Soul Nomad & the World Eaters
- August 31, 2021
- Codeglue
Get on SteamIn Soul Nomad & the World Eaters, you play as a powerful being known as a "Nomad" who can control monstrous "World Eaters" to conquer or save the world. The game features strategic turn-based battles, character development, and a dark, humorous story with multiple endings. Your choices as the Nomad determine the fate of the world and the characters around you.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation 2
Playstation 3
Reviews
- The game features a compelling story with well-written characters, particularly the main cast, and offers multiple endings that enhance replayability.
- The unique squad-based combat system allows for strategic depth and customization, making battles engaging and fun.
- The nostalgic value of the game is significant, as it retains the charm of the original PS2 release while introducing it to a new audience on PC.
- The port is largely a straight copy of the PS2 version, lacking quality of life improvements such as widescreen support, faster animations, and better UI design.
- Many mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion, especially for new players unfamiliar with the game's systems.
- The game suffers from technical issues, including crashes and a frustrating lack of options for skipping cutscenes or speeding up gameplay.
- story62 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth, character development, and multiple endings, while others criticize it for being convoluted and lacking engaging characters. Many appreciate the unique blend of humor and darker themes, as well as the replayability offered through different story paths, but some find the narrative inconsistent and filled with plot holes. Overall, it is seen as a compelling experience for those who enjoy intricate storytelling, despite its flaws.
“This is my absolute favorite game of all time; it's amazing! I love the characters, the storyline, and the multiple endings.”
“Despite how terrible a demon imprisoned in my soul was at conversation, the game still yielded a fantastic and alluring story that kept me playing until the end, only to learn you can take things in a drastically different pathway in repeated cycles (new game+), giving way towards replayability as you seek this game's secrets.”
“It's a wonderful example of Nippon Ichi's dark humor, and a compelling story.”
“The story isn't captivating; pretty much every character is uninteresting, and most cutscenes just feel like there isn't much effort in them.”
“The story starts out strong, but meanders through the second half.”
“The story in this game starts as your average Disgaea title but slowly goes a completely different route, becoming serious, depressing, and emotionally taxing.”
- gameplay37 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Soul Nomad is characterized by its challenging mechanics and squad-based system, reminiscent of titles like Ogre Battle and Disgaea, but often criticized for being poorly explained and overly simplistic. While it features unique and experimental mechanics, players may find the learning curve steep and the execution tedious, particularly for newcomers. Once familiar with the mechanics, however, many players appreciate the depth and strategic elements the game offers.
“Chocked full of unique and experimental mechanics, the puzzle of mastering this game was a real treat.”
“The basic concept of the gameplay is as you progress through the story, you unlock units you can put into individual squads (or rooms, as the game calls it), with each squad led by one unit who will be able to provide different bonuses or abilities.”
“Once you get the hang of how things work, the mechanics will seem to work really well.”
“The mechanics of rooms (the game's method of forming squads) are obtuse and quite poorly explained.”
“Abilities aren't well explained, tons of mechanics aren't explained and so you just see options in menus and have to figure out for yourself what they do.”
“In essence, the mechanics relating to playing the game just aren't good and it suffers for it.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed feedback, with many acknowledging that while the art style is unique and enjoyable, it feels dated due to its origins as an older title. Some reviewers noted that there have been improvements and touch-ups to the graphics, including character and map sprites, but the overall visual experience may not meet the expectations of players accustomed to modern graphics. Despite these limitations, fans of the series appreciate the game's aesthetic and find it visually appealing within its context.
“The most consistently positive thing about the game for me is the art style.”
“I really like seeing NIS try an art style that is different from their normal Disgaea style (not that that's a bad art style).”
“The graphics have clearly been touched up to some extent.”
“I don't think I can recommend this to new players, especially those who've experienced crazy graphics and gameplay out there.”
“Since it is a port from the original, it does look a bit dated in the graphics.”
“The audio is heavily compressed, none of the UI was redone, the artwork wasn't rescanned/re-exported to fit HD screens, and there's no widescreen support.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's grinding mechanics are a mixed bag; while some players find it enjoyable and not overly reliant on traditional level grinding, others feel it becomes tedious and necessary to progress, particularly during challenging inspection stages. Many users note that grinding can eliminate the game's challenge, leading to frustration, especially when facing unexpectedly high-level enemies. Overall, the experience of grinding varies significantly among players, with some embracing it and others viewing it as a drawback.
“It's frustrating because if I save in between every inspection just in case it gets tedious, but every time I don't, there's an enemy significantly higher than the base level estimate and I suffer for it.”
“100% boils down to grinding random room stages, and going through the game a few times to find some secrets.”
“Because the only real challenge left after both campaigns is inspection grinding.”
- music10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the music in the game is highly praised, with many users describing it as phenomenal and a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some aspects of the game may not have aged well, the soundtrack remains a highlight, contributing to its status as a masterpiece of its time.
“The music was phenomenal.”
“It runs very well, looks gorgeous, and has some great spritework and music.”
“It was a masterpiece of its time for its flashy animations and good music.”
“3D models and music are okay, but the rest of the game didn't age very well.”
“The story, gameplay, and soundtrack are lacking.”
“The music also sounds fine, but it doesn't elevate the overall experience.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is a blend of dark and early 2000s styles, with some elements feeling outdated while others provide a refreshing take on taboo topics. Players appreciate the well-crafted writing and the character Gig's commentary, which adds a humorous layer to the otherwise heavy narrative. Overall, the humor is a notable aspect, though it may not resonate with all audiences due to its controversial nature.
“Gig is the best, and the game has a level of humor that wouldn't be allowed today that I find refreshing and hilarious.”
“It's a wonderful example of Nippon Ichi's dark humor, and a compelling story.”
“Ah, brings back my childhood memories, great story and funny conversations to follow.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game is generally well-optimized, functioning smoothly without significant bugs or issues. However, it does not provide an ideal experience for mouse and keyboard users.
“It just works and doesn't suffer from any bugs or optimization issues.”
“Not really optimized for mouse and keyboard.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game begins with a typical Disgaea tone but evolves into a serious and emotionally taxing narrative, leaving players with a profound impact. However, some reviewers noted that the translation and quality of life improvements could enhance the overall experience.
“The story in this game starts as your average Disgaea title but slowly takes a completely different route, becoming serious, depressing, and emotionally taxing.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's strong narrative and the ability to explore drastically different pathways through New Game+, enhancing its replayability as they uncover hidden secrets.
“Despite how terrible a demon imprisoned in my soul was at conversation, the game still yielded a fantastic and alluring story that kept me playing until the end. You can take things in a drastically different pathway in repeated cycles (New Game+), giving way to replayability as you seek this game's secrets.”
“The variety of choices and outcomes in this game makes each playthrough feel fresh and exciting. I love discovering new storylines and character interactions every time I start a new game.”
“With multiple endings and branching paths, this game encourages you to explore every possibility. I find myself coming back to it just to see what I might have missed in my previous runs.”
“Despite how terrible a demon imprisoned in my soul was at conversation, the game still yielded a fantastic and alluring story that kept me playing until the end, only to learn you can take things in a drastically different pathway in repeated cycles (new game+), giving way towards replayability as you seek this game's secrets.”
“Once you finish the game, there's little incentive to go back. The choices you make don't significantly alter the experience, making replaying feel more like a chore than an adventure.”
“While the initial playthrough was enjoyable, I found that the lack of meaningful differences in subsequent runs made it hard to justify replaying the game.”
