The Surge: The Sci-Fi Soulslike Where You Dismember Robots for Upgrades
Waking up as Warren in The Surge, newly crippled and strapped into a clunky exoskeleton amidst a catastrophic disaster at the CREO complex, felt disorienting. Then the rogue robots attacked. Combat was brutal, Soulslike in its demand for precise dodges and timed strikes. But the twist? I could target specific enemy limbs. Slicing off an armored arm or a weaponized leg not only disabled the enemy but also let me salvage that part’s schematic to craft it for myself. This limb-targeting system turned every encounter into a strategic hunt for better gear.
Nioh 2: The Yokai-Slaying Soulslike with Deep Combat and Character Creation
As a half-yokai shiftling in Nioh 2, I battled through Sengoku-era Japan, facing demonic hordes and historical figures twisted by dark forces. The combat was incredibly deep: mastering different stances for my chosen weapon, managing Ki (stamina) with perfectly timed Ki Pulses, and unleashing devastating Yokai abilities absorbed from defeated foes. The robust character creator let me design my perfect samurai demon-slayer, and the sheer variety of weapons, skills, and Guardian Spirits offered endless build possibilities in this challenging, rewarding Soulslike.
Lords of the Fallen (2023): The Dual-Realm Soulslike – Impressive Tech, Brutal Challenge
Stepping into the ravaged world of Mournstead in Lords of the Fallen (2023), I was immediately struck by its stunning visuals. But the real hook was its dual-realm mechanic. Using the Umbral Lamp, I could shift between Axiom, the world of the living, and Umbral, a nightmarish realm of the dead, to solve puzzles and find hidden paths. Combat was weighty and unforgiving, demanding careful timing. This innovative world-switching, combined with brutal Soulslike difficulty, made for an impressive, if sometimes technically troubled, dark fantasy adventure.
Blasphemous: The Twisted Religious Horror Metroidvania with Soulslike Punish
As the Penitent One, a silent warrior clad in a pointed helmet, I traversed the horrifying, grotesque land of Cvstodia in Blasphemous. This 2D Metroidvania dripped with twisted religious iconography and punishing Soulslike combat. Every enemy was a macabre monstrosity, every boss a grotesque saint or martyr. Death was frequent and came with a penalty to my Fervour (magic). The beautiful, yet deeply unsettling pixel art and the oppressive atmosphere of guilt and penance created a unique and unforgettable journey through a land consumed by a horrifying miracle.
The Surge 2: Bigger, Badder, and More Brutal Than the Original
Returning to the world of The Surge in its sequel, I found Jericho City a sprawling, interconnected urban wasteland. The core limb-targeting combat was back, but refined and expanded, with more weapon types, enemy variety, and even more brutal dismemberment animations. The ability to parry attacks directionally added a new layer of skill to encounters. Exploring the city, customizing my exoskeleton with salvaged tech, and battling new, more dangerous robotic and mutated foes felt like a significant step up, making The Surge 2 a bigger, badder, and more satisfying sci-fi Soulslike.
Nioh 2: Mastering Stances and Ki Pulse – The Core of Combat
Combat in Nioh 2 is a dance of aggression and resource management. Each weapon type has three stances: High for powerful but slow attacks, Mid for balanced defense, and Low for quick strikes and dodges. Switching stances fluidly mid-combo became essential. Equally crucial was mastering the Ki Pulse – a perfectly timed button press after an attack that instantly recovers a chunk of Ki (stamina). Failing a Ki Pulse left me vulnerable. Nailing it allowed for relentless offensive pressure. These two mechanics formed the intricate, demanding core of Nioh 2’s incredibly deep combat.
Lords of the Fallen: Axiom vs. Umbral – Navigating Two Worlds Simultaneously
In Lords of the Fallen, my Umbral Lamp was my key to survival. The living world, Axiom, was dangerous enough. But by raising the lamp, or after death, I’d shift into Umbral, a parallel realm of skeletal horrors and increased dread. Hidden paths, puzzle solutions, and even boss weaknesses were often only accessible or visible in Umbral. This constant interplay, willingly diving into the nightmarish death realm to progress in the world of the living, added a unique, challenging dimension to exploration and combat.
Blasphemous: The Grotesque Beauty of Cvstodia and its Penitent One
The land of Cvstodia in Blasphemous is a masterpiece of grotesque beauty. Its pixel art, inspired by Spanish religious iconography and Goya’s dark paintings, depicts a world steeped in suffering, penance, and horrific miracles. The Penitent One, with his thorn-covered helmet and blood-soaked sword (Mea Culpa), is a striking figure. Every environment, from cathedrals made of bone to festering swamps, and every enemy, a twisted fusion of flesh and faith, contributes to a deeply unsettling yet artistically stunning vision of a land consumed by its fervent, twisted devotion.
The Surge: The Limb-Targeting System – Strategic Dismemberment for Loot
Combat in The Surge revolved around its unique limb-targeting system. Instead of just whittling down an enemy’s health, I’d focus my attacks on specific armored or unarmored body parts of the rogue CREO robots. Severing a limb not only dealt significant damage but, if it was an armored part I needed, also granted me the schematic and crafting materials for that specific piece of gear. This turned every fight into a strategic decision: do I go for a quick kill, or risk a tougher fight to acquire a valuable upgrade?
Nioh 2: The Yokai Shift and Soul Cores – Turning Demons Into Weapons
As a half-yokai in Nioh 2, I could unleash a powerful Yokai Shift, transforming into a demonic form for a short burst of incredible power. Even more impactful were Soul Cores. By defeating yokai, I could attune their Soul Cores, granting me access to their unique demonic abilities – like an Enki’s spear throw or a Mezuki’s devastating charge. Combining these Soul Core abilities with my human combat skills and Yokai Shift created an incredibly versatile and dynamic combat system, literally turning my demonic foes into potent new weapons.
Lords of the Fallen: The Boss Fights That Span Both Realms
The boss fights in Lords of the Fallen (2023) often utilized its dual-realm mechanic in clever ways. A boss might have vulnerabilities only visible or exploitable in the Umbral realm, forcing me to use my lamp or even die strategically to shift worlds mid-fight. Some bosses would even drag me into Umbral or have attacks that originated from the spectral plane. This constant need to be aware of both Axiom and Umbral, and to use the lamp effectively under pressure, added a unique and challenging layer to its already demanding boss encounters.
Blasphemous: The Lore Hidden in Item Descriptions and Relics
The world of Cvstodia in Blasphemous is shrouded in cryptic lore, much of it discovered through item descriptions. Each Rosary Bead, Prayer, Relic, and even the bones of ossuary saints I collected, held fragments of history, detailing the terrifying “Miracle,” the suffering of its inhabitants, and the twisted tenets of its faith. Piecing together this fragmented narrative, much like in Dark Souls, required careful reading and interpretation, slowly revealing the tragic and grotesque history of this land of endless penance.
The Surge: The Environmental Storytelling in CREO’s Dystopian Complex
The CREO complex in The Surge told a story of corporate greed and technological hubris gone wrong. Exploring its abandoned labs, derelict factories, and executive suites, I found audio logs, emails, and environmental cues that pieced together the catastrophic events leading to the robot uprising. Propaganda posters extolled CREO’s virtues, while hidden messages revealed worker exploitation and dangerous experiments. This environmental storytelling, a hallmark of Soulslikes, effectively built a compelling dystopian narrative without relying heavily on cutscenes.
Nioh 2: The Sheer Variety of Weapons and Build Possibilities
Nioh 2 offers an astounding array of weapon types, from katanas and dual swords to spears, odachis, switchglaives, and splitstaffs. Each weapon has multiple stances and extensive skill trees, allowing for deeply specialized playstyles. Combined with different armor sets, Guardian Spirits providing passive buffs and active abilities, and the customizable Yokai Soul Cores, the build possibilities felt almost infinite. I spent hours experimenting with different combinations, crafting unique samurai warriors tailored to my preferred style of yokai-slaying.
Lords of the Fallen: Is It a True Dark Souls Successor or Something New?
Lords of the Fallen (2023) clearly draws heavy inspiration from Dark Souls: weighty combat, challenging bosses, interconnected level design, and a dark fantasy setting. However, its unique dual-realm mechanic – switching between Axiom and the Umbral death realm – sets it apart, offering new puzzle and exploration opportunities. While it shares the Soulslike DNA of punishing difficulty and methodical combat, this core innovation attempts to carve its own identity. For me, it felt like a respectful homage that also bravely tried to introduce something new to the formula.
Blasphemous: The Prayers and Relics That Define Your Playstyle
In Blasphemous, my Penitent One’s abilities were shaped by Prayers (spells) and Relics (passive buffs). Prayers, fueled by Fervour, offered offensive capabilities like summoning spectral blades or defensive boons like a temporary shield. Relics, often hidden or earned through difficult quests, provided unique passive effects, such as revealing hidden passages or increasing bile flask efficacy. Choosing which Prayers to equip and which Relics to activate allowed me to tailor my playstyle, whether focusing on aggressive melee, ranged spellcasting, or enhanced survivability in Cvstodia’s brutal world.
The Surge: The Different Armor Sets and Their Unique Bonuses
Slicing off robot limbs in The Surge wasn’t just for show; it was how I acquired new armor sets. Each set, like the agile Lynx gear or the heavy Rhino armor, offered different defensive stats and, crucially, unique set bonuses when multiple pieces were equipped. Some bonuses enhanced stamina regeneration, others increased impact damage, or provided healing upon executing a dismemberment. Strategically targeting specific enemies to complete these armor sets and gain their powerful synergistic benefits was a core part of character progression.
Nioh 2: The Twilight Missions and Co-op Expeditions
Beyond Nioh 2’s main campaign, Twilight Missions offered remixed, higher-difficulty versions of existing levels, often with tougher enemy placements and unique rewards. These were a great challenge for testing my build and skills. For co-op, Expeditions allowed me and up to two friends to tackle missions together. Sharing a “life bar” and reviving fallen comrades added a new layer of teamwork to the already demanding combat. Both modes provided excellent replayability and opportunities to grind for better gear alongside fellow yokai slayers.
Lords of the Fallen: The Character Classes and Starting Gear
Lords of the Fallen (2023) offers several distinct starting classes, each with different base stats and initial equipment, guiding early playstyles. The Hallowed Knight begins with good armor and a sword-and-shield. The Udirangr Warwolf is a more agile, strength-focused build with a two-handed weapon. The Pyric Cultist starts with infernal magic. While I could eventually spec into any direction, my initial class choice – I picked the Partisan, a spear-wielding dexterity build – significantly influenced my approach to the challenging early hours in Mournstead.
Blasphemous 2: How It Improves Upon the Original Formula
Blasphemous 2 takes the twisted religious horror and challenging Metroidvania gameplay of the original and refines it. It introduces multiple starting weapons with unique movesets, offering more combat variety from the outset. The platforming feels more fluid, and the world of Cvstodia is even larger and more interconnected. New prayers, abilities, and a more fleshed-out upgrade system provide greater build customization. For me, Blasphemous 2 felt like a direct improvement, addressing some of the original’s rougher edges while retaining its unique, grotesque charm and punishing difficulty.
The Surge: The Unforgiving Combat That Rewards Patience and Precision
Combat in The Surge was a brutal lesson in patience. Mashing buttons against the rogue CREO robots was a quick way to die. Instead, I had to learn enemy attack patterns, wait for openings, and execute precise dodges and strikes. The limb-targeting system demanded accuracy. Stamina management was crucial. This methodical, unforgiving combat, where every mistake was punished, felt deeply satisfying when mastered. Each hard-won victory, each successful dismemberment of a dangerous foe, was a testament to careful observation and precise execution.
Nioh 2: The Historical Figures Reimagined as Yokai Hunters (and Demons)
Nioh 2 brilliantly weaves Japanese history and folklore. I encountered famous Sengoku-era figures like Oda Nobunaga and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, not just as historical characters, but often as skilled yokai hunters or, in some cases, tragically transformed into powerful demons themselves. This imaginative reinterpretation of history, blending real-world figures with supernatural elements, added a fascinating layer to the narrative. Fighting alongside, or against, these legendary personalities in a yokai-infested Japan was a unique and memorable experience.
Lords of the Fallen: The Visuals – A True Next-Gen Soulslike Experience?
Lords of the Fallen (2023), built on Unreal Engine 5, certainly aimed for a “next-gen” visual experience. The environments of Axiom and the nightmarish Umbral realm are incredibly detailed, with impressive lighting and atmospheric effects. Character and enemy models are intricate. When it runs smoothly, it looks stunning, truly capturing a dark, brutal fantasy aesthetic. However, performance issues at launch sometimes marred this visual fidelity for me and others. At its best, though, it offered glimpses of what a truly next-generation Soulslike could look like.
Blasphemous: The Unsettling Enemy Designs and Animations
The enemies in Blasphemous are masterpieces of grotesque, unsettling design. From flagellant priests who whip themselves into a frenzy, to giant, bell-ringing abominations, and cherubic figures with horrifyingly distorted features, each creature feels torn from a nightmare inspired by twisted religious art. Their animations are often jerky and unnatural, adding to their creepiness. Battling these disturbing manifestations of Cvstodia’s cursed faith was a constant exercise in confronting the beautifully macabre, making every encounter memorable for its sheer visual horror.
The Surge: The DLCs (A Walk in the Park, The Good, the Bad, and the Augmented)
The Surge’s DLCs expanded its dystopian sci-fi world. “A Walk in the Park” took me to CREO World, a derelict amusement park now overrun by haywire mascots and mutated horrors, offering a darkly comedic change of scenery. “The Good, the Bad, and the Augmented” introduced a Wild West-themed testing area with new challenges and gear. These expansions provided fresh environments, new enemy types, unique weapons and armor sets, and more lore, adding valuable, distinct content to the core limb-slicing Soulslike experience.
Nioh 2: The Blacksmith and Tempering System – Min-Maxing Your Gear
The Blacksmith in Nioh 2 was my second home. Beyond just crafting and upgrading, the Tempering system allowed me to reroll specific attributes on my weapons and armor. I’d spend hours (and millions of gold) trying to get the perfect combination of stats – like “Attack Bonus (Stamina),” “Active Skill Ki Damage,” and “Melee Damage vs. Yokai” – on my favorite Odachi. This deep level of gear customization allowed for incredible min-maxing, letting me fine-tune my equipment to perfectly complement my chosen build and playstyle.
Lords of the Fallen: The Online Co-op and PvP Features
Lords of the Fallen (2023) includes online features familiar to Soulslike fans. I could summon another player as a co-op partner to help tackle difficult areas or bosses, sharing the burden of Mournstead’s horrors. Conversely, I could be invaded by hostile players seeking PvP combat, adding an unpredictable threat to my explorations. While plagued by some connectivity issues at launch for some, these online interactions – cooperative camaraderie or tense duels – added another dimension to the challenging single-player experience.
Blasphemous: The Multiple Endings and Their Obscure Requirements
Blasphemous features multiple endings, each shrouded in an appropriate amount of cryptic obscurity. Achieving the “true” or “best” ending often required completing a series of obtuse side quests, finding hidden items, and making specific, easily missable choices throughout the Penitent One’s journey. Discovering these requirements, often with the help of the community, felt like deciphering ancient rituals. The different conclusions offered varying degrees of resolution (or continued suffering) for Cvstodia, rewarding dedicated players who delved deep into its sorrowful mysteries.
The Surge: The Story – More Engaging Than You Might Expect
While the limb-targeting combat is The Surge’s main draw, its story was surprisingly engaging. As Warren, I pieced together the truth behind the CREO catastrophe – corporate malfeasance, a rogue AI, and a desperate plan to save humanity gone horribly wrong. Audio logs, environmental details, and interactions with a few surviving NPCs slowly unraveled a compelling dystopian narrative. It wasn’t just mindless robot smashing; there was a genuine mystery to uncover, making my journey through the derelict complex feel more purposeful.
Nioh 2: The Best Guardian Spirits for Different Builds
Guardian Spirits in Nioh 2 are powerful allies, each offering unique passive bonuses and a devastating Yokai Shift form. For my aggressive melee builds, Tengen Kujaku, which provided buffs based on my stance, was fantastic. For a magic-focused character, Genbu offered strong elemental damage and defense. Choosing the right Guardian Spirit to synergize with my class skills, weapon type, and preferred Yokai Shift (Brute, Feral, or Phantom) was a crucial part of optimizing my build for tackling Japan’s demonic hordes.
Lords of the Fallen: The Performance and Technical Issues (And Fixes)
My initial experience with Lords of the Fallen (2023) was unfortunately marred by some performance issues on PC, like stuttering and frame drops, especially when transitioning between Axiom and Umbral. Many players reported similar technical difficulties across platforms at launch. However, the developers were quick to release patches addressing these problems, gradually improving stability and optimization. While not perfect, these efforts showed a commitment to fixing the game and allowing its impressive visuals and unique dual-realm mechanics to shine through more consistently.
Blasphemous: The Platforming Challenges Amidst the Brutal Combat
Blasphemous isn’t just about punishing combat; it’s also a challenging Metroidvania with intricate platforming sections. As the Penitent One, I navigated spike-filled pits, crumbling ledges, and wind-swept platforms, often while fending off grotesque enemies. Some areas required precise timing and use of abilities like the blood-sand platforms. These platforming challenges, demanding agility and careful execution, were seamlessly integrated with the brutal combat, creating a well-rounded, old-school 2D experience where every jump could be as deadly as an enemy’s attack.
The Surge vs. Nioh: Which Non-FromSoft Soulslike is Better?
Choosing between The Surge and Nioh is tough, as both are excellent non-FromSoftware Soulslikes with unique strengths. The Surge, with its sci-fi setting and limb-targeting system, offers a more grounded, strategic approach to combat and loot. Nioh, steeped in Japanese folklore, boasts incredibly deep combat mechanics, vast build variety, and faster-paced action. For me, Nioh’s sheer depth and addictive loot grind give it a slight edge, but The Surge’s unique dismemberment system and satisfyingly chunky combat make it a very close contender. Both are fantastic alternatives.
Nioh 2: The Character Creator – Making Your Perfect Samurai/Yokai Slayer
Nioh 2’s character creator is incredibly robust, allowing for deep customization. I spent hours crafting my perfect half-yokai protagonist, tweaking everything from facial features and hairstyles to body type and demonic horns. The level of detail available was astounding for an action RPG. Being able to create a truly unique character, who then seamlessly integrated into the game’s cutscenes and intense combat, added a significant layer of personal investment to my journey through Sengoku-era Japan. My purple-haired, horn-sporting swordswoman felt truly mine.
Lords of the Fallen: The Umbral Lamp and Its Unique Mechanics
The Umbral Lamp in Lords of the Fallen (2023) is more than just a light source; it’s a core gameplay mechanic. By raising it, I could peer into Umbral, the realm of the dead, revealing hidden paths, spectral platforms, or enemy vulnerabilities. I could also use it to “soulflay” enemies, pulling out their spiritual essence for a powerful attack. Actively using the lamp to navigate between the two interconnected worlds, solve environmental puzzles, and gain an edge in combat was essential for survival in Mournstead.
Blasphemous: The Spanish Folklore and Religious Iconography That Inspired It
Blasphemous is steeped in the rich, often dark, religious art and folklore of Spain, particularly from Andalusia. The game’s imagery – the pointed capirote helmets, the flagellants, the ornate cathedrals, the depictions of suffering saints and grotesque miracles – draws heavily from Catholic iconography, Holy Week processions, and artists like Goya. This deep cultural inspiration gives Cvstodia a uniquely powerful and cohesive aesthetic, making its world feel both alien and disturbingly familiar, a truly artistic vision of twisted faith.
The Surge: The Corpse Run – More Forgiving or More Frustrating?
Like many Soulslikes, death in The Surge means dropping your accumulated Tech Scrap (experience/currency) and having one chance to retrieve it. However, The Surge added a timer to your corpse run; fail to reach it in time, and your Scrap is gone. For me, this timer often made the corpse run more frustrating. While it encouraged quicker, riskier play, the pressure of a ticking clock in already challenging environments sometimes felt unnecessarily punishing compared to the more traditional, untimed Soulslike retrieval mechanic.
Nioh 2: The Post-Game Content and New Game Plus Cycles
Nioh 2 offers a wealth of post-game content. After beating the main story, I unlocked New Game Plus (Dream of the Strong), then Dream of the Demon, Wise, and Nioh, each significantly increasing difficulty, adding new enemy types, higher-level gear (Ethereal rarity!), and new Graces (set bonuses). The DLCs also introduced new regions, weapons, and storylines. This extensive endgame, with its escalating challenges and constant lure of better loot, provided hundreds of additional hours of yokai-slaying action for dedicated players.
Lords of the Fallen: The Lore and Worldbuilding of Mournstead
The world of Mournstead in Lords of the Fallen (2023) is a land blighted by the return of the demon god Adyr. Exploring its ruined castles, blighted villages, and the nightmarish Umbral realm, I uncovered lore through item descriptions, NPC dialogues, and environmental storytelling. It’s a world steeped in religious conflict, ancient betrayals, and the enduring struggle between light and shadow. While perhaps not as initially obtuse as some Soulslikes, Mournstead offers a rich, dark fantasy tapestry for players to unravel as they battle its horrific denizens.
Blasphemous: The Voice Acting and Haunting Soundtrack
Blasphemous is an auditory masterpiece. The voice acting, whether in English or its native Spanish, is superb, with characters like Deogracias delivering their cryptic lines with gravitas and sorrow. The soundtrack, by Carlos Viola, is a haunting blend of flamenco-inspired guitars, mournful chants, and oppressive ambient drones. This powerful combination of evocative voice work and a deeply atmospheric score perfectly complements the game’s grotesque visuals and themes of penance and suffering, immersing the player in Cvstodia’s sorrowful world.
The Surge: The Implant System for Fine-Tuning Your Build
Beyond armor and weapons, character customization in The Surge revolved around Implants. These equippable augments, powered by my exoskeleton’s core power, provided passive bonuses like increased health or stamina, healing injections, or even UI enhancements like enemy health bars. Finding new implants and carefully managing my limited core power to equip the most beneficial combination for my playstyle allowed for significant fine-tuning of my build, offering another layer of strategic depth to character progression.
Nioh 2: The Different Weapon Types and Their Unique Skill Trees
Nioh 2 boasts an impressive arsenal, with 11 distinct melee weapon types, each featuring a vast, unique skill tree. Whether I chose the swift katana, the versatile switchglaive, the heavy-hitting odachi, or the nimble tonfas, I could unlock dozens of active skills, passive bonuses, and powerful Mystic Arts. This depth meant that mastering a single weapon type felt like learning an entire combat system in itself, and experimenting with different weapons offered incredible replayability and build diversity.
Lords of the Fallen: The Most Difficult Bosses (And How to Beat Them)
Lords of the Fallen (2023) features some truly challenging Soulslike bosses. Pieta, She of Blessed Renewal, an early-game skill check, required mastering parries and recognizing her swift attacks. The Sundered Monarch, a colossal late-game brute, demanded patience and careful management of both Axiom and Umbral phases. Beating these formidable foes often involved many attempts, learning their attack patterns, exploiting small openings, and utilizing the environment (or the Umbral realm) to my advantage. Victory always felt hard-earned.
Blasphemous: The Secrets and Hidden Rooms Scattered Throughout Cvstodia
The land of Cvstodia in Blasphemous is riddled with secrets. Illusory walls, hidden breakable floors, and obscure platforming challenges often led to valuable collectibles like Rosary Beads, Children of Moonlight (cherubs), or even entire optional areas. I spent hours striking suspicious walls with Mea Culpa and carefully examining every nook and cranny. Discovering these hidden rooms and the lore or upgrades they contained was a core part of its Metroidvania exploration, rewarding meticulous players who dared to venture off the beaten path.
The Surge: Is It Just “Sci-Fi Dark Souls” or Does It Stand On Its Own?
While The Surge undeniably wears its Dark Souls influence on its sleeve – challenging combat, corpse runs, interconnected level design – it does enough to stand on its own. Its unique sci-fi setting, the innovative limb-targeting and gear-salvaging system, and its focus on modular exoskeletons give it a distinct identity. It’s not just “Dark Souls with robots”; it’s a compelling action RPG that successfully translates Soulslike mechanics into a fresh, dystopian technological nightmare, offering a unique and satisfying experience.
Nioh 2: The Complete Edition – All DLCs Included
Nioh 2: The Complete Edition is the definitive way to experience this epic yokai-slaying adventure. It bundles the fantastic base game with all three major DLC expansions: “The Tengu’s Disciple,” “Darkness in the Capital,” and “The First Samurai.” These DLCs add new regions, compelling storylines (often delving into Japan’s ancient past), new weapon types (like the Splitstaff and Fists), powerful Guardian Spirits, tougher enemies, and significantly extend the challenging endgame content. It’s a massive package offering hundreds of hours of deep, rewarding action RPG gameplay.
Lords of the Fallen: The Community Reception and Developer Updates
Lords of the Fallen (2023) launched to a mixed but generally positive reception. Players praised its stunning visuals, unique dual-realm mechanic, and challenging Soulslike combat. However, significant performance issues and some balancing concerns were common criticisms. The developers, Hexworks, have been actively releasing patches and updates post-launch to address these technical problems, improve stability, and respond to community feedback, showing a commitment to refining the game and realizing its ambitious vision for a next-generation Soulslike experience.
Blasphemous: The Art Book That Showcases Its Stunning Visuals
The art book for Blasphemous, often titled “The Art of Blasphemous” or similar, is a testament to the game’s incredible visual design. It showcases the intricate pixel art, grotesque enemy concepts, haunting environments, and the deep Spanish cultural and religious iconography that inspired Cvstodia. For fans like me, flipping through its pages, seeing the detailed character sketches and early designs for the Penitent One and the horrifying bosses, offers a deeper appreciation for the immense artistic talent and vision behind this uniquely beautiful and disturbing game.
The Surge: The Satisfying Clunk of Heavy Melee Combat
Combat in The Surge had a distinct, satisfying weight to it. Swinging heavy, industrial weapons salvaged from rogue robots, I could feel the impact as they connected with enemy armor. The metallic clunks, the sparks flying, and the brutal dismemberment animations when I successfully severed a limb all contributed to a visceral, impactful melee experience. It wasn’t always graceful, but the sheer physicality and brutal feedback of its heavy combat made every successful strike and strategic takedown feel incredibly satisfying.
Nioh 2: Why It’s One of the Deepest Action RPGs Ever Made
Nioh 2’s depth is astounding. Beyond its challenging combat and multiple weapon stances, there’s the intricate Ki Pulse system, Yokai Shift transformations, hundreds of equippable Soul Core abilities, extensive skill trees for each weapon, a complex loot system with tempering and remodeling, Guardian Spirits, Ninjutsu, Onmyo magic, and multiple New Game Plus cycles with escalating difficulty and new gear rarities. This sheer volume of interconnected systems creates an action RPG with almost unparalleled build diversity and mechanical depth, offering hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of engaging gameplay.