The Soulslike genre – one born of those gaming elements shared between titles like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Sekiro – has always had a bit of an accessibility problem. Hailed as the pinnacle of difficult gaming, Soulslike are a notoriously intimidating and uninviting breed.
Mortal Shell
Developer: Cold Symmetry
Price: $30
Platform: Epic Games Store (reviewed), PS4, Xbox One
MonsterVine was supplied with an Epic Games Store code for review
Elements in these games are also heavily recycled. So much so, in fact, that everything outside of the FromSoftware is given the “clone” moniker.
Mortal Shell differentiates itself enough from the rest of the genre to be considered anything but a clone. Clearly a labor-of-love, it acts as a great stepping stone for those curious about the genre. For that reason, Mortal Shell also stands to further alienate genre veterans.
Mortal Shell’s story elements don’t stray far from its predecessors. You are an otherworldly being lost in a realm that straddles the line between life and death. The writing is cryptic, the characters are mysterious, and the plot is ambiguous. It also relies on the same conflicts of mortality and religion; yada yada.
Where the game becomes more its own is in its gameplay. Rather than being locked into an archetype at the outset, Mortal Shell lets you mingle with its entire cast. The protagonist, the Foundling, has the unique ability to inhabit the husks of former warriors. Some shells are harder to obtain than others, but none of them are truly difficult if you understand the game’s combat. Exploring each shell in a single run made grasping the game’s concepts and my own methodology relatively easier. The sturdy [name] was too easily fatigued after starting the game with Harros, whose additional stamina made up for his more fragile stature.
Combat is much more forgiving in Mortal Shell than adept players might expect. Instead of the typical shield, the Foundling can harden into a statue to prevent incoming damage. The kicker is that hardening maintains momentum, so it’s a useful ability for making sure your animations don’t get interrupted. Hardening also allows you to regain stamina, so it’s also easy to continue a combo out of the Foundling’s rocky form. Combined with similarly powerful options, like a parry that grants health and an invincible dodge, the combat doesn’t present the challenge that is synonymous with the genre.
When the Foundling runs out of health, he’s ejected from his shell. With just a sliver of health, but impressive stamina, he gets to reclaim it once before death. It’s a second chance that further states Mortal Shell’s intent to create a more approachable experience. There’s also an upgrade for every shell that refunds your second chance should you slay enough enemies.
That’s really all Mortal Shell boils down to – an easier, more accessible entry in the Soulslike genre. But such a statement shouldn’t be considered a diminution. Mortal Shell accomplishes a task that no other entrant has: It welcomes players with an open hand and guides them with ease through the genre’s broader concepts.
Cold Symmetry has truly done something grand. With a small team, they’ve created a well-polished and easy-to-play game in a space that would usually forbid it. Seasoned players are unlikely to turn to Mortal Shell for their intense gaming pleasures. But those sitting on the fence will have a nice first step.
The Final Word
A great stepping stone into a difficult genre.
– MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
