Soulestination
- January 5, 2021
- Zaxiquej
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Soulestination" is a single-player fantasy RPG with about 8 hours of playtime. As the Savior, Rovia, explore over 300 maps across 20 distinct areas, battling over 200 enemies and 30 unique bosses. Along the way, uncover the world's secrets and develop strategies to defeat uniquely skilled foes.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features unique and engaging puzzle mechanics that require strategic thinking and lateral problem-solving.
- It offers a rich meta-narrative and a variety of boss puzzles that enhance the gameplay experience.
- The price point is incredibly low for the quality and depth of content provided, making it a great value.
- The translation quality is inconsistent, leading to misunderstandings that can complicate puzzle-solving.
- There are issues with the game's controls, including sensitivity problems that can affect gameplay during critical moments.
- Some players have reported softlocking issues and a lack of options for window size and volume control.
- gameplay20 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its engaging puzzles that require lateral thinking, offering a satisfying challenge that tests players' problem-solving skills. The game features a strong ludonarrative harmony, blending mechanics and narrative effectively, while introducing unique elements that set it apart from similar titles in the genre. Players appreciate the strategic depth, resource management, and evolving options as the game progresses, making it a compelling experience for fans of puzzle-based gameplay.
“The lateral thinking required for some of these puzzles was very enjoyable to test my brain against, and the ludonarrative harmony between the game mechanics, meta-mechanics, and narrative was really well done.”
“It is constantly thought-provoking from a gameplay standpoint and genre-blends masterfully.”
“The gameplay gets even better mid-game, when your options really start to open up.”
“Beside the usual strategic elements of managing resources (finite amount of health and keys) and stat collection through orbs, the so-called soul mechanic largely changes every fight.”
“Mechanically, this is similar in spirit to desktop dungeon or the strategic layer of dream quest -- you frequently make choices such as whether to spend a (totally non-random) amount of life killing a hard monster so you can get its (totally non-random) loot, or take the safer route of fighting an easier monster instead.”
- music16 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's music has received mixed reviews, with many praising the overall quality and standout tracks, particularly during boss fights. However, some players found certain tracks annoying and repetitive, especially due to the lack of volume settings, which detracted from their experience. Despite these criticisms, the majority of players appreciated the music's contribution to the game's atmosphere.
“The music is fantastic, with most maps in the game featuring really good tracks that I'm going to continue to listen to for a while.”
“The boss fights are great, each with a unique music track that enhances the experience.”
“This was my first ever 'magic tower' game and I enjoyed it thoroughly; it's amazingly well designed with great music too!”
“My second complaint is that there are no volume settings, and the music is extremely annoying, forcing me to turn my speakers all the way down.”
“I turned the music off after the first map because it was so annoying, but I'm glad I turned it back on to give it a second chance after, because most maps in the game have really good tracks that I'm going to continue to listen to for a while.”
- story12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The story is generally regarded as unique and engaging, with a decent RPG-like plot that enhances the sense of exploration. While some players found it a bit lengthy, many appreciated the narrative's quality and the choices it presented throughout the gameplay. Overall, it stands out positively within the genre, satisfying both newcomers and veterans alike.
“The only downside for me is that it was a bit too long; thankfully, after screwing up big time, instead of trying again I reverted to the beginning of the last chapter and changed the difficulty setting so I could breeze through it just to see how it all ends. For this type of game, the story was great!”
“Now that I have completed the game, I'll say the story is pretty good!”
“Mechanically, this is similar in spirit to desktop dungeon or the strategic layer of dream quest -- you frequently make choices such as whether to spend a (totally non-random) amount of life killing a hard monster so you can get its (totally non-random) loot, or take the safer route of fighting an easier monster instead.”
“One of the best magic tower games on Steam that should satisfy even veterans of the genre; besides its soul system and distinctive boss battles that give Soulestination a unique flavor, it actually provides an RPG-like plot and sense of exploration.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are described as generic and reminiscent of RPG Maker, with a humble and amateurish appearance that may not impress players. Despite the game's intricate design and clever gameplay, the lack of visual polish and options detracts from the overall experience, leading some reviewers to recommend avoiding it.
“At first, Soulestination was humble: RPG Maker-looking graphics and amateur English translation didn't show me that much, though by the end of the tutorial dungeon, I suspected it would hide a heartfelt, thoughtful, and often very clever game.”
“Overall this game just isn't very fun at all and combined with no sound or graphics options, this is a game to avoid regardless of the price.”
“At first, Soulestination was humble: RPG Maker-looking graphics and amateur English translation didn't show me that much, though by the end of the tutorial dungeon I suspected it would hide a heartfelt, thoughtful, and often very clever game.”
“Play if you want a very cerebral turn-based puzzle game full of heart, intricate design, and cleverness and don't mind generic graphics.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional response to the game's bosses, feeling a sense of regret and a desire to improve their performance by reconsidering their past actions. This reflects a deep engagement with the gameplay, as players are emotionally invested in their decisions and outcomes.
“So far, I have only come across 5 bosses, all of which made me feel that I could have done much better by undoing some actions.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players note that the game requires significant micro-optimization, especially on harder difficulty levels, as each chapter is self-contained and the management of health, keys, and equipment is crucial for success. Every resource spent is impactful, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning throughout the gameplay.
“I don't even dare to imagine how much micro-optimization the game makes you do on hard, but each chapter is self-contained with the exception of HP, keys, and equipment you bring over, so every single key, crystal, and HP spent matters.”
