Salt and Sanctuary

 PlayStation Vita
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 27 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 27
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 27
  3. Negative: 4 out of 27
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  1. Teegleberry
    Mar 30, 2017
    10
    This game which is my favourite indie game of all time has been ported to the Vita beautifully. A massive thank you to Sickhead games for getting the job done with so much care and attention. I have really been enjoying revisiting this game but now with the added bonus of being able to play it on the go. It runs smoothly and plays and looks just as beautiful as it did on the PS4. A massiveThis game which is my favourite indie game of all time has been ported to the Vita beautifully. A massive thank you to Sickhead games for getting the job done with so much care and attention. I have really been enjoying revisiting this game but now with the added bonus of being able to play it on the go. It runs smoothly and plays and looks just as beautiful as it did on the PS4. A massive bonus is the fact this Vita version has it's own separate trophy list meaning I get to earn them all over again adding them to my trophy collection.

    My original review of the PS4 version:

    I cannot express how much this game has sucked me in since I started playing. Ska Studios are self proclaimed Souls fans, they said from the off that this was their homage to From Software's fantastic series and they have absolutely nailed it.

    S&S plays beautifully, the combat is brutal and satisfying and the addictive risk/reward system makes the game hard to put down. There's so much depth to the character build system in this game, different classes and a huge skill tree. I'm already looking forward to doing a new playthrough with a Hunter or Paladin to try out and master the different play styles.

    I have to say in closing that it's hard to imagine if From themselves attempted to make a 2D version of a Souls game that it'd be much better than this. I really like a lot of great indie games but this one is probably my favourite of them all.... Highly Recommend    … Expand
  2. kasparius
    Jul 14, 2017
    10
    I absolutely loved this game. Metroidvanias are my favorite kind of games, and I also love the Souls series and Bloodborne, so this game seemed right up my alley. I was a bit worried that it would just be a souls rip-off with light Metroidvania elements, but it's not at all. It's just as satisfying as a Souls game, probably not as hard, but still a decent challenge, which is rare inI absolutely loved this game. Metroidvanias are my favorite kind of games, and I also love the Souls series and Bloodborne, so this game seemed right up my alley. I was a bit worried that it would just be a souls rip-off with light Metroidvania elements, but it's not at all. It's just as satisfying as a Souls game, probably not as hard, but still a decent challenge, which is rare in Metroidvania games these days. But the real surprise is that it is also a great Metroidvania game. It follows all the rules: One big unified map, areas locked behind new abilities and locked doors, backtracking, shortcuts, all of that with the combat and leveling system find in the souls game translated beautifully to a 2D platform game.

    The combat has that Souls heft, and weapons really do work differently. Just like Souls, you can create your heavy armored mage, or light armored heavy hammer fighter, etc... New Game + is part of the deal as well. The main game is quite long too, especially generous considering this is a game made by a small indie studio and retails for 17.99. A bargain if you asked me, because it offers really great value for that price. I know I will be revisiting this game often and it's now part of a select group of games that are for me part of the pinnacle of the Metroidvania genre: Symphony of the Night, Super Metroid, Guacamelee!, Metroid Fusion, Order of Ecclesia, and Dawn/Aria of Sorrow.

    The Vita port is great, and there were no glitches throughout my play-through, it looked really good too.    … Expand
  3. SuperkenGaming
    Mar 31, 2017
    9
    Salt and Sanctuary
    2D Dark Souls
    Salt and Sanctuary is quite literally a 2d version of dark souls... you start out customizing your character and choosing your class... And you’re set off into a world of hurt... And it’s brilliant… There are weapons and other loot around the world that you can do combos with and certain items will slow your character down… You’re slicing through    Salt and Sanctuary
    2D Dark Souls
    Salt and Sanctuary is quite literally a 2d version of dark souls... you start out customizing your character and choosing your class...
    And you’re set off into a world of hurt...
    And it’s brilliant…
    There are weapons and other loot around the world that you can do combos with and certain items will slow your character down…
    You’re slicing through enemies to pick up salt instead of souls...
    Managing your stamina much like nioh…
    And taking that salt back to a sanctuary to level up your character and unlock slots in your skill tree…
    And of course each level needs more salt..
    So you have to carefully balance exploration and banking in your collected salt...
    The game does a decent job of not making you ever feel overwhelmed
    That doesn’t mean this game is easy though
    it will test your patience...
    but you always feel like you could’ve made it past where you died if you try just one more time…
    going back, recollecting your salt..
    Grinding if you choose... and making your way towards a boss…
    These boss battles are brutal, nearly 20 in total…
    And again like the combat// can feel frustrating at times…
    but you eventually learn them…
    You can roll, block, used ranged weapons...
    there’s such a great variety of weapons and items here to fit every type of players game style…
    But this game is hard…
    you probably won’t beat it..
    But if you do manage it will take you around 15 hours to do so
    This is one of my favorite 2d games I’ve ever played…
    If you’re a glutton for punishment, and love that sense of discovery, searching for better loot as giant blobs of goo fall on your head or a wolf gnaws at your neck
    don’t miss out on one of the most satisfyingly challenging 2d games on the market
    I give Salt and Sanctuary
    a 9/10    … Expand
  4. Kenms
    May 18, 2017
    10
    This amazing game in summary, is like 2D Dark Souls with all the good things and with the portability the PsVita in that case, the enemies and bosses are really good made, the game play is very fun and challenging in every battle, the art of entire world is amazing, lore is really interesting and the port a PsVita is perfect with the all the characteristics of the PS4 version, buy it if you wish!
  5. Nate_is_Great
    Apr 17, 2017
    9
    Dark Souls meets Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest. Great game. Super addictive. My 11 year old son loves it just as much as I do. It's a cross-buy with the PS4 which makes the purchase even more valuable.
  6. avaeragegamer31
    Dec 19, 2017
    10
    Absolutely amazing game, especially to have on the Vita. I've beaten it three times over now and I am still finding new things about it. Although it is not fair to compare this game to Dark Souls it is most accurately described as a crossover between Demon's Souls and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. If you like platformers just get it because it is one of the best to come along in a while.
  7. Zolek
    May 23, 2019
    9
    Did not play it on the PS4 but it is gorgeous on Vita, the framerate can have some hiccups but I only seen them where there were no enemies and I assume that it was because of more background layers or maybe some loading. Anyways it is a great souls clone, stays on its own yet copies a lot of mechanics and even sometimes sound from the game appear to be ripped from official souls games :)
  8. RunFish12B8
    Dec 30, 2021
    10
    The game is divine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Critic Reviews

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No score yet - based on 3 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. IGN
    Aug 1, 2018
    86
    You could call Salt and Sanctuary a 2D mashup of Dark Souls and Castlevania, and you'd be right. But such a simple pronouncement would be a disservice to the tremendous amount of thought that's gone into Salt and Sanctuary, whether it's in the graphic style that evokes horror through the style of comic strips or in the intricate web of dungeons and castles serves as it map.
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  2. Gaming Age
    Aug 7, 2017
    83
    One conclusion that I think everyone can agree on is this: Salt and Sanctuary is one heck of a game.
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  3. The Vita Lounge
    Jul 21, 2017
    78
    Salt and Sanctuary is a hard as nails action platformer that wears its Dark Souls inspiration with pride and comes with a lot of the same caveats. Whether it's something for you depends on your taste, but those Salt and Sanctuary suits will find a very solid game to spend their time on.
    Read full review