![]() If they are low on health when you do this, it can potentially kill the player if they complete a quick minigame as Briar attacks on her own. ![]() At max Unity, players can use a special synergy attack at the end of combos or go Berserk, which massively powers them up for a bit and removes the need for Fields. These can’t last forever though, as Lute’s entropy slowly drains and can eventually cause her to disappear entirely for a short while if it runs out.īattles in Soulstice are a constant balance of activating and deactivating these fields to build up your combos and increase Briar and Lute’s Unity. Briar’s regular attacks bounce off these enemies, so players must have Lute create an Evocation Field to damage blue enemies or a Banishment Field to hurt red enemies with Lute. Some Soulstice enemies are also color-coded blue and red. Lute will attack enemies on her own, but players can also control her to prevent or deflect some powerful hits. Most of them center around Lute, Briar’s younger sister, who is magically bonded to her as a Shade. This is a deep action system that any fan of the genre can appreciate as it brings new ideas to the table. Combat is a little bit slower than something like Bayonettabut feels good as Soulstice also incorporates quite a few unique mechanics into this storied action game formula. Players will face off against waves of enemies in fast-paced combat that rewards players who pull off massive combos and are rated for their performance at the end of each encounter. Soulstice often feels like a PS2 action game in the best way possible. Thankfully, Soulstice is fun, although its gameplay comes with one major catch. But in a game like this, the action that takes place within those spaces is the most important thing. Soulstice does have a few moments that shake up the visuals, but its limited setting does leave me yearning for a globe-trotting adventure if this becomes a series. It’s noticeable compared to developers like PlatinumGames, which is typically good at constantly changing up the setting and visual formula of the game to keep things engaging. Ilden is a very gray city, and most of the game takes place in medieval cobblestone streets, buildings, and sewers that aren’t too distinct from one another. The budget mainly shows in the voice acting and lack of setting variety.Īlmost all of Soulstice takes place within Ilden, and while it’s a well-realized setting, it lacks visual pop for much of the experience. Mid-budget games often struggle to tell consistently engaging stories, but that’s one place Soulstice doesn’t fail. ![]() Its story also has some surprisingly deep themes regarding toxic relationships, whether with people or organizations, and Soulstice is packed to the brim with cutscenes in between all the action. Its presentation and cinematography also show inspiration from anime and manga like Berserkand Claymore, with heavily armored warriors and giant swords galore. ![]() Soulstice is fun, although its gameplay comes with one major catch. It’s a compelling and intriguing opening, and while the voice acting can sound campy, Soulstice’s world and characters are thoughtfully fleshed out in a way that should please those who love to dig into video games’ lore. Briar and Lute are a Chimera, a superpowered warrior created after they almost died and were fused against their will, and are sent to Ilden to investigate and deal with the threat. In this world, people pass “beyond the veil” when they die, but something caused this veil to tier over the city, killing or corrupting everyone within it. After a climactic confrontation against a mighty enemy though, things slow down as the game flashes back to the protagonists Briar and Lute slowly rowing their way into Ilden, a city completely destroyed by a tear in the sky. Like the beginning of Bayonetta, players fight hordes of enemies while fully powered up on a platform that appears to be infinitely falling. The ties that bindįrom the start, Soulstice doesn’t hide its inspiration. Soulstice is far from perfect because of its terrible camera and lack of diverse environments, but it is so earnestly inspired and creative that I recommend those intrigued still check it out. While its title and setting might lead you to believe it’s a Soulslike, in reality, this game plays like Devil May Cry and many of PlatinumGames’ action titles. Fitbit Versa 3Īn Italian game studio developed Soulstice, but it feels like something that would’ve come from a Japanese developer on the PS2 or PS3 in the 2000s. ![]()
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