Salt and Sanctuary

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 56 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 56
  3. Negative: 0 out of 56
  1. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Apr 21, 2016
    74
    Alas, developers were way too eager to copy FromSoftware’s ideas, so Salt and Sanctuary never became anything more than “2D Dark Souls”. Nice concept, but a forgettable experience. [Issue#208, p.73]
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  2. GameCrate
    Apr 29, 2016
    73
    Salt and Sanctuary is a good 2D conversion of the Souls formula, but its experimental nature invites more than a few flaws. If you don’t mind difficult-to-see graphics and sometimes cheap combat, then you’ll happily come back for more.
  3. The Games Machine
    Mar 29, 2016
    70
    Albeit some polishing issues and some questionable design choices, Salt and Sanctuary is a nice, bidimensional variation of the "souls-like" formula, with influences from Hidetaka Miyazaki and from the metroidvania genre. If you like a challenging, punishing yet rewarding experience, you should definitely give it a try.
  5. CD-Action
    Jun 29, 2016
    60
    A tribute to Dark Souls done with a deep understanding of the original game, but ugly and derivative as hell. [06/2016, p.61]
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  6. Edge Magazine
    Jun 7, 2016
    60
    Salt & Sanctuary can be brilliant, but it's held back by undersized visual design, both in UI and open play, making playing it from distance a pain. [June 2016, p.122]
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Awards & Rankings

30
#30 Best PS4 Game of 2016
42
#42 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2016
50
#50 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 405 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 317 out of 405
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 405
  3. Negative: 49 out of 405
  1. chibistevo
    Mar 15, 2016
    10
    Just get it.

    Ignore the middle of the road reviews complaining about 'game identity' and other such nonsense. Anyone who says this game is    Just get it.

    Ignore the middle of the road reviews complaining about 'game identity' and other such nonsense. Anyone who says this game is a Souls rip off clearly has their eyes closed and brain lobotomised.

    S+S has its own identity; which is being thest Metroidvania since Aria of Sorrow.

    Notice how that sentence does not mention anything about Dark Souls.    … Full Review »
  2. mwilliam5
    Mar 15, 2016
    9
    Look... the game is great. Deep visceral combat, gorgeous art, incredible fun.

    But let's not pretend. It is a Dark Souls clone, in 2D. If    Look... the game is great. Deep visceral combat, gorgeous art, incredible fun.

    But let's not pretend. It is a Dark Souls clone, in 2D. If From Software wanted a part in it, all it would have taken is a couple pen strokes to the story or items and a month or two longer in the oven and we could have had a canon game here. There is no identity crisis.

    This is not a bad thing at all, in my opinion, I always love a new Souls game and man has it been an amazing 2 or 3 years (for PS owners at least). The difference between "homage" and "ripoff" only depend on if we like it. So this gets to be an homage. Go get it, if you love DS. You will laugh at the similarities for at least an hour, then it will settle in and you will love it.    … Full Review »
  3. maicol2809
    Mar 15, 2016
    9
    SotN + Dark Souls = Salt and Sanctuary. Seriously though, you have your environment/ability progression system of good metroidvanias plus theSotN + Dark Souls = Salt and Sanctuary. Seriously though, you have your environment/ability progression system of good metroidvanias plus the risk/reward mechanic of the "souls" games. Combine that with satisfying combat and a pleasant yet brutal art design and you have a great game for your PS4.
    The only thing keeping this from a solid 10 is the lack of online play. There is local co-op which is tons of fun so I wish I could also play with my online friends.
    Don't let that stop you though, this is still one of the best single player experiences out there.    … Full Review »
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