That’s a large sword…
I miss the days of mid-tier video games that take a familiar concept and put their own spin on it. Soulstice is the textbook definition of that idea. While the name and visual aspects first led me to believe this was a Souls-like experience, it is more akin to something like Devil May Cry with its fast-paced combat and cinematic camera angles when moving through the environment. Developer Reply Studios definitely wears its inspiration on its sleeve. What we end up with is a game that is reminiscent of action games of past generations that rely heavily on familiarity mixed with some unique elements.
The game follows the sisters Briar and Lute. In this world they are known as a Chimera, which is a warrior created by two souls that are fused together after nearly perishing. This forms a super soldier that possesses supernatural abilities in addition to their unique bond. The story is actually more intriguing than it has a right to be. It deals with some heavy topics here and there and the bond between Briar and Lute is felt in the performances. Players may recognize the main characters as they are both voiced by Stefanie Joosten, who is best known for her role as Quiet in Metal Gear Solid V.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $29.99
Soulstice is very familiar when it comes to game play. As mentioned moving around the environments is presented with a cinematic camera that chooses which angle to showcase giving some truly awe-inspiring moments. In addition it also creates plenty of confusing angles where I got lost trying to figure out which way it wanted me to go. During combat the camera offers up a fully-controllable option that is familiar to any third-person action game.
Combat is not quite as fast as something like Bayonetta, but it is still quick. There are normal and heavy attacks, a parry system, and of course juggling. The real unique twist comes in the form of Lute. Players directly control Briar while Lute auto-attacks. She can also be used to parry by tapping the B button when it appears on screen. Enemies are also color-coded using Lute’s two styles. Holding down a trigger will envelop both characters in a field that allows Briar to inflict damage. It is very similar to DmC’s system where certain enemies can only be damaged when in this mode. It adds flavor to the combat keeping it from being a simple button masher.
While I always appreciate a solid clone game it rarely comes without caveats. The camera in Soulstice is not great in combat. Yes it is fully controllable, but oftentimes I would find it getting stuck on objects or plastered up against a wall. I fought with the camera as much as the enemies during some battles. The lock-on system is also not great. I found times where defeating an enemy would then not move onto the next one, and sometimes when it did, it would not turn the camera. It became infuriating. The parry system was also inconsistent. The window to perform it is wide, but even still I would find myself missing them due to not being able to recognize it, or simply not registering. Also who puts the parry on the B button? It just feels awkward more often than not.
From a purely visual standpoint Soulstice feels as uneven as the game play at times. Some of the enemy designs are absolutely stellar. I love the look of some of the larger ones and the main character is cool. However, there are just as many bland designs sprinkled along the way. Environments are also a tale of two worlds. Sometimes it has some great architecture that stand out, gorgeous fire effects, and all of it devoid of any color and lacking at times. It feels all over the place. Thankfully the voice acting is solid even if a bit campy and the music sets the tone. This looks as much like a AA game as it gets.
Soulstice is a solid outing that I wanted to love and recommend more. It borrows heavily from games like Bayonetta and Devil May Cry without fully capturing what makes those titles so special. Still for a fairly new developer taking a stab at the genre it is filled with promise and in an era where games are supported I hope a patch can sort out of some the minor issues over time. I had fun with the game and hope they continue to improve on their craft. I am always down for character action games and if you are like me and miss the days when these were a dime a dozen, Soulstice is likely right up your alley.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
