glad to see someone giving this game the love it deserves. i swear the lack of coverage on youtube of this game is a real shame. one if the best action games of all time in my opinion
I didn’t mention Claymore, only because I’m not familiar with it at all. But a lot of people online have said the same thing. I’ll definitely read the manga soon. Thanks for watching, my friend!
The problem with soulstice is the requirement of luts ability to jump the blue steps in platforms.. you have to press the jump perfectly just to do those two steps in chapter 2.. I spent almost 1 hr trying that step.. and the mission bosses are very difficult too
Like you shouldn't make it so difficult to jump a fucking platform at such a fucking annoying angle needed. This guy defo played the game when he mentioned the platforming. The game play can make someone want to punch things. Most of the stuff needed is from lut even in fighting and her abilities only last for 30 secs.. its so annoying
As one of the biggest Soulstice fans around, i'm really glad to see a very in-depth and positive coverage on this video. I would have never made the association with either Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter, but it's an interesting one to make! The one with DMC: Devil May Cry is much more obvious, but you're right that there is much more going on *surrounding* the color coding. Didn't actually ever stand still that the colorblindness options were for that mechanic specifically, but now you have an extra personal thing to relate to your experiences with this game. For what it's worth from a stranger on the internet, i hope that this colorblindness (or any other ailment) won't bring you much trouble in the future, and there will be a lot of sights, smells, sounds etc. for you to enjoy either way. Fun fact: DMC: Devil May Cry wasn't Ninja Theory's first hack-and-slash/character action title with a color coding mechanic. Before that was Heavenly Sword, which had a color coding thing based around defense: You can only counter enemy moves that have a certain color, with a stance of the same color (Yellow is Ranged, Blue is Balanced and Orange is Power, whereas uncolored enemy attacks don't need a stance, and Red attacks are unblockable) About it taking too long to get the full arsenal/some of the best moves: I do agree. I've seen people say that the game feels dragged out, and while i didn't personally suffer or actively notice it, i do see it in hindsight. If the game had cut down on some levels, or had some more visual variety, it may not have felt that way for a number of those players. It's quite interesting how there's some potential for "builds", in a way, with Lute's skill tree. I've heard that equipping and de-equipping skills was something that Reply Game Studios took from Bayonetta. I appreciate it, because a number of Lute's automatic counters felt like it tripped me up in enemy encounters at times. Deactivating that and getting a full currency refund felt helpful. I've never played Devil May Cry myself, but from what i *know* of that series, it seems like Soulstice merged the Style Rankings with the Devil Trigger gauge by way of the Unity resource, and also gives extra choices on how to spend it. Like for the Combo Finishers, but also for skills like letting Lute's overcharge take a bit of Unity instead of evaporating her for a few seconds. For those who'd rather retain their Unity, or take a path that *weaponizes* Lute's Overcharge, this isn't necessarily an upgrade. So again, that option to de-quip is an interesting one. (And of course, the recent update allowed for the proper Transcended form to build up over time, which can also be used in some different ways). Love, too, how the weapons even outside of their designated "strong against (...) type" have their specialties and different properties compared to one another. The Ashen Enforcer's Jump + Attack when airborne for example simply slams down, while the Hand of Retribution's (gauntlet buckler) is a launcher *from* the air in a small, circular radious around Briar. Or how the double tap + Forward/run forward type moves also have their unique properties. The Ashen Vindicator's (Sword) reaches the furthest, the Whip's covers the least distance but hits enemies multiple times in a wide radius, and the Fiery Zealots (cannon tonfas) are a quick, straight-ahead dash that BLASTS enemies behind you for propulsion, and ends in multiple hits against the enemy. Personally i'm a big fan of the Hold Attack move of the Merciful Blades (the punch daggers). They are generally good against single targets for their short-ranged, focused damage, but the Hold Attack is just... it's delicious rapid punches that don't have a limit to it, and it can help keep you in the air. Also, the bow is quite good for keeping a launched enemy in the air and the whip's got a nice grappling hook. Both are quite dependant on lock-on, though, and enemies can prepare to attack from off-screen. (i've mainly played the likes of the Darksiders games, Lords of Shadow 1 and 2, Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death, Heavenly Sword and Dante's Inferno, with knowledge on Splatterhouse 2010 and Knight's contract.) Must say i'm not a fan of the environmental hazards during battles. The area of the first Abomination fight ESPECIALLY sucked because of those. Abominations in general to me seem like the worst enemy types: on the discussion forums to Soulstice on Steam, i've even made a community post discussing some of the best, worst and most interesting enemies of all three varieties. The enemy variety in this game is in my opinion generally quite strong, with the more significant enemies having more notable movesets. Such as Maulers (the big Corrupted with the giant arm) : They sport normal, very damaging Melee attacks, but also fair stun/juggle defense *and* two different ranged attacks. Fuppin' HATE the Abominations and Furies, though. In any case, my case being: Enemy encounters don't need that extra environmental hazard crud, even if it can be used to your advantage, because the enemies are generally a solid assembly. Finally: I very much think this story is one of my favourites among all hack-and-slash/character action type games. I quite like the writing, it reminds me a bit of Darksiders. The sisters bring out the best in each other, Layton's got good snark to him while growing into a proper ally with his own agency, and telling us about the rest of the world we don't get to see, Donovan is tragic but not exempt from guilt, the Transcended are memorable, and Lord Dugal... oooh, *what* a villain already. I want to say something your uncomfortable feelings of Briar and Armina at the end, but i'll be posting that in a separate comment. This one's getting big as is, and i reckon an extra comment may make for some engagement on your video. Plus, with the subject, I also assume that it may be something you'd rather discuss separate from the other stuff, to give it more of its own weight. For now, thank you for taking the time to make this video and put extra attention on this title which, with its shortcomings or strange parts, is a well-intentioned and solid entry into the genre, and deserves all the proper feedback and criticism it can get, for its future to offer more cool and interesting things. Perhaps Clash: Artifacts of Chaos, Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands and the upcoming Genokids may prove interesting. And until then, wish you interesting findings in other ventures, for YT and outside of it.
First, thanks for taking the time out of your day to leave such a nuanced comment. As you pointed out, there is tons of mechanical depth in this game, and even after dedicating most of this video to the combat, there is so much here. It is an awesome foundation. I never played Heavenly sword, by the time I got a PS3 that game had just kind of passed me by. And with me mentioning DmC as much as I did, I felt like it was the most obvious comparison I could make- especially with the color coded stuff. And don't worry about the color blindness at all. It doesn't really affect me in my day to day. I just sometimes mix colors up. It's usually more funny than anything else. One thing I didn't mention in the review that was kind of interesting was the launcher and slam attack (in DmC they are called "helm breakers) inputs that you mentioned. They are decidedly easier to do than they are in Devil May Cry. In Dmc they require movements of the stick and button presses, but here in Solstice they were simplified. And I find it interesting, because in FFXVI, they use the exact same solution as Solstice- to the point where I wonder if there was an influence. I liked the story quite a bit, and I got a Darksiders vibe as well. Hopefully they will be able to work on the sequel that they hinted towards at the end there. Thanks for watching!
That was one game in a long time, where i barely could the controller away it was superawesome. Also remindet me alot of the anime claymore, which i watched again then. Hopefull for a Soulstice 2
@jurtheorc8117 If you are a fan of the game and you liked this vid, you should search for El Vnugo Soulstice Analysis, a dude did an extensive review, making in depth comparisons to Berserk and Claymore. It's tonally very different than this vid but I liked them both
I absolutely believe Soulstice is a breath of fresh air simply due to how saturated the market is with soulslikes and other slower paced gameplay systems, seeing this old school type of combat still being made nowadays makes me very happy and gives me hope that gaming isn't a complete lost cause We can always use some more stylish action games in the vein of Devil May Cry and other PS2 era games Character action games are finally coming back, i'm all up for the hack n slash renaissance
I’m always down for more hack and slash. Let’s keep it going. I guess the fresh air line was that this game is very obviously influenced. But it is super rad
Soulstice does something with its story many games fail, in my opinion. It shows you the struggle they had to explain to you what is going on, but to me it never felt like the game wanted you to learn that as its main plot, but rather tell you how this ties into the narrative we play. I mean, through their past we learn how the other Chimeras operate AND we learn about our enemy, if you know you know
@@digitalhauntology glad to watch, though my only negative opinion is the sexualization bit, my personal thoughts are simply the nudity part is that your mind self kinda doesn’t take your clothes with you since they aren’t really a part of your inner self, and the chains I wouldn’t think bondage.. but the actual mental restraints put on her to keep her leashed like a beast. But again that’s just my opinion on it
I would agree with you that there is definitely a metaphorical quality to some of it. But considering that bondage is also a motif found with Armina’s design, this was definitely a choice. It didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment- I just thought it seemed edgy for the sake of edgy. Could be wrong though.
Great breakdown of Soulstice, really enjoying it so far. But yeah, I agree with all your critiques, especially when it comes to color, fixed camera angles, and early weapon accessibility.
Thank you, I really appreciate it! Yeah it’s a pretty rad game. Definitely a great time, but it’s got some little quirks. Glad more people are checking it out. Thank you for watching.
@@digitalhauntology yeah it was on my radar from the first trailer, got it for free on Epic Games. No just playing my backlog, Soulstice is the second game. On chapter 4, but already curious what they could do with the experience they have now.
Thank you for mentioning how combos are dialed in like Mortal Kombat as opposed to games like Guilty Gear or Street Fighter with immediate feedback, short start-up, cancel windows, etc. Too many reviews are simply, "Game looks like Bayonetta and the game feels good." Your breakdown conveys the actual tactile experience, and it's now something I'll consider when checking the game out.
I’m glad I was able to help. The game definitely has a more deliberate feel, but dash canceling keeps it from feeling overly stiff. Check it out if you can get a deal on it. The game is solid.
It sure did, I was having trouble remembering if they were the two toned bullets. I know in Automata there are bullets that can be slashed, and others that need to be shot. Thanks for watching.
@digitalhauntology it's funny. I just watched like 5 of your videos in a row. Excellent work!!! We have very similar tastes. Drakengard 3 is your favorite game. NieR Gestalt/Replicant (next to mgs snake eater) is mine. *I actually pre-ordered Drakengard 3 and got those bonus outfits. I recently finished 13 Sentinels Nov 5th. I still have my Valkyrie Profile umd. I say all that to say. I think you should do a video on God Hand.
I promise you, I will get around to it. God Hand is perfection. You’ve got got good taste 😉 Thanks for checking out the videos and thanks for the kind words. It means a lot.
Claymore is definitely the biggest influence here with the world-building and monster design, but yeah, this game is fun but flawed. I really want a sequel.
I hear you. I’m not too familiar with Claymore, as I haven’t checked it out yet. And Reply mentioned Berserk by name multiple times in their interviews- that’s why I honed in on it. But a lot of people are seeing Claymore’s influence here. I hope the get to build upon it- there is a good foundation here.
Alright, let's go then for the subject of the things with Briar and Armina at the end there. No promises i will convince you with my arguments, but i do hope an extra perspective may prove interesting. For others reading: Spoilers ahead. I think you're looking too deep into Briar being naked and chained, as well as Armina's death by choking, as something sexual. At risk of making a prejudiced statement: I'd say Europe is more relaxed or not as high-strung on subjects of nudity and sexuality, as the US generally seems to be. Nudity and chains definitely have their associations, but neither are directly sexual on their own. Nudity can symbolize a primeval pureness: Nothing is kept hidden. A living being is fully presented in who they are on the outside, perhaps even symbolizing an inner pureness as well. Conversely, it can also symbolize vulnerability. No protection from external pains, be they the bite of fire, snow, sickness or steel alike. The chains are, in my reading, simply symbolic of being stuck in her trauma and views on herself. So that covers both the pureness and the vulnerability alike. Pureness in that we get to see inside Briar's mind, the direct memories of what happened in the past. (Plus, a 'mind' as such is also a primeval and mysterious thing.) And vulnerability in exactly that same sense: She is stuck and alone in her own mind, and held back by her memories. A number of which aren't even *truly* her memories, but brainwashing by Lord Dugal. So i believe the chains are also mental representations of the magics or warped memories that keep Briar from seeing the truth. In a way, i think the thing with the nudity and chains could well be interpreted the opposite way of what made you uncomfortable: an empowering one, a show of true support for one another, to help the other person find the strength to rise above what holds them back. For it is thanks to the Sisters' bond, and Lute's everlasting love and support, that Briar breaks her own chains. And yet, one could also interpret it as there being some form of perversion-- from the interpretation that perversion would be forcing something else to bend to one's own will or desire. That's how i interpret the concept of perversion. Not necessarily as something sexual, but still very much harmful. So in that sense, the brainwashing/altered memories could be considered "perverted". Dugal forced his own narrative into Briar's mind as a way to ensure loyalty of these two unique girls. Luckily, Briar's too stubborn and moody to let herself be led around by others that easily. But it also made her believe she killed Lute when she wasn't yet a Shade, and has carried immense guilt ever since. Immense guilt for something that she didn't even do in the first place. So from that angle --which i'm again aware, may be looking too deep into it-- There's something very much positive in seeing a person defy the efforts of others, to force her life to suit their own purposes. DISCLAIMER 1: NOT SAYING THIS IS INTENDED as a direct allegory for the likes of grooming, gaslighting, abuse or other real-life horrible practices that would cover different situations. At this game's core, it's a cool dark fantasy story with both action and emotion, and the writers only wanted to tell the story of Soulstice and nobody else's. Only the story of the land of Keidas and the Realm of Chaos, of Briar and Lute, of Donovan and Hannah, and others within that story. And all have their own lot in life to have dealt with, through their own actions, mistakes, and those of others. The story is its own thing. From there, anyone could view and judge it their own way. Your view and mine have collided on a particular subject, and... these are just my arguments from my point of view. On the notion of interpreting words and their meanings: I could make a pun about "bondage" and "the bond between people" as in shaping and maintaining a relationship and bond with one another, as perhaps the most wholesome and empowering interpretation of the word, buuut i can't figure a good one out. May be a bit of a stupid pun anyway, but here you go anyway :P Regarding Armina: Can't really say anything about her outfit being the most skimpy in the entire game. But what I still think gives it merit that elevates it beyond interpretations of superficial titillation (or to some, may be too ridiculous), is that it's Demian's skeletal, ghoulish skeleton surrounding her body. Before I go on, I am yet again well aware that I may be looking too deep into this, or not, but i hope that on the least, it will provide interesting. Alright, to explain myself: Demian is a great example of how a strong bond between two people to form a Chimera doesn't have to be a positive one. Fusing most likely wasn't a free choice of theirs, and Demian in the flashbacks already takes great joy in demeaning and insulting Armina. Throughout the game, it is told and shown that Demian is absolutely nuts. He is a deranged, cruel serial murderer, a predatorial figure who even as a Shade tries to hurt people through whatever means. In a more literary or academical definition of the word, as stated earlier: he could be considered perverse himself. Forcing others to fit within his own desires, pleasure and delight. It's no wonder she is not fond of him. Nobody sane would be. Now let's look at their transcended form. Demian's ghoulish remnants envelop and ensnare her body like a cage, with his hands reaching around her neck. Armina's own body is much more emphasized, which makes sense as she wants to keep Demian's presence at a minimum. But Demian is still all around her. He still --quite literally-- has his grip on her. They're inexorably connected, always close to one another. The one seemingly in power always has to be on her guard against the monster that has spiritually, mentally, and now also physically, been interwoven into her being. It's real fuppin' tragic. Also, like the chains, choking isn't neccessarily a kink thing. Can just be meant to... kill someone. Quite horribly. A perverse thrill is definitely involved, though. Demian is just that petty and horrible, that he wants Armina to die first, and still wants to cross one last line before their deaths. Turning Armina's body against herself was his last sadistic laugh before passing as well. Could you imagine someone so horrible that, even at the brink of death, concentrates his last efforts onto bringing pain to someone else for the "crime" of not letting them do what they want with you? That is what Demian is. Again, Disclaimer 1. Soulstice only seeks to tell its own story, not to be a sensitive allegory for abuse in all its different forms. I'm only supplying my own views and lens on something where our views do not align. And for what it's worth... I hope it was at least interesting. A belated apologies if a number of things i say don't line up that well or don't make too much sense, but if you took the time to read through all this: Thank you for doing so, and wish you a good rest of your week.
I appreciate the well thought out response. And while I genuinely appreciate your interpretations of some of the visual metaphor here, especially with bonds and your take on the Armina design- there were a few things that I left out of the video, not wanting to harp on this game's handling of sexuality too much. First, you're definitely right. The US tends to be a little more puritanical when it comes to nudity, but it is not something that bothers me. And "bothers" is hardly the right word for it. I liked the design work here quite a bit from an aesthetic standpoint, but I felt like the nudity and sexuality were utilized as more of a shock and awe tactic than anything. In the first memory, I thought it was actually kind of awesome, even if I didn't know where they were going with it. But, by the fifth memory I was like... "I get it." And with camera pans that would just kind of linger, and with the stone embedded in her chest- the camera would sometime zoom in to where it was just tits on the screen. And then there was the fifth memory in and of itself, where Donovan meets with the chained Briar. In that sequence we can see that she was chained, but also fully clothed. So these sequences- I don't know where they would fit into her actual experience. And then there is Armina. While I agree with you, that the design is haunting and definitely reinforces her negative relationship with Demian ,there is no getting around the fact that his skeletal form is strategically placed around her form. And he comes together around her in the form of bondage gear complete with both hands wrapped around her neck. But even when Demian does take over their shared body he further demeans her by calling her a "stupid bitch" while reaching out to choke her. And then the jiggle physics even with her body being wrapped up in all of that- I don't know man. I am not saying you are wrong, and that there isn't tons of visual metaphor at play here. And I certainly understand that the artists may have had all sorts of intentions with their designs. But both can be true. You can have excellent visual design, which this game does. And also have writing and cinematography that can come across as edgy, overly horny, and seem to be directed disproportionally towards its female characters. Which I felt to be the case. I still loved the game. I still dug all of these characters. I just wasn't crazy about some of these moments. But, like you said. There is a chance that both of us could be reading too far into this. Thanks for the comment. And thanks for watching!
I've just noticed something! Her collar and the iron rings on her wrists are all shaped like the crest of the Order of the Ashen Blade, which symbolises the parts of her memories locked away by the order.
very interesting points of view my friend , i really liked reading your analisis as they made me think more in depht at these designs in the game , thank you very much
Excellent video brother. Your video was one of the factors to me picking up the game finally. Just finished and I thought it was great! And a fantastic foundation to build upon. I think the color coding was done significantly better as a some what meter to manage but still giving you your whole kit to engage with enemies. Unlike the dmc reboot which ties the color coding behind weapons meaning you get less than half your kit, soulstice is a great step forward in this regard! Again great video brother, glad to see people like you being open minded and giving smaller games the coverage they deserve.
Interesting thing on the DMC reboot in regards to the color coding, is that Ninja Theory did it before in their title Heavenly Sword, which was more interesting than just "blue weapon on blue enemy/red weapon on red enemy". Main character Nariko only has a single weapon, the titular Heavenly Sword, but it can switch between three stances, which all have a color associated with them. -Yellow: Range, turns the sword into a set of blade flails. -Blue: Balance, splits the sword into two blades, one of them being cleaver-like and the other being more balanced. -Orange: Power, full complete sword. Nariko can only ever attack in any of these stances, and guarding is done automatically by not doing anything. Specific enemy attacks are coded with these colors, but they can also attack with normal attacks or Red-coded attacks, which are unblockable. So here's the thing: you can always damage any enemy in any of the Stances, but to *counterattack* (Defend + Attack button) you have to be in the right Stance. So Blue for Blue attacks and Orange for Orange attacks. Either ones work for non-color coded attacks, for red-coded attacks you have to dodge, and Yellow attacks are exclusively projectiles, which means that simply attacking in Ranged stance destroys the incoming arrows and stuff. So the color coding is more an optional reactive thing than an active thing the enemy types demand you to do.
@joelhinton7043 I really appreciate the kind words. I tend to kind of gravitate toward games that are little more underground, mostly because I dig experimental titles. That is so cool that this review got you to check out the game, I love to hear it! The game is super rad, and I agree with you that it is a solid foundation. And I loved the way the game implemented the color coding. Thank you for watching!
I tried the demo because I love the look and feel of this game. I got stuck on the 1st demo boss (I often struggle action-adventure bosses). I was afraid it might be a souls-like, which I cannot play so I gave up. Your excellent review is making me rethink this game because I really do want to play it. Sorry to hear about you color blindness.
The game can be a little difficult upfront because you don't have access to all of your options yet, but it is definitely not a souls-like. If you can get the game for like under $30, I think that's a good sweet spot for the title. And don't be afraid of dropping the game down to easy on your first play through- the game only gets better once you have access to all the weapons and skills from progressing. And don't worry about the color blindness at all, hahha. I didn't even know i was color blind until later in life. I was rock climbing and I kept mixing up yellow and green holds and browns and reds. It doesn't affect me in a negative way at all- I just see things in a slightly different way. Thanks for checking out the video, it's always great seeing you in here, my friend!
@@digitalhauntology Thank you for your reply and you are indeed a friend. Thanks to you, I think I'll give this another try in the future. I really like the two leads.
Okay, so I just started watching as I'm literally on the final chapter of the game today, so I gotta be a bit careful. But honestly... In responce to the first sentence, I *would* call this game a breath of fresh air. There's been so, so, *so* goddamn many Soulslikes coming out over the last few years that It's gotten awfully stale. It has reached the point where it's no longer about difficulty in these games, but just the overall combat becoming the same shlock. Getting a game like DMC5, Soulstice, and even Heartless & Dreadful (which came out last August, highly recommend), actually does indeed feel more fresh than before.
The review does go on to be quite positive especially in regard to the games combat systems and art direction. It’s a dope game. That first sentence was just acknowledging that this game wears its influences on its sleeve.
I got Soulstice almost around the same time I got FF16, and I agree with FF16’s combat feeling repetitive. At first it was fun then it just got very repetitive it the point I just avoided fighting if I can. Boss fights are very cinematic but drags on for way too long. Overall, I enjoyed Soulstice more than FF16. I’m already in my 2nd playthrough but FF16, I just sold the game after I beat it.
Soulstice is super solid. When I brought up Final Fantasy 16, it was mostly because on paper and at first glance- that game had super smooth and reactive combat. However, there is just nothing in the game that actually tests the player to master its systems. Soulstice keeps things interesting throughout its runtime. I tried to play FF16 on FF mode for a second play through, but I got too bored to keep going. Glad you enjoyed Soulstice, and thanks for watching!
I did have some issues with it, but not enough to break the experience. The game mostly relies on fixed camera angles. The only time it got frustrating was with some platforming. I gave some examples of it in the video, but I think your mileage will vary depending on how annoying you find that kinda thing. Thank you for watching!
@@digitalhauntology When I first saw the trailer at the PC showcase I was bloody sold immediately. Hack n Slash, berserk and claymore vibes (which the developer confirmed) my type of game right there. Haven`t played it yet but I know it`s going to be sick.
I`m glad we are seeing more H&S games being made there is no combat better than that. Here are some other H&S games to look out for: Yasuke: The Lost Descendent Valkyrie Elysium Wanted Dead Stella Blade Project DT Project M Phantom Hellcat Etenights Arise of Awakener Lost Soul Aside Grandblue fantasy relink Shouts out to hack n slash games, they are making a comeback.
Yeah, it’s definitely a rad genre. I’ve already covered Valkyrie Elysium and Wanted: Dead on this channel, but I’ll take a look at some of the other games you mentioned. Thanks for the heads up.
Good review, it's a pity you had to stain it by shedding tears about the eros in the game right at the end. Europeans in general have way less issues with erotica in their games because culturally, European women don't view themselves as sex workers and thus have no qualms about media showing this type of content, they don't see themselves as having to own female sexuality in a monopolistic way, their "agency" isn't tied to their sexuality. It also probably has something to do with there being no Protestant points of view either influencing the game designers. It's always interesting to come across different points of view and instantly knowing that the reviewer is American because of the weird way they view sexuality. Imho, too much of a momma's boys who always listen when mommy tells them to switch the channel because there's a naked breast for 0.5 seconds on the screen. Overall good review.
Thanks for the kind words in regard to the rest of review. When it comes to the sexualized bits of the game. I am in no way saying, "they showed nudity, now the game is bad." And I'm definitely not approaching this from a Puritanical mindset. I'm a straight dude, I like T&A as much as the next guy. I'm not against nudity, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't watch my fair share of explicit adult entertainment. What bothered me here was how this nudity and sexualization was always tied directly to violent or exploitative themes. Whether it be Briar or Armina, bondage against their will is applied to both characters. Armina is also referred to as a "bitch" while she is being choked out Demian. The first Briar scene was visually arresting, but by the third or fourth time they ended a chapter with the same imagery and the camera just kept her breasts in the center of the shot, I began wondering why Reply Games was using this imagery. In my opinion, these sequences do very little for characterization of either of these female characters. And I would go as far as to say that Armina's portrayal is 100% done that way to characterize Demian as a "monster" it is just being done at the expense of his female counterpart. To me this stuff is being used a cheap signifier to show the brutality of the fictional world, and they would be far from the first to use these types of short hands, and I find it just as cheap as when the "kill the dog" plot beat is utilized in post apocalyptic stories. And I get that you think that this is some American viewpoint, but that is not the case. Without getting too far into it, this is more of a take fueled by my own personal experience with sexual abuse and exploitation. I just didn't think the writing on display here handled it well and it felt like cheap pandering more than anything. I still loved Soulstice, and it is one of my favorite games that I have covered on this channel. I just found these scenes to be a little... off. And as far as the Protestant influence goes, that shit was exported here from Europe, my friend. We are still dealing with the scourge of modern conservatism and christianity that sailed its way over here from across the pond. Thank you for watching.
@digitalhauntology Okay, thanks for going in detail and further explaining your PoV. I now understand where you come from and that there's more nuance than first meets the eye in the review. If i were to explain why the nudity of the characters is tied to exploitative themes, i would start by mentioning that the rule in war and the brutish reality outside of civilized society is that women have value by virtue of being women and are sexually exploited while men have zero value and are killed off. That's the cold hard truth that gets glossed over by feminist points of view, mainly because they're not interested or even aware of the male PoV. In a post apocalyptical scenario, such as it is in the game, any female characters will have to probably at least once wrestle with that scenario if the writers of the piece of media actually care about depicting the struggles that women would face given their inherent value as women. The game is dark, and so the characters experience that darkness, there is no need to hide from that reality and the writers chose to depict their vulnerability to the player, with the way they are portrayed in those sections of the game. We can debate whether it is portrayed "tastefully" or not while also being aware that there's a continuum of opinions on the subject and that for the most part this game veers towards the worship of the female form instead of denigrating it. That's where the "male gaze" meme comes in, which for the most part is simply related to how men appreciate the forms of some women more than others and i believe we can go as far as to say that the developers of the game clearly depicted the inherent value of the feminine eros in a way that elicits feelings of protection from a male audience, however those instincts would not be there had the female characters depicted in the game not been worthy of triggering that male protective instinct in the first place. What i'm trying to get across is that for a male audience, the feminine should be shown as an ideal instead of average because the male isn't motivated by anything else but the ideal or idealized woman. Personally i'd shy away from using loaded terms such as "sexualization" due to their baggage being overtly feminist and against male sexuality. The term was not created to protect women but to protect the intellectual property of "female sexual imagery" that feminists think women should have a monopoly over, with the uncomfortable implication being that all women are or are potential sex workers who have an interest in there being such a monopoly for very pragmatic reasons, and i'm using the politically correct term there for "sex dealer" for a reason. As for Armina, i'll have to see whether the writers chickened out on showing the dark side of the feminine and played her character as a woman controlled by an evil man, i wouldn't be surprised. Personally, i have a love-hate relationship with portraying women as weak because for anyone who has ever interacted with any woman at all, they know that women have their own dark sides, strengths, weaknesses but what they are not is docile and weak. Personally I much prefer for female characters in games to be portrayed as damsels, or at worst grey characters because i don't like thinking of women as manipulative pragmatic and devious in general, even though that's the cold harsh reality with some of them. That's just how i'm built mentally, maybe that's where that inherent pro-female bias my male brain is so fond of always pushing me towards. I don't believe that the writers actually thought about making Armina weak or a puppet, i think they just think the same way i do. They created this. . monstrous but obviously very attractive character which triggers the male brain into going in the protective instincts mode and they didn't want to push her towards being an irredeemable character for the same reason why French women who collaborated with the National Socialist Party of Germany back in 1930's didn't get killed, like the Frenchmen who did. They only had their heads shaved and were shamed. I do think that pro-female bias is what always colors the writing direction of male writers, and i wouldn't be one to tell them that it's wrong. Btw, i didn't laud your writing skills enough in the first comment i posted. I actually enjoyed your video more than others, and i watched 2-3 more reviews on the game before i decided i would buy it. English isn't my first language so i lack enough easily reachable adjectives to describe your writing style however what i can say is your sentences flowed much better than those of other reviewers and it was a pleasure to listen and watch. Where we differ is probably on how much gratuitous portrayal of the female eros is acceptable and my limits are probably not that much higher than your own but still considerably further up. I don't view female sexual imagery as constituting an inherent transgression on the essence of the feminine but as an intrinsic and irremovable part of it. Women without this power are like men without strength, they're defanged and declawed lions, powerless. The fact that the same women who decry this sort of obvious worship of the female form are most of the time lacking in it should give everyone pause and enough time to reflect over the real motivations behind their actions.
@@Sergio6726 Again, thank you for the compliments especially when it comes to my writing. I try my best to make this videos the absolute best that I can and I am always learning. You and I certainly have differing viewpoints when it comes to this matter, but that's okay. And I really do appreciate you reaching and at least entertaining my alternative take. I think there is always room for nudity and sexual content. I think that there is even room for it to be done in crass or distasteful ways. I love horror movies and that has been a troupe of the genre since the beginning. I just want people to be honest. If nudity is being used for titillation, go for it, but don't try to act like it has some intrinsic value. And if themes are more sensitive and handled poorly, then they are likely to be met with criticism. Thank you for the conversation. And I'm glad that you enjoyed the video.
Since you mentioned nier au..( i always forget how to spell it ) but have you heard of aikode? It is made by one person that took a couple of things from different games ( persona calendar system and relationship i think. I really want to play soulstice but I only got a Nintendo switch. Sure wish I could also play ai limit and granblue fantasy relink but damn if only Nintendo have stronger hardware. But seriously though I envy playstation and PC but mostly PC ( I despise sony censorship). I really like ai and android female protagonist and half whatever creature female protagonist become. Sorry for saying alot
I hadn’t heard of AIKODE until you mentioned it. It looks cool, and the Nier influence is undeniable. It’s on my radar now. Soulstice is rad- hope you get a chance to check it out in the future. Thanks for watching.
@@digitalhauntology I will tell you this. Some games are kept hidden just like aikode barely anyone knows about it. I know someday a lot of people will know these hidden games. I know another game called the war of genesis remnants of grey which had been on my radar for so long. I think it is only for Nintendo switch
Right on, I just checked that one out too. Yeah, there are a lot more studios nowadays, it seems harder and harder each year for devs to get attention.
I'm not sure if you are into metrovandia ( did I spell it correctly I can't remember but it's like Metroid dread or hollow knight) ender lilies is a good game but it does get difficult as you get further the endings you can get in one playthrough but you can check how to get it if you want. It's not hidden or anything I just want to say I love this game and it is the first type a game I beaten. Again sorry if I'm saying a lot
This game was released at the worst possible time, too many games came out in 2022. This one definitely looked like one of the better ones for sure but it was competing with Star Ocean 6 for my attention and I could only afford one... looks like I made the right choice. The whole "weapon swap" combos thing absolutely screams red flag to me, both Nanobreaker and Nier Automata did it and failed because of it. Come to think of it, despite you call the game a hidden gem in the title, the things you say about the game in the video don't really make it sound like one. It seems to me that this is yet another misguided attempt at ripping off Devil May Cry. Sure 6th gen was full of those games to varying results but this looks to be on the lower end of the spectrum, probably not as bad as Nanobreaker but... well Drakengard... again, which explains why you love it so much XD. It is kind of frustrating how so many of these types of games seem misguided in their design. These developers think they know how to make a solid beat em up but they really don't have a clue. The only things they seemingly get right are the basic foundations in the form of dodge mechanics, movement and all that. That's one thing that has definitely improved over the years but in regards to everything else, it comes across as a downgrade from 6th gen classics. Do developers not understand how to impliment a free flowing combat system in the 2020's? Like I'd even take the more linear cancel combo system over this weapon swap system, weapon swapping is such a lame system to me, I mean don't get me wrong, when it is used in addition to a free flowing combat system, it can be great but when it IS the combat, it's a huge problem. Honestly this game actually looks worse than Valkyrie Elysium, like even my personal bias against that game cannot deny that, Valkyrie Elysium at least has a cancel combo system with seemingly semi-free flowing combat, it just doesn't really work as well as you'd think. This game has barely anything going for it based on what you showed in this video. It looks so basic by comparison. I would rather play Valkyrie Elysium if I'm honest because at least that game, as appaling of a follow up to the Valkyrie Profile series that it was, it was still a decent 3D Beat Em Up, not amazing but decent. This game just looks below average to me. I'd rather play an ACTUAL 6th gen 3d beat em up that flopped like Musashi 2 because at least that game still has its old school charm.
You're definitely right that this game has some Drakengard vibes, which absolutely played into my enjoyment of the game. And while, I would definitely agree that this game is hardly as refined as even something like Final Fantasy XVI (which I kinda got into in the video)- what really pulled me into the experience was how it was able to layer on a ton of mechanics which made battles frantic and exercises of threat mitigation. The whole, you have just a few seconds to identify what is happening here and then start changing up your approach thing immediately fired off for me. With even Devil may Cry and and Nier Automata, I often feel like I can approach most enemies in identical fashion once I know the combo routes. And then, maybe this is something I failed at explaining in the video, but there definitely are cancel windows in this game, but they occur before you commit to extended combos through double tapping. A finisher string is attack, attack, wait, then dial in the finisher. So there is this cool push/pull moment of realizing whether or not it is time to commit or cash out. This might just be an agree to disagree thing- but I found the combat here to be some of the most fun I've had in a character action game in recent years. But admittedly (as you have probably noticed from the rest of my videos) I have a pretty high tolerance for jank. The blemishes here distracted, but when it was working- I loved the game. When compared to Valkyrie Elysium, or even Wanted: Dead- I feel like this game requires far more moment to moment strategy- and then when mixed with an art direction that I loved and a soundtrack that just worked for me- I fucking loved it. Valk Elysium was definitely a competent action game, but everything was shown to you in the UI so it just felt like going through the motions- and the rest of the presentation did very little to pull me in. I totally get why this game wouldn't be appealing to everyone, and I certainly respect your opinion as your videos make what you are looking for in games clear. This is just my take on it. Thanks for watching, and I hope you get to start making videos again.
@@digitalhauntology I don't think the game looks like the worst 3d beat em up ever made, I mean I haven't even played it for myself so I cannot judge, I have played some really bad ones and I mean really bad ones and I don't think this game comes close to reaching the level of dreadfulness of those games. It just seems like a game that would disappoint me, what I see so far from the video looks very cookie cutter. There have been quite a few Beat Em Ups in recent years to the point that it just seems outdated and redundant to me based on what was shown and told to me in the video. I love me some old school beat em ups for sure but why would I play this one when there's a dozen of them released on the PS2 for me to play? I mean if it wasn't a brand new full priced game and was dirt cheap and I had all the free time to spare in the world, I'd probably play it but does this game seem worth my time and money based on this video? Absolutely not. You did your job right, you told me everything I needed to hear in the video, now I have no regrets having not played it because you told me everything I needed to know, so that's a win-win in my book. Good Job. I'm getting back into content creation now since the move is over and done with so you can look forward to more content comming soon.
@@digitalhauntologyhow nice of you i joke about you being into men and you hope i fall into a manhole. (i bet you voted for hitler ooo i mean kamler.)< fyi clearly a joke i'm probably older than you physically and mentally. but honestly i hope you do well on youtube no hate i can tell you put a lot into theas vids. (but hey a hole heap of shit is still a heap of shit)< fyi clearly a joke. for real tho have you heard you catch more fly's with honey than shit (posts) ? i mean i'm not the one trying to get money from this channel you are after all i'm just another number either way good luck being you
glad to see someone giving this game the love it deserves. i swear the lack of coverage on youtube of this game is a real shame. one if the best action games of all time in my opinion
This game rules for sure.
Thanks for watching!
yooo Briar also really resembles Claire from Claymore! Game looks pretty dank I might check it out sometime, sick video!
I didn’t mention Claymore, only because I’m not familiar with it at all. But a lot of people online have said the same thing.
I’ll definitely read the manga soon.
Thanks for watching, my friend!
Bruh ... It's definitely claymore adaptation!! This game is awesome 😎😎
It is definitly more claimore than berserk
The problem with soulstice is the requirement of luts ability to jump the blue steps in platforms.. you have to press the jump perfectly just to do those two steps in chapter 2.. I spent almost 1 hr trying that step.. and the mission bosses are very difficult too
Like you shouldn't make it so difficult to jump a fucking platform at such a fucking annoying angle needed. This guy defo played the game when he mentioned the platforming. The game play can make someone want to punch things. Most of the stuff needed is from lut even in fighting and her abilities only last for 30 secs.. its so annoying
As one of the biggest Soulstice fans around, i'm really glad to see a very in-depth and positive coverage on this video.
I would have never made the association with either Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter, but it's an interesting one to make! The one with DMC: Devil May Cry is much more obvious, but you're right that there is much more going on *surrounding* the color coding.
Didn't actually ever stand still that the colorblindness options were for that mechanic specifically, but now you have an extra personal thing to relate to your experiences with this game. For what it's worth from a stranger on the internet, i hope that this colorblindness (or any other ailment) won't bring you much trouble in the future, and there will be a lot of sights, smells, sounds etc. for you to enjoy either way.
Fun fact: DMC: Devil May Cry wasn't Ninja Theory's first hack-and-slash/character action title with a color coding mechanic. Before that was Heavenly Sword, which had a color coding thing based around defense: You can only counter enemy moves that have a certain color, with a stance of the same color (Yellow is Ranged, Blue is Balanced and Orange is Power, whereas uncolored enemy attacks don't need a stance, and Red attacks are unblockable)
About it taking too long to get the full arsenal/some of the best moves: I do agree. I've seen people say that the game feels dragged out, and while i didn't personally suffer or actively notice it, i do see it in hindsight. If the game had cut down on some levels, or had some more visual variety, it may not have felt that way for a number of those players.
It's quite interesting how there's some potential for "builds", in a way, with Lute's skill tree. I've heard that equipping and de-equipping skills was something that Reply Game Studios took from Bayonetta. I appreciate it, because a number of Lute's automatic counters felt like it tripped me up in enemy encounters at times. Deactivating that and getting a full currency refund felt helpful.
I've never played Devil May Cry myself, but from what i *know* of that series, it seems like Soulstice merged the Style Rankings with the Devil Trigger gauge by way of the Unity resource, and also gives extra choices on how to spend it. Like for the Combo Finishers, but also for skills like letting Lute's overcharge take a bit of Unity instead of evaporating her for a few seconds.
For those who'd rather retain their Unity, or take a path that *weaponizes* Lute's Overcharge, this isn't necessarily an upgrade. So again, that option to de-quip is an interesting one.
(And of course, the recent update allowed for the proper Transcended form to build up over time, which can also be used in some different ways).
Love, too, how the weapons even outside of their designated "strong against (...) type" have their specialties and different properties compared to one another. The Ashen Enforcer's Jump + Attack when airborne for example simply slams down, while the Hand of Retribution's (gauntlet buckler) is a launcher *from* the air in a small, circular radious around Briar.
Or how the double tap + Forward/run forward type moves also have their unique properties. The Ashen Vindicator's (Sword) reaches the furthest, the Whip's covers the least distance but hits enemies multiple times in a wide radius, and the Fiery Zealots (cannon tonfas) are a quick, straight-ahead dash that BLASTS enemies behind you for propulsion, and ends in multiple hits against the enemy.
Personally i'm a big fan of the Hold Attack move of the Merciful Blades (the punch daggers). They are generally good against single targets for their short-ranged, focused damage, but the Hold Attack is just... it's delicious rapid punches that don't have a limit to it, and it can help keep you in the air.
Also, the bow is quite good for keeping a launched enemy in the air and the whip's got a nice grappling hook. Both are quite dependant on lock-on, though, and enemies can prepare to attack from off-screen.
(i've mainly played the likes of the Darksiders games, Lords of Shadow 1 and 2, Marlow Briggs and the Mask of Death, Heavenly Sword and Dante's Inferno, with knowledge on Splatterhouse 2010 and Knight's contract.)
Must say i'm not a fan of the environmental hazards during battles. The area of the first Abomination fight ESPECIALLY sucked because of those. Abominations in general to me seem like the worst enemy types: on the discussion forums to Soulstice on Steam, i've even made a community post discussing some of the best, worst and most interesting enemies of all three varieties.
The enemy variety in this game is in my opinion generally quite strong, with the more significant enemies having more notable movesets. Such as Maulers (the big Corrupted with the giant arm) : They sport normal, very damaging Melee attacks, but also fair stun/juggle defense *and* two different ranged attacks.
Fuppin' HATE the Abominations and Furies, though.
In any case, my case being: Enemy encounters don't need that extra environmental hazard crud, even if it can be used to your advantage, because the enemies are generally a solid assembly.
Finally: I very much think this story is one of my favourites among all hack-and-slash/character action type games. I quite like the writing, it reminds me a bit of Darksiders. The sisters bring out the best in each other, Layton's got good snark to him while growing into a proper ally with his own agency, and telling us about the rest of the world we don't get to see, Donovan is tragic but not exempt from guilt, the Transcended are memorable, and Lord Dugal... oooh, *what* a villain already.
I want to say something your uncomfortable feelings of Briar and Armina at the end, but i'll be posting that in a separate comment. This one's getting big as is, and i reckon an extra comment may make for some engagement on your video. Plus, with the subject, I also assume that it may be something you'd rather discuss separate from the other stuff, to give it more of its own weight.
For now, thank you for taking the time to make this video and put extra attention on this title which, with its shortcomings or strange parts, is a well-intentioned and solid entry into the genre, and deserves all the proper feedback and criticism it can get, for its future to offer more cool and interesting things.
Perhaps Clash: Artifacts of Chaos, Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands and the upcoming Genokids may prove interesting.
And until then, wish you interesting findings in other ventures, for YT and outside of it.
First, thanks for taking the time out of your day to leave such a nuanced comment.
As you pointed out, there is tons of mechanical depth in this game, and even after dedicating most of this video to the combat, there is so much here. It is an awesome foundation.
I never played Heavenly sword, by the time I got a PS3 that game had just kind of passed me by.
And with me mentioning DmC as much as I did, I felt like it was the most obvious comparison I could make- especially with the color coded stuff.
And don't worry about the color blindness at all. It doesn't really affect me in my day to day. I just sometimes mix colors up. It's usually more funny than anything else.
One thing I didn't mention in the review that was kind of interesting was the launcher and slam attack (in DmC they are called "helm breakers) inputs that you mentioned. They are decidedly easier to do than they are in Devil May Cry. In Dmc they require movements of the stick and button presses, but here in Solstice they were simplified. And I find it interesting, because in FFXVI, they use the exact same solution as Solstice- to the point where I wonder if there was an influence.
I liked the story quite a bit, and I got a Darksiders vibe as well. Hopefully they will be able to work on the sequel that they hinted towards at the end there.
Thanks for watching!
That was one game in a long time, where i barely could the controller away it was superawesome.
Also remindet me alot of the anime claymore, which i watched again then.
Hopefull for a Soulstice 2
@jurtheorc8117 If you are a fan of the game and you liked this vid, you should search for El Vnugo Soulstice Analysis, a dude did an extensive review, making in depth comparisons to Berserk and Claymore. It's tonally very different than this vid but I liked them both
I absolutely believe Soulstice is a breath of fresh air simply due to how saturated the market is with soulslikes and other slower paced gameplay systems, seeing this old school type of combat still being made nowadays makes me very happy and gives me hope that gaming isn't a complete lost cause
We can always use some more stylish action games in the vein of Devil May Cry and other PS2 era games
Character action games are finally coming back, i'm all up for the hack n slash renaissance
I’m always down for more hack and slash. Let’s keep it going. I guess the fresh air line was that this game is very obviously influenced. But it is super rad
Tbh they could make one hell of a sequel! This is like dmc 3, amazing, unrefined, yet filled with infinite potential!
I really hope they get to do a follow up.
Thanks for watching!
Soulstice does something with its story many games fail, in my opinion. It shows you the struggle they had to explain to you what is going on, but to me it never felt like the game wanted you to learn that as its main plot, but rather tell you how this ties into the narrative we play. I mean, through their past we learn how the other Chimeras operate AND we learn about our enemy, if you know you know
This was a fun review to watch, you hit the pros and cons of this game very even handily.
Thank you for the kind words!
Awesome game, and I’m glad you liked the video.
Thank you for watching.
Literally beat the final boss last night, I loved the game, the story, the characters. All are a 9/10 to me
Definitely an awesome game. Glad you liked it.
Thank you for watching
@@digitalhauntology glad to watch, though my only negative opinion is the sexualization bit, my personal thoughts are simply the nudity part is that your mind self kinda doesn’t take your clothes with you since they aren’t really a part of your inner self, and the chains I wouldn’t think bondage.. but the actual mental restraints put on her to keep her leashed like a beast. But again that’s just my opinion on it
I would agree with you that there is definitely a metaphorical quality to some of it. But considering that bondage is also a motif found with Armina’s design, this was definitely a choice.
It didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment- I just thought it seemed edgy for the sake of edgy.
Could be wrong though.
Great breakdown of Soulstice, really enjoying it so far. But yeah, I agree with all your critiques, especially when it comes to color, fixed camera angles, and early weapon accessibility.
Thank you, I really appreciate it!
Yeah it’s a pretty rad game. Definitely a great time, but it’s got some little quirks. Glad more people are checking it out.
Thank you for watching.
@@digitalhauntology yeah it was on my radar from the first trailer, got it for free on Epic Games. No just playing my backlog, Soulstice is the second game.
On chapter 4, but already curious what they could do with the experience they have now.
Yeah you can’t beat that price haha.
I think you’ll enjoy it as the game goes on.
Also checked out your channel. Good stuff, subscribed, my friend.
Thank you for mentioning how combos are dialed in like Mortal Kombat as opposed to games like Guilty Gear or Street Fighter with immediate feedback, short start-up, cancel windows, etc. Too many reviews are simply, "Game looks like Bayonetta and the game feels good." Your breakdown conveys the actual tactile experience, and it's now something I'll consider when checking the game out.
I’m glad I was able to help.
The game definitely has a more deliberate feel, but dash canceling keeps it from feeling overly stiff. Check it out if you can get a deal on it. The game is solid.
Hi. What’s the game @1:20? Thanx
That is Valkyrie Elysium.
Thank you for watching!
NieR Gestalt (2010) also had bullet hell segments.
It sure did, I was having trouble remembering if they were the two toned bullets. I know in Automata there are bullets that can be slashed, and others that need to be shot.
Thanks for watching.
@digitalhauntology it's funny. I just watched like 5 of your videos in a row. Excellent work!!!
We have very similar tastes. Drakengard 3 is your favorite game. NieR Gestalt/Replicant (next to mgs snake eater) is mine. *I actually pre-ordered Drakengard 3 and got those bonus outfits. I recently finished 13 Sentinels Nov 5th. I still have my Valkyrie Profile umd.
I say all that to say. I think you should do a video on God Hand.
I promise you, I will get around to it.
God Hand is perfection.
You’ve got got good taste 😉
Thanks for checking out the videos and thanks for the kind words. It means a lot.
This was a free game on EGS a while back. Glad I snagged it!
That’s a come up for sure!
Thanks for watching
Claymore is definitely the biggest influence here with the world-building and monster design, but yeah, this game is fun but flawed. I really want a sequel.
I hear you. I’m not too familiar with Claymore, as I haven’t checked it out yet. And Reply mentioned Berserk by name multiple times in their interviews- that’s why I honed in on it.
But a lot of people are seeing Claymore’s influence here.
I hope the get to build upon it- there is a good foundation here.
I found this for $0.99. Cant beat that
Alright, let's go then for the subject of the things with Briar and Armina at the end there.
No promises i will convince you with my arguments, but i do hope an extra perspective may prove interesting.
For others reading: Spoilers ahead.
I think you're looking too deep into Briar being naked and chained, as well as Armina's death by choking, as something sexual. At risk of making a prejudiced statement: I'd say Europe is more relaxed or not as high-strung on subjects of nudity and sexuality, as the US generally seems to be.
Nudity and chains definitely have their associations, but neither are directly sexual on their own. Nudity can symbolize a primeval pureness: Nothing is kept hidden. A living being is fully presented in who they are on the outside, perhaps even symbolizing an inner pureness as well.
Conversely, it can also symbolize vulnerability. No protection from external pains, be they the bite of fire, snow, sickness or steel alike.
The chains are, in my reading, simply symbolic of being stuck in her trauma and views on herself.
So that covers both the pureness and the vulnerability alike. Pureness in that we get to see inside Briar's mind, the direct memories of what happened in the past. (Plus, a 'mind' as such is also a primeval and mysterious thing.)
And vulnerability in exactly that same sense: She is stuck and alone in her own mind, and held back by her memories.
A number of which aren't even *truly* her memories, but brainwashing by Lord Dugal.
So i believe the chains are also mental representations of the magics or warped memories that keep Briar from seeing the truth.
In a way, i think the thing with the nudity and chains could well be interpreted the opposite way of what made you uncomfortable: an empowering one, a show of true support for one another, to help the other person find the strength to rise above what holds them back. For it is thanks to the Sisters' bond, and Lute's everlasting love and support, that Briar breaks her own chains.
And yet, one could also interpret it as there being some form of perversion-- from the interpretation that perversion would be forcing something else to bend to one's own will or desire.
That's how i interpret the concept of perversion. Not necessarily as something sexual, but still very much harmful.
So in that sense, the brainwashing/altered memories could be considered "perverted". Dugal forced his own narrative into Briar's mind as a way to ensure loyalty of these two unique girls.
Luckily, Briar's too stubborn and moody to let herself be led around by others that easily. But it also made her believe she killed Lute when she wasn't yet a Shade, and has carried immense guilt ever since. Immense guilt for something that she didn't even do in the first place.
So from that angle --which i'm again aware, may be looking too deep into it-- There's something very much positive in seeing a person defy the efforts of others, to force her life to suit their own purposes.
DISCLAIMER 1: NOT SAYING THIS IS INTENDED as a direct allegory for the likes of grooming, gaslighting, abuse or other real-life horrible practices that would cover different situations.
At this game's core, it's a cool dark fantasy story with both action and emotion, and the writers only wanted to tell the story of Soulstice and nobody else's. Only the story of the land of Keidas and the Realm of Chaos, of Briar and Lute, of Donovan and Hannah, and others within that story. And all have their own lot in life to have dealt with, through their own actions, mistakes, and those of others.
The story is its own thing. From there, anyone could view and judge it their own way. Your view and mine have collided on a particular subject, and... these are just my arguments from my point of view.
On the notion of interpreting words and their meanings: I could make a pun about "bondage" and "the bond between people" as in shaping and maintaining a relationship and bond with one another,
as perhaps the most wholesome and empowering interpretation of the word, buuut i can't figure a good one out.
May be a bit of a stupid pun anyway, but here you go anyway :P
Regarding Armina: Can't really say anything about her outfit being the most skimpy in the entire game. But what I still think gives it merit that elevates it beyond interpretations of superficial titillation (or to some, may be too ridiculous), is that it's Demian's skeletal, ghoulish skeleton surrounding her body.
Before I go on, I am yet again well aware that I may be looking too deep into this, or not, but i hope that on the least, it will provide interesting.
Alright, to explain myself: Demian is a great example of how a strong bond between two people to form a Chimera doesn't have to be a positive one. Fusing most likely wasn't a free choice of theirs, and Demian in the flashbacks already takes great joy in demeaning and insulting Armina.
Throughout the game, it is told and shown that Demian is absolutely nuts. He is a deranged, cruel serial murderer, a predatorial figure who even as a Shade tries to hurt people through whatever means.
In a more literary or academical definition of the word, as stated earlier: he could be considered perverse himself. Forcing others to fit within his own desires, pleasure and delight.
It's no wonder she is not fond of him. Nobody sane would be.
Now let's look at their transcended form. Demian's ghoulish remnants envelop and ensnare her body like a cage, with his hands reaching around her neck. Armina's own body is much more emphasized, which makes sense as she wants to keep Demian's presence at a minimum. But Demian is still all around her. He still --quite literally-- has his grip on her.
They're inexorably connected, always close to one another. The one seemingly in power always has to be on her guard against the monster that has spiritually, mentally, and now also physically, been interwoven into her being.
It's real fuppin' tragic.
Also, like the chains, choking isn't neccessarily a kink thing. Can just be meant to... kill someone. Quite horribly.
A perverse thrill is definitely involved, though. Demian is just that petty and horrible, that he wants Armina to die first, and still wants to cross one last line before their deaths. Turning Armina's body against herself was his last sadistic laugh before passing as well.
Could you imagine someone so horrible that, even at the brink of death, concentrates his last efforts onto bringing pain to someone else for the "crime" of not letting them do what they want with you?
That is what Demian is.
Again, Disclaimer 1. Soulstice only seeks to tell its own story, not to be a sensitive allegory for abuse in all its different forms.
I'm only supplying my own views and lens on something where our views do not align.
And for what it's worth... I hope it was at least interesting.
A belated apologies if a number of things i say don't line up that well or don't make too much sense, but if you took the time to read through all this: Thank you for doing so, and wish you a good rest of your week.
I appreciate the well thought out response.
And while I genuinely appreciate your interpretations of some of the visual metaphor here, especially with bonds and your take on the Armina design- there were a few things that I left out of the video, not wanting to harp on this game's handling of sexuality too much.
First, you're definitely right. The US tends to be a little more puritanical when it comes to nudity, but it is not something that bothers me.
And "bothers" is hardly the right word for it.
I liked the design work here quite a bit from an aesthetic standpoint, but I felt like the nudity and sexuality were utilized as more of a shock and awe tactic than anything.
In the first memory, I thought it was actually kind of awesome, even if I didn't know where they were going with it.
But, by the fifth memory I was like... "I get it."
And with camera pans that would just kind of linger, and with the stone embedded in her chest- the camera would sometime zoom in to where it was just tits on the screen.
And then there was the fifth memory in and of itself, where Donovan meets with the chained Briar. In that sequence we can see that she was chained, but also fully clothed. So these sequences- I don't know where they would fit into her actual experience.
And then there is Armina.
While I agree with you, that the design is haunting and definitely reinforces her negative relationship with Demian ,there is no getting around the fact that his skeletal form is strategically placed around her form. And he comes together around her in the form of bondage gear complete with both hands wrapped around her neck.
But even when Demian does take over their shared body he further demeans her by calling her a "stupid bitch" while reaching out to choke her.
And then the jiggle physics even with her body being wrapped up in all of that- I don't know man.
I am not saying you are wrong, and that there isn't tons of visual metaphor at play here.
And I certainly understand that the artists may have had all sorts of intentions with their designs.
But both can be true.
You can have excellent visual design, which this game does.
And also have writing and cinematography that can come across as edgy, overly horny, and seem to be directed disproportionally towards its female characters.
Which I felt to be the case.
I still loved the game. I still dug all of these characters. I just wasn't crazy about some of these moments.
But, like you said.
There is a chance that both of us could be reading too far into this.
Thanks for the comment.
And thanks for watching!
I've just noticed something! Her collar and the iron rings on her wrists are all shaped like the crest of the Order of the Ashen Blade, which symbolises the parts of her memories locked away by the order.
very interesting points of view my friend , i really liked reading your analisis as they made me think more in depht at these designs in the game , thank you very much
I've not tried this yet, but I'm obsessed with Devil May Cry, so I may have to give it a go. Digging the thumping soundtrack, too.
You’ll probably find something to dig here for sure. Pick it up for cheap if you can.
That soundtrack is 👌🏼
Thanks for watching, my friend.
Excellent video brother. Your video was one of the factors to me picking up the game finally. Just finished and I thought it was great! And a fantastic foundation to build upon. I think the color coding was done significantly better as a some what meter to manage but still giving you your whole kit to engage with enemies. Unlike the dmc reboot which ties the color coding behind weapons meaning you get less than half your kit, soulstice is a great step forward in this regard!
Again great video brother, glad to see people like you being open minded and giving smaller games the coverage they deserve.
Interesting thing on the DMC reboot in regards to the color coding, is that Ninja Theory did it before in their title Heavenly Sword, which was more interesting than just "blue weapon on blue enemy/red weapon on red enemy".
Main character Nariko only has a single weapon, the titular Heavenly Sword, but it can switch between three stances, which all have a color associated with them.
-Yellow: Range, turns the sword into a set of blade flails.
-Blue: Balance, splits the sword into two blades, one of them being cleaver-like and the other being more balanced.
-Orange: Power, full complete sword.
Nariko can only ever attack in any of these stances, and guarding is done automatically by not doing anything. Specific enemy attacks are coded with these colors, but they can also attack with normal attacks or Red-coded attacks, which are unblockable.
So here's the thing: you can always damage any enemy in any of the Stances, but to *counterattack* (Defend + Attack button) you have to be in the right Stance. So Blue for Blue attacks and Orange for Orange attacks.
Either ones work for non-color coded attacks, for red-coded attacks you have to dodge, and Yellow attacks are exclusively projectiles, which means that simply attacking in Ranged stance destroys the incoming arrows and stuff.
So the color coding is more an optional reactive thing than an active thing the enemy types demand you to do.
@joelhinton7043 I really appreciate the kind words. I tend to kind of gravitate toward games that are little more underground, mostly because I dig experimental titles.
That is so cool that this review got you to check out the game, I love to hear it!
The game is super rad, and I agree with you that it is a solid foundation. And I loved the way the game implemented the color coding.
Thank you for watching!
@@digitalhauntologyI hear you, the older i get the more indie/AA games I play. Played wanted dead recently and that game genuinely rules.
I completely agree.
That game is dope.
I covered it a while ago on this channel as well.
I hope they get around to making more games.
I tried the demo because I love the look and feel of this game. I got stuck on the 1st demo boss (I often struggle action-adventure bosses). I was afraid it might be a souls-like, which I cannot play so I gave up. Your excellent review is making me rethink this game because I really do want to play it. Sorry to hear about you color blindness.
The game can be a little difficult upfront because you don't have access to all of your options yet, but it is definitely not a souls-like. If you can get the game for like under $30, I think that's a good sweet spot for the title. And don't be afraid of dropping the game down to easy on your first play through- the game only gets better once you have access to all the weapons and skills from progressing.
And don't worry about the color blindness at all, hahha. I didn't even know i was color blind until later in life. I was rock climbing and I kept mixing up yellow and green holds and browns and reds. It doesn't affect me in a negative way at all- I just see things in a slightly different way.
Thanks for checking out the video, it's always great seeing you in here, my friend!
@@digitalhauntology Thank you for your reply and you are indeed a friend. Thanks to you, I think I'll give this another try in the future. I really like the two leads.
WTF, this is nothing like souls-like bro, this is hack and slash like PS2/PS3/PSP God of War, Dante's Inferno, Bayonetta, Devil May Cry...
@@Micromation Thanks for your help! Your name suits you, btw.
Okay, so I just started watching as I'm literally on the final chapter of the game today, so I gotta be a bit careful.
But honestly... In responce to the first sentence, I *would* call this game a breath of fresh air.
There's been so, so, *so* goddamn many Soulslikes coming out over the last few years that It's gotten awfully stale. It has reached the point where it's no longer about difficulty in these games, but just the overall combat becoming the same shlock.
Getting a game like DMC5, Soulstice, and even Heartless & Dreadful (which came out last August, highly recommend), actually does indeed feel more fresh than before.
The review does go on to be quite positive especially in regard to the games combat systems and art direction.
It’s a dope game.
That first sentence was just acknowledging that this game wears its influences on its sleeve.
So Claymore?
Definitely a little bit
I got Soulstice almost around the same time I got FF16, and I agree with FF16’s combat feeling repetitive. At first it was fun then it just got very repetitive it the point I just avoided fighting if I can. Boss fights are very cinematic but drags on for way too long.
Overall, I enjoyed Soulstice more than FF16. I’m already in my 2nd playthrough but FF16, I just sold the game after I beat it.
Soulstice is super solid.
When I brought up Final Fantasy 16, it was mostly because on paper and at first glance- that game had super smooth and reactive combat. However, there is just nothing in the game that actually tests the player to master its systems. Soulstice keeps things interesting throughout its runtime. I tried to play FF16 on FF mode for a second play through, but I got too bored to keep going.
Glad you enjoyed Soulstice, and thanks for watching!
If you thought this was better than FF16 than you shouldn’t even be allowed to talk about video games.
Just to ask did you have issues with the camera? the biggest criticism I hear about this game is the camera.
I did have some issues with it, but not enough to break the experience. The game mostly relies on fixed camera angles. The only time it got frustrating was with some platforming.
I gave some examples of it in the video, but I think your mileage will vary depending on how annoying you find that kinda thing.
Thank you for watching!
@@digitalhauntology When I first saw the trailer at the PC showcase I was bloody sold immediately. Hack n Slash, berserk and claymore vibes (which the developer confirmed) my type of game right there. Haven`t played it yet but I know it`s going to be sick.
I`m glad we are seeing more H&S games being made there is no combat better than that.
Here are some other H&S games to look out for:
Yasuke: The Lost Descendent
Valkyrie Elysium
Wanted Dead
Stella Blade
Project DT
Project M
Phantom Hellcat
Etenights
Arise of Awakener
Lost Soul Aside
Grandblue fantasy relink
Shouts out to hack n slash games, they are making a comeback.
Yeah, it’s definitely a rad genre.
I’ve already covered Valkyrie Elysium and Wanted: Dead on this channel, but I’ll take a look at some of the other games you mentioned.
Thanks for the heads up.
@@digitalhauntology Np most of the games are currently in development but you can still look out for them.
Oh yh and one more:
Lost Soul Aside.
Only thing I dislike is the camera angles. Not sure why they picked the diorama style camera angles
Yeah it’s definitely hit or miss for some people.
Throwback to the PS2 era. Very Nier like.
@@digitalhauntologyMore like old gows
Good review, it's a pity you had to stain it by shedding tears about the eros in the game right at the end. Europeans in general have way less issues with erotica in their games because culturally, European women don't view themselves as sex workers and thus have no qualms about media showing this type of content, they don't see themselves as having to own female sexuality in a monopolistic way, their "agency" isn't tied to their sexuality.
It also probably has something to do with there being no Protestant points of view either influencing the game designers. It's always interesting to come across different points of view and instantly knowing that the reviewer is American because of the weird way they view sexuality. Imho, too much of a momma's boys who always listen when mommy tells them to switch the channel because there's a naked breast for 0.5 seconds on the screen. Overall good review.
Thanks for the kind words in regard to the rest of review.
When it comes to the sexualized bits of the game.
I am in no way saying, "they showed nudity, now the game is bad." And I'm definitely not approaching this from a Puritanical mindset.
I'm a straight dude, I like T&A as much as the next guy. I'm not against nudity, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't watch my fair share of explicit adult entertainment.
What bothered me here was how this nudity and sexualization was always tied directly to violent or exploitative themes.
Whether it be Briar or Armina, bondage against their will is applied to both characters.
Armina is also referred to as a "bitch" while she is being choked out Demian.
The first Briar scene was visually arresting, but by the third or fourth time they ended a chapter with the same imagery and the camera just kept her breasts in the center of the shot, I began wondering why Reply Games was using this imagery.
In my opinion, these sequences do very little for characterization of either of these female characters. And I would go as far as to say that Armina's portrayal is 100% done that way to characterize Demian as a "monster" it is just being done at the expense of his female counterpart.
To me this stuff is being used a cheap signifier to show the brutality of the fictional world, and they would be far from the first to use these types of short hands, and I find it just as cheap as when the "kill the dog" plot beat is utilized in post apocalyptic stories.
And I get that you think that this is some American viewpoint, but that is not the case. Without getting too far into it, this is more of a take fueled by my own personal experience with sexual abuse and exploitation. I just didn't think the writing on display here handled it well and it felt like cheap pandering more than anything.
I still loved Soulstice, and it is one of my favorite games that I have covered on this channel. I just found these scenes to be a little... off.
And as far as the Protestant influence goes, that shit was exported here from Europe, my friend. We are still dealing with the scourge of modern conservatism and christianity that sailed its way over here from across the pond.
Thank you for watching.
@digitalhauntology Okay, thanks for going in detail and further explaining your PoV. I now understand where you come from and that there's more nuance than first meets the eye in the review. If i were to explain why the nudity of the characters is tied to exploitative themes, i would start by mentioning that the rule in war and the brutish reality outside of civilized society is that women have value by virtue of being women and are sexually exploited while men have zero value and are killed off.
That's the cold hard truth that gets glossed over by feminist points of view, mainly because they're not interested or even aware of the male PoV. In a post apocalyptical scenario, such as it is in the game, any female characters will have to probably at least once wrestle with that scenario if the writers of the piece of media actually care about depicting the struggles that women would face given their inherent value as women. The game is dark, and so the characters experience that darkness, there is no need to hide from that reality and the writers chose to depict their vulnerability to the player, with the way they are portrayed in those sections of the game. We can debate whether it is portrayed "tastefully" or not while also being aware that there's a continuum of opinions on the subject and that for the most part this game veers towards the worship of the female form instead of denigrating it.
That's where the "male gaze" meme comes in, which for the most part is simply related to how men appreciate the forms of some women more than others and i believe we can go as far as to say that the developers of the game clearly depicted the inherent value of the feminine eros in a way that elicits feelings of protection from a male audience, however those instincts would not be there had the female characters depicted in the game not been worthy of triggering that male protective instinct in the first place. What i'm trying to get across is that for a male audience, the feminine should be shown as an ideal instead of average because the male isn't motivated by anything else but the ideal or idealized woman.
Personally i'd shy away from using loaded terms such as "sexualization" due to their baggage being overtly feminist and against male sexuality. The term was not created to protect women but to protect the intellectual property of "female sexual imagery" that feminists think women should have a monopoly over, with the uncomfortable implication being that all women are or are potential sex workers who have an interest in there being such a monopoly for very pragmatic reasons, and i'm using the politically correct term there for "sex dealer" for a reason.
As for Armina, i'll have to see whether the writers chickened out on showing the dark side of the feminine and played her character as a woman controlled by an evil man, i wouldn't be surprised. Personally, i have a love-hate relationship with portraying women as weak because for anyone who has ever interacted with any woman at all, they know that women have their own dark sides, strengths, weaknesses but what they are not is docile and weak. Personally I much prefer for female characters in games to be portrayed as damsels, or at worst grey characters because i don't like thinking of women as manipulative pragmatic and devious in general, even though that's the cold harsh reality with some of them. That's just how i'm built mentally, maybe that's where that inherent pro-female bias my male brain is so fond of always pushing me towards.
I don't believe that the writers actually thought about making Armina weak or a puppet, i think they just think the same way i do. They created this. . monstrous but obviously very attractive character which triggers the male brain into going in the protective instincts mode and they didn't want to push her towards being an irredeemable character for the same reason why French women who collaborated with the National Socialist Party of Germany back in 1930's didn't get killed, like the Frenchmen who did. They only had their heads shaved and were shamed. I do think that pro-female bias is what always colors the writing direction of male writers, and i wouldn't be one to tell them that it's wrong.
Btw, i didn't laud your writing skills enough in the first comment i posted. I actually enjoyed your video more than others, and i watched 2-3 more reviews on the game before i decided i would buy it. English isn't my first language so i lack enough easily reachable adjectives to describe your writing style however what i can say is your sentences flowed much better than those of other reviewers and it was a pleasure to listen and watch. Where we differ is probably on how much gratuitous portrayal of the female eros is acceptable and my limits are probably not that much higher than your own but still considerably further up. I don't view female sexual imagery as constituting an inherent transgression on the essence of the feminine but as an intrinsic and irremovable part of it. Women without this power are like men without strength, they're defanged and declawed lions, powerless. The fact that the same women who decry this sort of obvious worship of the female form are most of the time lacking in it should give everyone pause and enough time to reflect over the real motivations behind their actions.
@@Sergio6726 Again, thank you for the compliments especially when it comes to my writing. I try my best to make this videos the absolute best that I can and I am always learning.
You and I certainly have differing viewpoints when it comes to this matter, but that's okay. And I really do appreciate you reaching and at least entertaining my alternative take.
I think there is always room for nudity and sexual content. I think that there is even room for it to be done in crass or distasteful ways. I love horror movies and that has been a troupe of the genre since the beginning.
I just want people to be honest. If nudity is being used for titillation, go for it, but don't try to act like it has some intrinsic value. And if themes are more sensitive and handled poorly, then they are likely to be met with criticism.
Thank you for the conversation. And I'm glad that you enjoyed the video.
well done
🙏🏼
Game looks great🔥
But don’t like action level combat.
Wish it was a open world😢
It’s definitely a throwback in its design.
Maybe a sequel will be more open ended.
Thank you for watching!
Stefanie joosten you say?
Woaaahhhh hooooo
Since you mentioned nier au..( i always forget how to spell it ) but have you heard of aikode? It is made by one person that took a couple of things from different games ( persona calendar system and relationship i think. I really want to play soulstice but I only got a Nintendo switch. Sure wish I could also play ai limit and granblue fantasy relink but damn if only Nintendo have stronger hardware. But seriously though I envy playstation and PC but mostly PC ( I despise sony censorship). I really like ai and android female protagonist and half whatever creature female protagonist become. Sorry for saying alot
I hadn’t heard of AIKODE until you mentioned it.
It looks cool, and the Nier influence is undeniable. It’s on my radar now. Soulstice is rad- hope you get a chance to check it out in the future.
Thanks for watching.
@@digitalhauntology I will tell you this. Some games are kept hidden just like aikode barely anyone knows about it. I know someday a lot of people will know these hidden games. I know another game called the war of genesis remnants of grey which had been on my radar for so long. I think it is only for Nintendo switch
Right on, I just checked that one out too. Yeah, there are a lot more studios nowadays, it seems harder and harder each year for devs to get attention.
I'm not sure if you are into metrovandia ( did I spell it correctly I can't remember but it's like Metroid dread or hollow knight) ender lilies is a good game but it does get difficult as you get further the endings you can get in one playthrough but you can check how to get it if you want. It's not hidden or anything I just want to say I love this game and it is the first type a game I beaten. Again sorry if I'm saying a lot
Ender Lilies has actually been on my radar. I’ll get around to checking it out soon. Just a lot of games I’d like to get to for this channel.
This game was released at the worst possible time, too many games came out in 2022. This one definitely looked like one of the better ones for sure but it was competing with Star Ocean 6 for my attention and I could only afford one... looks like I made the right choice.
The whole "weapon swap" combos thing absolutely screams red flag to me, both Nanobreaker and Nier Automata did it and failed because of it.
Come to think of it, despite you call the game a hidden gem in the title, the things you say about the game in the video don't really make it sound like one.
It seems to me that this is yet another misguided attempt at ripping off Devil May Cry. Sure 6th gen was full of those games to varying results but this looks to be on the lower end of the spectrum, probably not as bad as Nanobreaker but... well Drakengard... again, which explains why you love it so much XD.
It is kind of frustrating how so many of these types of games seem misguided in their design. These developers think they know how to make a solid beat em up but they really don't have a clue. The only things they seemingly get right are the basic foundations in the form of dodge mechanics, movement and all that. That's one thing that has definitely improved over the years but in regards to everything else, it comes across as a downgrade from 6th gen classics.
Do developers not understand how to impliment a free flowing combat system in the 2020's? Like I'd even take the more linear cancel combo system over this weapon swap system, weapon swapping is such a lame system to me, I mean don't get me wrong, when it is used in addition to a free flowing combat system, it can be great but when it IS the combat, it's a huge problem.
Honestly this game actually looks worse than Valkyrie Elysium, like even my personal bias against that game cannot deny that, Valkyrie Elysium at least has a cancel combo system with seemingly semi-free flowing combat, it just doesn't really work as well as you'd think. This game has barely anything going for it based on what you showed in this video. It looks so basic by comparison. I would rather play Valkyrie Elysium if I'm honest because at least that game, as appaling of a follow up to the Valkyrie Profile series that it was, it was still a decent 3D Beat Em Up, not amazing but decent. This game just looks below average to me. I'd rather play an ACTUAL 6th gen 3d beat em up that flopped like Musashi 2 because at least that game still has its old school charm.
I stopped reading when you said, star ocean…
You're definitely right that this game has some Drakengard vibes, which absolutely played into my enjoyment of the game.
And while, I would definitely agree that this game is hardly as refined as even something like Final Fantasy XVI (which I kinda got into in the video)- what really pulled me into the experience was how it was able to layer on a ton of mechanics which made battles frantic and exercises of threat mitigation. The whole, you have just a few seconds to identify what is happening here and then start changing up your approach thing immediately fired off for me. With even Devil may Cry and and Nier Automata, I often feel like I can approach most enemies in identical fashion once I know the combo routes.
And then, maybe this is something I failed at explaining in the video, but there definitely are cancel windows in this game, but they occur before you commit to extended combos through double tapping. A finisher string is attack, attack, wait, then dial in the finisher. So there is this cool push/pull moment of realizing whether or not it is time to commit or cash out.
This might just be an agree to disagree thing- but I found the combat here to be some of the most fun I've had in a character action game in recent years.
But admittedly (as you have probably noticed from the rest of my videos) I have a pretty high tolerance for jank. The blemishes here distracted, but when it was working- I loved the game.
When compared to Valkyrie Elysium, or even Wanted: Dead- I feel like this game requires far more moment to moment strategy- and then when mixed with an art direction that I loved and a soundtrack that just worked for me- I fucking loved it.
Valk Elysium was definitely a competent action game, but everything was shown to you in the UI so it just felt like going through the motions- and the rest of the presentation did very little to pull me in.
I totally get why this game wouldn't be appealing to everyone, and I certainly respect your opinion as your videos make what you are looking for in games clear. This is just my take on it.
Thanks for watching, and I hope you get to start making videos again.
@@gonats84 Obvious troll is obvious.
PS Final Fantasy XVI is mid
@@digitalhauntology I don't think the game looks like the worst 3d beat em up ever made, I mean I haven't even played it for myself so I cannot judge, I have played some really bad ones and I mean really bad ones and I don't think this game comes close to reaching the level of dreadfulness of those games.
It just seems like a game that would disappoint me, what I see so far from the video looks very cookie cutter. There have been quite a few Beat Em Ups in recent years to the point that it just seems outdated and redundant to me based on what was shown and told to me in the video. I love me some old school beat em ups for sure but why would I play this one when there's a dozen of them released on the PS2 for me to play? I mean if it wasn't a brand new full priced game and was dirt cheap and I had all the free time to spare in the world, I'd probably play it but does this game seem worth my time and money based on this video? Absolutely not.
You did your job right, you told me everything I needed to hear in the video, now I have no regrets having not played it because you told me everything I needed to know, so that's a win-win in my book. Good Job.
I'm getting back into content creation now since the move is over and done with so you can look forward to more content comming soon.
@@CynicalGamingBlogTerry309*Tilts fedora and pulls up finger less gloves*
I agree, FF16 is mid
At 30 mins in he tells you he is in to men
You’re either a child.
Or may just have arrested development.
Either way good luck being you.
Hope you don’t fall into an open manhole 🕳️
@@digitalhauntologyhow nice of you i joke about you being into men and you hope i fall into a manhole.
(i bet you voted for hitler ooo i mean kamler.)< fyi clearly a joke
i'm probably older than you physically and mentally.
but honestly i hope you do well on youtube no hate i can tell you put a lot into theas vids.
(but hey a hole heap of shit is still a heap of shit)< fyi clearly a joke.
for real tho have you heard you catch more fly's with honey than shit (posts) ? i mean i'm not the one trying to get money from this channel you are after all i'm just another number either way good luck being you