Soulblight

Using personality traits instead of experience points to improve the character stands out, as does its combat injuries system. Less appealing though, are its rather repetitive nature on a short term basis, as well as its frustrating combat system and sub-par art style.

Soulblight is a top-down action roguelike that features simple yet tough combat. The tainting mechanic and injury effects are clever and keep things interesting. Unfortunately, combat is hard to master, and you may end up dying a lot more than you're willing to accept.

Soulblight won't be for everyone. It's for those who enjoy making use of their RPG skills to navigate tight roguelike environments. But it's all rather samey and is unlikely to attract a new audience to the genre.

Soulblight isn’t built for everyone, even diehard rogue-like fans. One day I’ll venture back to the Soul Tree, I’m sure of it. Just don’t think it’ll be anytime soon.

The ruthless randomness mixed with a heap of unusual gameplay elements amount to a one big mess. [13/2018, p.75]

Soulblight is a largely disappointing experience. Hopefully My Next Games can take what works here (namely the morality-based systems) and apply it to a future effort, but this current action game isn’t enjoyable in the slightest. It doesn’t bring anything new to the genre, and isn’t polished enough to stand besides the better offerings already available.

Tedious, meandering, and needlessly obtuse, Soulblight is far better conceptually than it is in execution. The prospect of uncovering the mysteries of a dying world is gripping enough, but the story is told in such a convoluted manner that forming any sort of narrative attachment is virtually impossible. Not helping matters are the title's poor technical performance on Nintendo Switch and the sheer insufferable nature of its combat. Coupled with a top-down aesthetic that frankly does the gameplay no favours, Soulblight offers little of value despite a relatively interesting premise.