Souldiers - Review @ COG

COGconnected checked out the Metroidvania Souldiers:

Souldiers Review – Delightful Duty Beyond Death

Souldiers Review

Souldiers is more or less built entirely out of buzzwords. This is a pixel art Metroidvania with soulsborne elements chucked in for good measure. On paper, this sounds like an actual nightmare. In practice, the game is quite delightful! The art direction is crammed with gorgeous details, the combat feels slick, and the challenge level is finely honed. If Souldiers feels familiar at first glance, that’s because it is. And yet, the end result is still a lot of fun.

You play a single member of a massive squadron that’s been deceived, betrayed, and doomed to die. The Valkyries take notice of your plight, offering you a chance to continue your fight beyond your destined death. You’ve got three classes to choose from, Scout, Caster, and Archer. I found the Scout to be the most accessible, although they’re also the simplest. Caster and Archer are more powerful, but resource management gets trickier. For a first playthrough, I recommend the Scout. There’s just so much to learn in terms of movement and combat, you see. Best not to add ammo and cooldowns on top of all that.

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It’s All Down To Your Skills

You’ve got a host of RPG elements to play around with, but they almost feel extraneous. Accessories, perks, and levels all play second fiddle to your developing mechanical skills. The stage and enemy layout discourages level grinding, and each level comes with minor gains. Equipment can change your stats, but it’s all rather ephemeral. Icing on the cake, so to speak. Your progress is clearly connected to your own abilities, which I’m totally fine with. It just makes the RPG elements feel like window dressing.

For a game composed of familiar elements, Souldiers still managed to surprise me. If nothing else, the game’s execution is exemplary. Even if you’ve played a ton of pixel art, soulsborne, and Metroidvania titles, this particular blend is a satisfying one. The art direction is beautiful, the controls are tight, and design is rock solid. If you’re looking for a new 2D adventure, Souldiers will easily scratch that itch.

Score: 80/100