Souldiers review

A sum of familiar elements, Souldiers delivers solid, exploration-based action-platforming led by a trio of playables.  

Game descriptors “metroidvanias”, “soulslike”, and “roguelike” are pervasive in 2022. Seemingly every week, publishers both large and small release a title that brandishes these terms. Souldiers, the inaugural effort from Spanish developer Retro Forge generously draws from gamings past and present proclivities.

Aesthetically, the game could be a spiritual successor to Capcom’s Black Tiger. Here, a trio of plate-mail wearing heroes explore delightfully hand drawn venues- each arena filled with enemies that require a distinctive offensive strategy. But where the 1987 coin-op was a rather straightforward march, Souldiers offers the customary in-game map that is gradually filled in as you reconnoiter each area.

But here’s the thing: while there are fast travel points and some autonomous navigation, there are also linear zones that flaunt skillfully designed pathways. Sure, you’ll use secondaries like bombs and elemental orbs to access new areas, but you’ll also trek through protracted passageways that flaunt the shrewd level design of a dedicated action-platformer.

A Trio of Stout Souldiers

It would have been considerate of Retro Forge to give players a bit of playtime with the game’s three playables before committing to a specific character. The Scout, Archer, and Caster have their own individual skill trees and leveling up to earn Mastery Relics can take a bit of time. As such, you can squander quite a few hours if you end up not enjoying your initial class selection.

The obvious upside is flexibility. If you appreciate a hard-hitting, melee-based character who isn’t overly disadvantaged by cooldowns the Scout will likely please. But I habitually favor the benefit of ranged combat, making both the Archer and spell-launching Caster suitable choices. But know there’s similarity across the cast. Each playable has a normal and strong attack as well as a dodge, and the ability to block. Like most Soulslikes, there’s are stamina gauges to prevent ability spamming. Not only does uninterrupted blocking pose a threat to the player but the Archer and Caster can fire a limited number of projectiles.

Proficient Platforming and Adept Action

Play provides a pleasing mixture of navigation and combat. Jumping across gaps feels responsive, and if you manage to reach an edge, each Souldier will grab on before pulling himself up. Combat against subordinates is appropriately perilous. You might find yourself obsessed with overcoming a horde of minor enemies. If you’re not careful, it’s easy to lose a good chunk of health, even on the lowest of the game’s three difficulty settings. Although restorative potions are scarce, foes generously droplets of health and money.

Bosses come in two forms: the traditional, screen-filling variety and smaller, humanoid adversaries. Expectedly, they’re both exceedingly dangerous, prepared to annihilate the player who hasn’t studied their tells and attack patterns. And yes, frustration will likely develop as you attempt to tackle the same adversary for the umpteenth time. For the most part, Souldiers plays fair, telegraphing enemy behaviors. But as the game endures, the number of annoyances increase. I don’t think I’ll even understand how blows from off-screen threats remain in retail builds.

Conclusion

Although annoyance is nearly inevitable, Souldiers’ counterbalances its transgressions with aesthetic splendor. The game’s artist must have extensively studied Capcom’s work of the 90s. From the cartoonish take on European-themed interiors or the vibrant colors in outdoor settings that evoke the Mega Man X series, almost every single bitmap will produce pangs of nostalgia. This was one of my favorite visual eras in gaming, and Souldiers’ artwork feels like a warmhearted throwback.

Few of the fundamentals in Souldiers feel unique. Largely, that’s OK, because the game draws on beloved classics. There’s Metroid’s thrill of exploration and the anxiety of finding the next save point. Combat is persistently tense. Like many Soulslikes, even minor enemies can steal a significant portion of your health. And of course, there’s the first boss battle, intended to provoke humility. But the reliance of recognizable elements doesn’t dimmish Souldiers enjoyment. Just make sure, you’re okay with the sporadic instance of frustration.

Souldiers was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.