Souldiers analysis – Difficulty with a lot of soul

The beauty of Souldiers will be in the background when we start fighting

There are times when the visual aspect makes us make a value judgment that can be very wrong. That a game is colorful, with (seemingly) simple mechanics and with big-headed characters with a fun swagger can imply that we are faced with an entertaining family adventure. But that doesn’t happen to Souldiers. The proposal of the Spanish study Retro Forge with Dear Villagers transcends further with a title that will make us sweat profusely, while we enjoy landscapes full of charm… and danger. If you want a challenge to match, don’t hesitate and get started in our analysis to learn more about these reborn soldiers.

Welcome to Terragaya

Souldiers could be classified as a kind of metroidvania but with a higher difficulty than usual. And not because the scenarios include peaks, falls and this kind of pitfalls (there are also some, be careful…). The hard nut to crack in this pixelated proposition is his fight. Long, intense and varied. like any like souls any generic enemy can end our days if we’re not on the lookout. It’s going to demand the best of us, and in fact, it kind of reminded me of those arcades that were back in the days when you had to fully control your character to be able to successfully complete each area.

Between life and death. The story revolves around a group of soldiers who get caught in a trap planned by the enemy. We are covered in large boulders with no possibility of getting out, and our only safe conduct which will allow us to escape from this stone prison will be granted by the Valkyries. These beings mark our destiny, and we will have to go to Terragaya, where the Guardian awaits us and our return home. It is if we are brave enough to overcome the challenges we will encounter in these wild lands.

Sword, bow or staff

At the beginning of the adventure we can choose between three different classes. The soldier This is the standard class, with high melee attack power. Then, we have the Archer, more agile and specialized in ranged combat. Finally, we will have at the MAGE, with mid-range attacks and other resources to deal with enemies. Undoubtedly, this last course will be the most complicated, and will only be suitable for people experienced in this type of 2D proposal.

Aside from the differences in each soldier’s weapon, each of these classes will have its own branch of skills. As we advance in the adventure and gain experience, we will be able to unlock new skills to make the mission entrusted to us more enjoyable. These are not the only traces of role that the Souldiers possess, since they we can equip ourselves with various armors, power-ups such as rings or pendants and even obtain materials for tinker other types of objects. The thing does not end there, because as if it were a Megaman we can modify the elemental attack power of our protagonist, being able to summon ice, fire or acid between other attacks.

That Souldiers contains the word Soul is no coincidence

Souldiers can seem very frustrating at first. And it’s not for less. We will start with few skills, we will have to get back to the rhythm of the fights and the first hours of the adventure… we will spend them locked in a boring cave with spiders everywhere. Once past this first part, already with a higher level, we will begin to taste the beautiful landscapes that the work of Retro Forge has. And we will continue to die, but it is a joy to walk through its areas, to face the dangers and of course, to face the last enemies that will appear.

And it is just as interesting to go forward as to go back. Once we equip ourselves with other items, it will be highly recommended to look back and open up those paths that were impossible to cross back then. For example, once we have bombs, we can destroy rock faces weakened by the passage of time. And with our firepower, we will fight our way through the dense cobwebs that blocked certain areas of the mapping.

Control can work against us

I also tell you that, although its visual section is magnificent, I cannot say the same for the playable section. It’s not that it’s bad, quite the contrary. The game is very fluid and is controlled in a simple but effective way. But some responses from our protagonist may truncate the game. Not once or twice has our soldier been “hanging” off a ledge as we pass by it, completely breaking the rules of the fight we’re fighting. And there were few times when the character moved around ended up crouched (and as always, at the worst time). It’s as if the control is very responsive to all actions. finally for some final boss I chose to change the stick control to that provided by the d-pad. Better to avoid unnecessary risks.

Souldier Conclusion

Retro Forge wants to make us sweat a lot with its new project. Although it seems like a nice proposal, with “funny” enemies and protagonists, it hides a much more complex and difficult background. Through a network of zones that can remind us of any metroidvania current, we will have to cross places full of dangers and enemies who will try with all their might to end our lives. And they will, especially the later enemies.

If we want to get out of each confrontation, we will have to master the techniques of our character very well, and for this we will have to choose wisely the class with which we will start the adventure. Not only that, but crafting materials, gearing up properly, and exploring every hole for new items will be essential in Souldiers. A surprise pixel-art that we recommend if you like challenges, and a very good mix between concepts from the past and current mechanics.