Souldiers

Where you fall on Souldiers probably depends on whether you were an early adopter. Technical issues appearing at launch were considerable, but have now largely been addressed. Those just coming to the game now, or those willing to return for a second attempt, will find a title as superbly high-quality as it is challenging. However, with great challenge comes great satisfaction, and the journey along the way is just so memorable; there were times I could literally not put the controller down, even after hours of playing. The ending does promise a sequel, and I, for one, am extremely excited about what this talented team can provide in a sophomore outing with the lessons learned here.

Souldiers is a kind of comfort food. There are players who will actively seek out a game like this, one that is inspired by the best kinds of interactive nostalgia. While developer Retro Forge is keen on piquing the interest of classic key genres, Souldiers stands surprisingly well on its own qualities. This is a beautiful game that can be absurdly difficult but it’s more than a large, interconnected map and a twist on punishing combat. The name might be a little too clever for its own good but keep in mind that Souldiers is unique in its own right.

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.

There is a vast supply of quality metroidvanias on the market and Souldiers is yet another game that goes into that pile. However, there are a lot of technical issues and there are no major innovations here. Although it is quite enjoyable and fun for the most part, there is no revolutionary content in Retro Forge's debut game.

Demanding without ever being totally off-putting or daunting, Souldiers is highly recommended for all fans of pixel art metroidvania platform action games. Its deliciously retro artistic direction is far from being the only one of its qualities since the game also knows how to renew itself intelligently by offering no less than 3 radically distinct character classes and gigantic maps full of secrets.

Action, platforming and RPG elements melt in this engaging souls-like Metroidvania enriched by a gorgeous pixel-art. You'd better keep it on your radar.

Souldiers is a capable and enjoyable Metroidvania that provided me a solid amount of fun. With an expansive and attractive world, loads of goodies to discover, and intuitive controls, I'm sure you'll enjoy your journey through Terragaya as much as I did.

Souldiers is quite good, but doesn’t quite reach the peaks that it aims for. However, despite its unbalanced and restrictive class system and frequent difficulty spikes, there is a ton to recommend, from its detailed and varied world, beautiful animations, and engaging combat. Souldiers is not for the faint of heart, but if you’re prepared for its challenges and looking for a deep and engaging metroidvania platformer to get into, Souldiers is worth the recommendation.

A good choice if you enjoy an occasional slice of the retro-styled cake; just be aware that this game bites back. Hard. Stock up on patience, souldier. [Issue#17, p.90]

As it is, Souldiers is a very enjoyable entry in the metroidavania genre – providing you have plenty of skill and/or patience. It doesn’t offer anything that’s genuinely new, but most of its components complement each other well. If only more thought had been given to the player experience, as for many it will simply prove to be too punishing at times. And on PS5, it could do with a little more polish.