Soul Saga
- February 28, 2020
- Disastercake
Get on Steam"Soul Saga" is a Kickstarter-funded JRPG that pays homage to classic games in the genre. The player controls a young airship pilot, Mithos, who sets out to save his world from a mysterious evil. The game features turn-based combat, character customization, and a vibrant world to explore. However, it has been criticized for its unfinished state and numerous bugs.
Mac OS
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Linux
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Wii
Wii U
Reviews
- The character designs and art style are charming and well-executed.
- The combat system introduces unique strategic elements, such as the Wheel of Murai, which adds depth to battles.
- The game has potential for improvement, with the developer actively seeking feedback and planning to add more content.
- The game lacks meaningful exploration, with repetitive quests and a lifeless world that feels empty.
- Airship controls are clunky and difficult to master, leading to frustrating navigation experiences.
- The story is underdeveloped, with minimal character interaction and dialogue that feels shallow and unengaging.
- story82 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a series of task-driven quests rather than a cohesive narrative. While there are some background elements provided by a narrator, the overall storytelling is considered weak, with little character development or engaging plotlines. Many reviewers express hope for future updates to enhance the story, but currently, it does not provide a compelling experience.
“I like how the narrator explains the story behind the world.”
“The original promise and prototype was a classic JRPG with charming art and a simple but enjoyable enough story.”
“Given, again, this is early access... odds are more story-rich content and character development will be added as time goes by.”
“Unfortunately, Soul Saga doesn't really seem to have that much in regards to storytelling.”
“The game has no story; you finish a map, go to the senate, get your cash, then on to the next with the same thing and same dialogue.”
“The little story I saw so far is pretty barebones, and stuff just kind of happens.”
- gameplay44 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of tutorial guidance, leading to confusion and difficulty, even on easier modes. Players note a restrictive exploration mechanic and clunky combat that detracts from the overall experience, with many mechanics poorly explained or requiring trial and error to understand. Despite these issues, some find the unique gameplay loop engaging enough to maintain interest, though the overall variety and depth are seen as lacking.
“You are somewhat restricted to flying along from isle to isle as the game has a 'cloudking' mechanic that causes the airship to be assaulted when it ventures too far from land, but you are given options that allow you to equip your airship with parts that make it easier to dodge and avoid these creatures to some extent.”
“This creates a gameplay experience unlike anything I have played before.”
“Many JRPGs become rather boring without a strong story, but that is not the case here... the gameplay is enough to keep me hooked.”
“Final Fantasy XIII was the most divisive Final Fantasy because of its lack of towns and gameplay variety.”
“The gameplay is incredibly clunky, and I can’t even begin to start on the dialog.”
“There was no tutorial for the gameplay elements; I played on 'cake' mode and the first level was still incredibly hard, and I had difficulty controlling the airship right away.”
- music26 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as good, catchy, and fitting the game's themes, though some players find it not particularly memorable. While the music enhances the overall experience alongside the art style, there are no character voices, which may detract from its impact for some. Overall, it strikes a nostalgic yet unique chord, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere.
“The music has a core theme you'll notice between the battle themes and a couple of others.”
“The game is only enhanced by the beautiful art style and the top-notch music.”
“Enjoyable graphics and music that feel a little nostalgic but unique.”
“The music is not very memorable and there are no character voices.”
“This song and dance continued even from Steam comments pointing to Patreon.”
“I didn't get to hear the full range of music in the game, but it gets the job done.”
- graphics26 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally described as clean and enjoyable, featuring a nostalgic PS2-era aesthetic that appeals to fans of that style. While the 3D graphics are considered basic, the game is enhanced by quality 2D artwork and charming character designs, complemented by a strong musical score. Overall, the visuals are seen as fitting for the genre, with a unique art style that stands out.
“Enjoyable graphics and music that feel a little nostalgic but unique.”
“The game is only enhanced by the beautiful art style and the top-notch music.”
“The art style is fantastic.”
“If you like PS2 era graphics, you'll like this.”
“3D graphics are pretty barebones.”
“The graphics are what you would expect of this genre, with some quality artwork for cut-scenes, and just about the only thing I do like about this game.”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that while the character design, particularly for Mithos, is charming, the game currently lacks depth in character development. Many believe that the extensive roster of characters has the potential to be a significant strength, but they anticipate that more story content and character growth will be introduced in future updates, given that the game is still in early access.
“Given, again, this is early access... odds are more story-rich content and character development will be added as time goes by.”
“What the game lacks the most is character development, since I believe that the vast amount of characters is this game's main asset.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism, with users expressing concerns that it feels like a cash grab, particularly due to its early access status and the reliance on Patreon advertising for funding updates. Overall, the approach has contributed to a negative perception of the game's value.
“I really don’t want to assume this was a cash grab by putting it in early access, but the game is just utterly terrible.”
“But it wasn’t just that; Patreon advertising started to come in to get more money and patrons to get updates.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding experience in level 30+ maps to be tedious and frustrating due to the large map sizes and lack of save points. The fetch quests often require extensive backtracking, leading to annoyance when mistakes occur, resulting in the need to restart the map. Overall, the grinding aspect is criticized for its repetitiveness and time-consuming nature.
“On level 30+ maps, the maps are huge and there's no save points. You go fetch a quest item from the eastmost part of the map, then fetch another from the westmost, and return the fetched items to the eastmost again. While on your way back, if you miscalculate or feel annoyed by the tediousness, you just want to get the map done quickly, but then you get screwed by Cloudking. Yup, Alt+F4 and redo the map again.”
“The grinding in this game is incredibly tedious. The lack of save points on large maps means you have to repeat long fetch quests, which can be frustrating when you encounter unexpected challenges.”
“I find the grinding aspect to be a major drawback. The repetitive nature of fetching items across vast maps without any checkpoints makes the experience feel more like a chore than an adventure.”
