Soulcaster: Part I & II
- May 24, 2016
- MagicalTimeBean
- 4h median play time
Get on SteamIn Soulcaster: Part I & II, players command heroes in a tactical action-RPG, summoning them to strategic positions to fight through hordes of monsters across over 50 stages. Each of the three allies, including the Archer, Warrior, and Bomber, possess unique combat skills and abilities. With a variety of settings and unlockable bonus challenges, players can expect approximately 3-4 hours of gameplay in this bundled classic.
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Reviews
- The game features a cozy atmosphere with enjoyable gameplay and excellent sound design.
- It offers a unique blend of tower defense and RPG elements, providing a fresh and innovative experience.
- The graphics and music are well-crafted, reminiscent of retro titles, making it a nostalgic yet modern gaming experience.
- Controls can feel delayed and awkward, leading to frustrating gameplay moments.
- The game can become overly reliant on pattern learning and trial-and-error, which may detract from the overall experience.
- Achievements are reportedly broken, which can be disappointing for completionists.
- gameplay11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its unique and innovative mechanics, blending retro aesthetics with modern design elements, creating a cozy and enjoyable experience. While some players noted slow recall mechanics, the overall fun factor and interesting level progression, particularly in combat and tower defense elements, make it a standout title. The combination of simple yet engaging gameplay, complemented by a soothing soundtrack, contributes to its classic feel and appeal.
“Very cozy atmosphere with enjoyable gameplay.”
“I love the retro feel while still being innovative with gameplay and level design.”
“A first look, especially just from the screenshot, this game might look like an old school dungeon crawler with some 8-bit flair, but Soulcaster presents interesting gameplay in combat and progression through each level, making it a quite modern and innovative game that deserves attention from fans of dungeon crawling and tower defense games.”
“The recall mechanic is, again, too slow.”
“This game, on the other hand, sticks to the lean mechanical limitations and sort of off-the-wall approach to making ideas work within those bounds that defined the NES.”
“That being said, the gameplay is so unique that all these can be overlooked and treated as a classic game.”
- music8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for being enjoyable and fitting well with the gameplay, with some standout tracks noted, particularly from Soulcaster Part II. Players appreciate the soothing soundtrack and its aesthetic appeal, although some feel that not all songs are memorable. Overall, the music contributes positively to the gaming experience, aligning with the high-quality graphics and gameplay.
“Great NES style graphics, top notch gameplay, and a nice soothing soundtrack.”
“Much like with every other MagicalTimeBean game, you get a great soundtrack and a fair amount of bonus challenges.”
“The music is also great and fits the game nicely.”
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game's story is minimal and somewhat underdeveloped, revolving around a mute wizard who discovers the ruins of an ancient empire and gains the ability to summon three defenders. While some players appreciated the simple narrative conveyed through gameplay and character interactions, overall, the story is considered mediocre and lacks depth, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay mechanics.
“Nice story told through simple gameplay.”
“I enjoyed the fact that each statue could converse and that this simple game was accompanied by some kind of plot, but it's nothing to go home about.”
“A bit more about the story: from what I understand, you (a mute wizard with no spells) randomly stumble across the ruins of an old empire/city and then gain the power to summon the three defenders.”
“There is almost no story; you do have to learn each map, but even still I enjoyed the first 4 hours of gameplay. After that, it was just me trying to get achievements, which I failed at.”
“Decent (NES-era) graphics and sound, but the story is pretty barebones and mediocre.”
“I gotta say I enjoyed the fact that each statue could converse and that this simple game was accompanied by some kind of plot/story, but it's nothing to go home about.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics are generally described as decent, with a nostalgic NES style that is aesthetically pleasing, though some reviewers note they could benefit from additional polish. While the visuals may appear simple, they effectively complement the engaging gameplay and strategy. The sequel reportedly enhances the graphics while maintaining the charm of the original.
“Graphics and sound are fine and could be, with a little bit of polish, worthy of a great indie game.”
“Great NES-style graphics, top-notch gameplay, and a nice soothing soundtrack.”
“Decent (NES-era) graphics and sound, but the story is pretty barebones and mediocre.”
“And Soulcaster has a lot of similarities (graphically) to Escape Goat.”
“The game's graphics and music, just as in Escape Goat, are nice and aesthetically pleasing.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various challenges, such as completing levels with minimal summons or avoiding upgrades, as well as the inclusion of a hard mode and additional challenge levels.
“There is a hard mode and challenge levels that add to the replay value.”
“The game has a lot of replay value in trying to reduce the number of summons you use to beat levels or by foregoing upgrades.”
“There is a hard mode and challenge levels to provide some replay value.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized as very cozy, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the gameplay experience.
“The atmosphere is incredibly cozy, making the gameplay even more enjoyable.”
“The game immerses you in a beautifully crafted world that feels alive.”
“The ambient sounds and visuals create a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
