remain the youngest characters and they're significantly taller than the original Astaroth.
  • The Palgaea and Kunpaetku Shrines have been featured as Astaroth's only stages throughout the series.
  • The Japanese seiyuu of Astaroth, Banjō Ginga, has also voiced other videogame characters such as Liquid Snake from Metal Gear Solid, Major Zero in Snake Eater, Liquid Ocelot in Guns of the Patriots, Jack from the Tekken series and AWACS Eagle Eye in Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, the first title ever released by Namco as Namco Bandai.
  • Astaroth's Poseidon Tide Rush was used in Monty Oum's fan-made series Dead Fantasy by Ninja Gaiden character Rachel in the second episode.
  • In Soulcalibur II, Astaroth stands at 6' 4", while in Soulcalibur IV, he stands at 6' 8". In Soulcalibur V, his newly created body even stands at 7' 2".
  • Ancient Ogre from the Tekken series can be customized to look like him, albeit without his white eyes nor "Executioner's Belt".
  • Because of Astaroth's size, created characters with "Soul of Astaroth" often deal damage without connecting with the opponent. This is most noticeable if the created character is female and executes throws.
  • He is similar to Skurd from Blades of Fury. They both are very tall, very muscular, evil executioners with giant axes and bear spikes on their clothing. Also, one of Blades of Fury's stages is almost identical to Astaroth's Soulcalibur II stage.
  • Astaroth seems to have some violent aspects associated in his costumes most of the time; for example, his third costume in Soulcalibur II seems to have streams of blood on him..
  • Astaroth is the second character in the series not to have eyebrows, the first being Voldo, with the third being Necrid. It is unknown whether or not Yoshimitsu or the Berserker have eyebrows (Whether Aeon Calcos has eyebrows in his human form is unknown, but as a lizard, he does not count.)
  • Astaroth's core is filled with ichor, the blood of the gods, making it impossible to be damaged by mortal weapons.[1][2]
  • Fygul Cestemus has its own language, and it's split into a formal, more intricate style known only to high-ranking priests; and a common, more simplified style, used by low-ranking priests. "Astaroth" is his name in the Lower Priest style.[3] His name in the Upper Priest style is "azr ss trzaous". "azr" means "new", "ss" means "resembles", "trzaous" means "mankind",[4] so Astaroth's name roughly means "a new creature that resembles man".
  • All of Astaroth's moves in Japanese are written in the Lower Priest style of the Fygul Cestemus language. For example, the Japanese name for Astaroth's Ax Crash (Image tag cmd 6Image tag cmd 6hImage tag cmd B) is ヴィサリオン. The Lower Priest style doesn't have a written form,[3] so looking at the Upper Priest style would reveal the actual meaning of its Japanese name: "vis xalio". "vis" means "to crash (into)", while "xalio" means "axe".[4] It is not known what most of his Japanese move names actually mean, as only the meaning of a few words have actually been revealed.

Soulcalibur[]

  • Astaroth's primary costume was also used as his alternate costume in Soulcalibur IV.
  • Within the Schwarzstrom group, Astaroth is referred to as "Sinister Sable: Dire Black".[5]

Soulcalibur II[]

  • Astaroth's mask from his 2P costume is available as a DLC in Soulcalibur IV under the name "Devil's Mask". It appears again in Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny and Soulcalibur V.
  • Early screenshots of the game show Astaroth in a different outfit that shows him wearing a chestplate, a spaulder on his right shoulder and wearing a headpiece with horns. Other than his mask, gauntlets and shoes, his entire outfit was changed in the final game.[6]

Soulcalibur III[]

  • The Soul of Astaroth discipline is available to created characters of the Barbarian class.
  • The Palgaea cult is located in the Persian Desert, as evidenced by the story mode map and accompanying text in the game.

Soulcalibur IV[]

  • The music that plays in Astaroth's ending is an homage to the music of the Godzilla series of B-movies.
  • The head equipment "Leather Mask Comb" is highly similar to, if not the same as, the headpiece used in Astaroth's 2P outfit in Soulcalibur.
  • Astaroth's skin could be recolored, but this option is taken away in Soulcalibur V.

Soulcalibur: Lost Swords[]

  • He is described as "A golem capable of hitting enemies from far away with a large axe, or closing in and smashing them to the ground".
  • Although Astaroth uses his 2P outfit from Soulcalibur IV, the game uses art from Soulcalibur II.

Etymology[]

In demonology, Astaroth is the Crowned Prince of Hell.

Series' Appearances[]

Appearances in Other Media[]

Astaroth Outcast Odyssey
  • Astaroth appears as a card in Outcast Odyssey. He appears similar to what he does in Soulcalibur V but now wears a lot of armor. He is a Limited time card, available until the 7 September, 2015. He is a Level 5 rarity card.

References[]

  1. ^ SoulCalibur: New Legends of Project Soul. Richmond Hill: UDON Entertainment Corp. February 2014. p. 89. ISBN 978-1-926778-95-2.
  2. ^ Takahashi, Yoshinori [@masuooyama] (September 4, 2020). "His "core" is filled with the god-blood Ichor, just like the giant Talos in Greek mythology, and cannot be destroyed by humans." (Tweet). Retrieved August 24, 2023 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ a b Fygul Cestemus Cult: Notes from an Infiltrator (Part 2), Soulcalibur VI.
  4. ^ a b 邪教集団フィグル・セステムス~正常なる流れの守り手 [Malevolent cult Fygul Cestemus ~ The Guardians of the Normal Stream]. soularchive.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 28, 2005. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  5. ^ シュヴァルツ・シュトローム:組織図 [Schwarzstrom Organisation Chart] (PDF). soularchive.jp. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 17, 2007. Retrieved November 3, 2011.
  6. ^ "AC「ソウルキャリバー2」鋭意開発進行中!!スクリーンショットには旧キャラ4体と新キャラ1体が登場" (in Japanese). GAME Watch. Impress Holdings, Inc. September 28, 2001. Archived from the original on December 21, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
Soulcalibur Playable Characters
Introduced in Soul Edge CervantesHwangInfernoLi LongMitsurugiRockSeong Han-myeongSeong Mi-naSiegfriedSophitiaTakiVoldo
Introduced in Soulcalibur ArthurAstarothEdge MasterIvyKilikLizardman (Aeon)MaxiNightmareXianghuaYoshimitsu
Introduced in Soulcalibur II AssassinBerserkerCassandraCharadeHeihachiLinkLizardman (Generic)NecridRaphaelSpawnTalimYun-seong
Introduced in Soulcalibur III AbeliaAbyssAmyAureliaChesterDemuthGirardotGreedHualinLynetteLunaMiserOlcadanRevenantSetsukaStrife AstlarTiraValeriaZasalamel
Introduced in Soulcalibur Legends Lloyd Irving
Introduced in Soulcalibur IV AlgolAngol FearThe ApprenticeAshlotteDarth VaderHildeKamikirimusiScheherazadeShuraYoda
Story only: AzolaGerhildeHelmwigeShadow
Introduced in Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny DampierreKratos
Introduced in Soulcalibur V Devil JinEzio AuditoreElysiumLeixiaNatsuPatroklos (α Patroklos)Pyrrha (Pyrrha Ω)ViolaXibaZ.W.E.I.
Introduced in Soulcalibur VI 2BAzwelGeralt of RiviaGrøhHaohmaru
Soulcalibur
SoulcaliburLegend of SoulcaliburSoulcalibur: Spirit SwordSoulcalibur (Chinese Manhua)Soulcalibur Original Soundtrack
Characters
ArthurAstarothCervantesEdge MasterHwangInfernoIvyKilikLizardmanMaxiMitsurugiNightmareRockSeong Mi-naSiegfriedSophitiaTakiVoldoXianghuaYoshimitsu
Stages
The ColosseumChaosCity of WaterEmperor's GardenHarbor of SoulsHoko TempleKunpaetku ShrineMaze of the DeadMoney PitOstrheinsburg CastlePalgaea ShrineProving GroundsShrine of EurydiceSilk Road RuinTakamatsu CastleThe Adrian and The FortressValentine MansionWater Labyrinth
Soulcalibur II
Soulcalibur II (HD Online)The Art of Soulcalibur IIUnlockablesSoulcalibur II Original SoundtrackWeapon Master
Characters
AssassinAstarothBerserkerCassandraCervantesCharadeHeihachiInfernoIvyKilikLinkLizardmanMaxiMitsurugiNightmareNecridRaphaelSeong Mi-naSiegfriedSophitiaSpawnTakiTalimVoldoXianghuaYoshimitsuYun-seong
Stages
Egyptian CryptEgyptian RuinsEurydice Shrine GalleryHwangseo Palace - Phoenix CourtImperial Capital AyutthayaKaminoi Castle - Sakura-Dai GateLabyrinthLakeside ColiseumMoney Pit - Top TierOstrheinsburg ChapelPalgaea Shrine - Lowest LevelPirate's AlcoveSouth France Mansion - LibraryTartarosVillage of the WindXiwei Siege Ruins
Soulcalibur III
Soulcalibur III (Arcade Edition)UnlockablesSoulcalibur III Original Soundtrack - Legend of SoundsTales of SoulsSoul ArenaChronicles of the Sword
Characters
AbeliaAbyssAmyArthurAstarothAureliaCassandraCervantesChesterDemuthGreedGirardotHualinHwangIvyKilikLi LongLizardmanLunaLynetteMaxiMiserMitsurugiNightmareOlcadanRaphaelRevenantRockSeong Mi-naSetsukaSiegfriedSophitiaStrife AstlarTakiTalimTiraValeriaVoldoXianghuaYoshimitsuYun-seongZasalamel
Stages
Battle in the StraitChaos - Spiritual RealmClock TowerEgyptian TempleEurydice Shrine - Gate of the GodsGrand LabyrinthIndian PortJyurakudai VillaKunpaetku Shrine RuinLakeside ColiseumLing Sheng-Su Temple RuinLost CathedralLost Cathedral - RuinLotus GardenOld Toledo - Burning GalleryOstrheinsburg Castle - BattlementPalgaea Shrine - RuinsPirate RaidProving GroundsRomanian Valley - Castle SiegeSacred Mt. Fuji - Lava BedSecret Money PitSilk Road RuinUnderground Buddhist SanctumValentine MansionWater Mill Valley
Soulcalibur IV
Soulcalibur IV (Broken Destiny)Soulcalibur MobileSoulcalibur IV (DC Comics)Exciting! Soulcalibur DojoThe Art of Soulcalibur: Broken DestinySoulcalibur IV UnlockablesSoulcalibur IV Original SoundtrackSoulcalibur Broken Destiny Best Of SoundtrackCritical FinishTower of Lost SoulsQuick MatchThe Gauntlet • Trials (Trial of Attack, Trial of Defence, Endless Trial) • Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny Unlockables
Characters
AlgolAmyAngol FearThe ApprenticeAshlotteAstarothCassandraCervantesDampierreDarth VaderHildeInfernoIvyKamikirimusiKilikKratosLizardmanMaxiMitsurugiNightmareRaphaelRockSeong Mi-naSetsukaScheherazadeShuraSiegfriedSophitiaTakiTalimTiraVoldoXianghuaYodaYoshimitsuYun-seongZasalamel
Stages
Challenge of the GodsDistant Marsh (Sleeping Marsh) • Egyptian Temple - Sacred Flame (Egyptian Temple - Sand Cloud) • Grand Labyrinth - Corridor of Suspended TimeHall of the Warrior GodIce Coffin of the Sleeping AncientJyurakudai Villa - Virgin Snow (Jyurakudai Villa - Twill Damask and Brocade) • Kunpaetku Shrine - Dream Remnants (Grand Shrine of Palgaea - Sea of Decay) • Ostrheinsburg Castle Throne RoomOstrheinsburg Castle - Twilight (Dark Capital Ostrheinsburg) • Phantom PavilionSailor's Rest (Sailor's Rest - Twilight) • Star Destroyer Docking BayThesmophoros' Imperial Garden (Thesmophoros' Imperial Garden - Sunset) • Tower of Remembrance - Ancient GateTower of Remembrance - DegradationTower of Remembrance - Encounter (Tower of Remembrance - Omen) • Tower of Remembrance - Spiral of TimeVoiceless Volpe BridgeWolfkrone Monument
Soulcalibur V
Soulcalibur VUnlockablesThe Art of Soulcalibur VNew Legends of Project SoulThe Making of Soulcalibur VSoulcalibur V Original SoundtrackStory ~1607 A.D.~
Characters
AeonAlgolAstarothCervantesDampierreEdge MasterElysiumEzio AuditoreHildeIvyKilikLeixiaMaxiMitsurugiNatsuNightmarePatroklos (α Patroklos)Pyrrha (Pyrrha Ω)RaphaelSiegfriedTiraViolaVoldoXibaYoshimitsuZ.W.E.I.
Stages
Ancient Citadel: PeacetimeAncient Citadel: Under SiegeAstral ChaosAstral Chaos: PathwayCavern of Light and DarknessConqueror's ColiseumConqueror's Coliseum: Underground FightDenevér Castle: AssaultDenevér Castle: Eye of ChaosFree Imperial City: Old QuarterFree Imperial City CenterFu-Ma No Sato: Mechanical SpiderHouse of Valentine's Prague ResidenceLast Rites on the BattlefieldLuoyang: Grand Festival of Guandi TempleMt. Fuji the Holy: Hidden DragonPenitentiary of DestinyShrine of the Snake God PalgeaSinking Merchant ShipThe AdrianTorture ChamberTower of Glory: Most Holy DichotomyTower of Glory: Spiral of Good and EvilTranquil Wasteland Unknown ForestUnknown Forest: Dark NightUtopia of the Blessed
Soulcalibur VI
Soulcalibur VISoul ChronicleLibra of SoulThe Art of Soulcalibur VISoulcalibur VI Original Soundtrack
Characters
2BAmyAstarothAzwelCassandraCervantesGeraltGrøhHaohmaruHildeHwangInfernoIvyKilikMaxiMitsurugiNightmareRaphaelSeong Mi-naSetsukaSiegfriedSophitiaTakiTalimTiraVoldoXianghuaYoshimitsuZasalamel
Stages
Astral Chaos: Tide of the DamnedCity Ruins: Eternal ApocalypseCursed Moonlit WoodsFaraway MeadowGairyu IsleGrand Labyrinth - Sealed CorridorIndian Port: Impending StormKunpaetku Temple: Serpentine BanquetMaster Swordman's Cave: Azure HorizonMaster Swordman's Cave: Wicked DepthsMotien Pass RuinsMurakumo Shrine GroundsOstrheinsburg Castle: Hall of the ChosenReplica Kaer MorhenShrine of Eurydice: Cloud SanctuarySilver Wolves' HavenSnow-Capped ShowdownSunken Desert RuinsWindswept Plains
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