Soulcaster: Part I & II

About

Soulcaster: Part I & II is a single player real-time strategy game with a historical theme. It was developed by MagicalTimeBean and was released on May 24, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

In 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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews

music11 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Unique and engaging mix of action, puzzles, and tower defense elements that keeps players hooked.
Great music and atmosphere, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
Challenging gameplay with rewarding victories, offering a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Controls can feel delayed and awkward, leading to misplacements and frustration during gameplay.
Achievements are broken, which detracts from the overall experience for completionists.
Some players find the gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, especially in later levels.

music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
85%
15%
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with standout soundtracks from titles like "Soulcaster" and "Escape Goat" being particularly highlighted. Reviewers appreciate the soothing and engaging compositions that complement the gameplay, making it a memorable experience. While some songs are noted as less memorable, the overall consensus is that the music significantly elevates the game's appeal.
- “This is a nice little gem with great music and atmosphere and a unique mix of action and puzzles.”
- “That, and the fun and interesting take on tower defense alone, is worth the five bucks, but the music brings it to another level.”
- “The soulcaster and escape goat soundtracks are among my favorites, and Ian Stocker is an amazing musician, making these games evolve from an enjoyable once-or-twice through to a great zone-out game once you know the patterns while you take in the music and the pixel art.”
- “The music brings it to another level.”
- “The soundtracks are among my favorites, and Ian Stocker is an amazing musician, making these games evolve from an enjoyable once-or-twice playthrough to a great zone-out game once you know the patterns while you take in the music and the pixel art.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
8%
25%
The gameplay is praised for its unique and challenging mechanics, blending retro aesthetics with innovative design elements that create a cozy atmosphere. Players appreciate the engaging and enjoyable experience, despite some criticisms regarding the speed of certain mechanics. Overall, the game successfully combines classic influences with modern gameplay ideas, making it a standout title in its genre.
- “Very cozy atmosphere with enjoyable gameplay.”
- “I love the retro feel while still being innovative with gameplay and level design.”
- “Great NES style graphics, top notch gameplay, and a nice soothing soundtrack.”
- “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.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
The graphics of the game are generally described as decent, with a nostalgic NES style that some players find charming and aesthetically pleasing. While they may lack polish, they effectively complement the engaging gameplay and music, suggesting that with some refinement, they could elevate the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as honest and fitting for an indie title, though they may not stand out significantly.
- “Great NES-style graphics, top-notch gameplay, and a nice soothing soundtrack.”
- “The game's graphics and music, just as in Escape Goat, are nice and aesthetically pleasing.”
- “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.”
- “Don't let the simple graphics fool you; the strategy is deep and engaging.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game's story is minimal and somewhat vague, centering 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 barebones and mediocre, serving primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay mechanics rather than a compelling narrative experience.
- “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.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its cozy and enjoyable qualities, enhanced by great music and a unique blend of action and puzzles, creating an engaging experience for players.
- “This is a nice little gem with great music and atmosphere, featuring a unique mix of action and puzzles.”
- “Very cozy atmosphere with enjoyable gameplay.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game offers significant replayability through various challenges, such as completing levels with fewer summons or without upgrades, as well as a hard mode and additional challenge levels to enhance the experience.
- “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.”