Lost Soul Aside

Now that we’ve finished Lost Soul Aside, it’s clear that the game is far from the disaster many claimed on social media. After more than twenty hours of play, it’s obvious that Yang Bing’s project (started as a student hobby and later turned into an industrial-scale production with Sony’s support) retains all its passion and identity in its gameplay, even if some peripheral aspects aren’t as polished. At the heart of the game lies its dynamic combat system, rich in possibilities. The four weapons (longsword, greatsword, double spear, and scythe) each offer distinct approaches, which can be combined into fluid, spectacular combos, made accessible through mechanics like perfect parries and the assist system that activates after multiple deaths. The draconic companion Arena adds another strategic and visually impressive dimension, turning battles into true aerial ballets. Yet, the game is not without flaws. The graphics, while generally basic, feel like a previous-generation title, suffering from an uneven and sometimes questionable art direction, as well as occasionally repetitive environments. The storytelling and character charisma are limited, and platforming sections can be frustrating due to the hero’s slightly floaty physics. The English voice acting is also disappointing, making it strongly recommended to stick to the Chinese original or the Japanese voices, which are much better executed. Despite these shortcomings, Lost Soul Aside succeeds where many modern action games fail: it delivers immediate, pure fun, with a gratifying combat system and combos that grow richer as you progress. For fans of fast-paced hack-and-slash, it’s an experience not to be underestimated. Perhaps not worth €70, but definitely closer to €40, let’s be honest.

Lost Soul Aside is an action game that never tries to hide its derivative nature, in a festival of references that openly shows the many sources of inspiration used by the Ultizero team. Technically fair and nothing more, the title suffers from some bugs which, aside from a few camera issues, fortunately almost never ruin the flow of the game. Gameplay itself, though also derivative, turns out to be varied and sufficiently deep, especially against bosses and tougher opponents. The point is that Lost Soul Aside doesn’t invent anything and borrows heavily from titles that made action RPG history, but it manages to do so well, at least as far as playability is concerned—and that’s enough to entertain fans. Sure, the story and characters won’t go down in history, and we’re not dealing with a masterpiece, but the feeling during combat makes Lost Soul Aside a more-than-decent title. That said, at full price it may easily discourage even those who are just looking for a good action game.

Lost Soul Aside delivers flashy, Devil May Cry-inspired combat, but stumbles everywhere else. The story is a cliché-ridden mess with weak characters, awkward cutscenes, and cringeworthy English voice acting. While the weapon variety, mid-combo switching, and magic abilities make for stylish and versatile fights, the lack of impact, clunky controls, and uneven difficulty spikes hold it back. Despite a decade of development, this long-awaited action game feels unpolished and far from worth its price.

Lost Soul Aside suffers from a weak story, bland characters, and major technical issues, with only its varied combat and boss fights offering some redemption. Ultimately, it lacks focus — and a soul.

Lost Soul Aside has some merits in its combat and can be enjoyable if you overlook the weak story and shallow characters, but it’s hard to recommend at full launch price with so many polish issues. However, if that’s not a problem for you, it can still be fun for Hack and Slash fans—just don’t expect anything grand and be prepared to put up with certain aspects of the game.