Soulmask
- May 30, 2024
- CampFire Studio
- 46h median play time
"Soulmask is a sandbox Role Playing Game with survival elements, offering both single-player and massively multiplayer experiences, including Co-op and PvP modes. The game features a unique 'Soulmask' system, allowing you to merge with NPCs, possess their bodies, and acquire their skills. With a good plot, beautiful game mechanics, wonderful graphics, excellent music, and a fantastic atmosphere, Soulmask invites you to join their Discord and wishlist the game to stay updated."
Reviews
- The game offers a unique mask mechanic that allows players to control different tribesmen, adding depth to gameplay.
- The graphics and world design are stunning, creating an immersive environment for exploration.
- The crafting and automation systems are well-developed, allowing players to delegate tasks to tribesmen and streamline resource management.
- The game can be excessively grindy, especially in terms of leveling awareness and gathering resources, which may deter casual players.
- Combat mechanics can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, leading to frustrating encounters with enemies.
- The main character is capped at a low level, making them less useful compared to tribesmen, which can diminish player attachment to their character.
- gameplay667 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Soulmask" is characterized by a mix of innovative mechanics and familiar survival elements, offering a unique experience through its tribe management and mask control systems. While many players appreciate the depth and complexity of the mechanics, some find the learning curve steep and the user interface overwhelming, leading to frustration. Overall, the game presents a captivating blend of exploration, crafting, and combat, though it requires patience to fully grasp its intricate systems.
“The game's stunning visuals and intricate lore are matched only by its immersive, heart-pounding gameplay, creating a unique experience that captivates and challenges at every step.”
“Soulmask is a refreshing take on the survival genre, blending rich open-world exploration with unique mechanics that truly stand out.”
“The ability to control tribespeople through 'soulmasks' adds a strategic layer to gameplay, making tasks like resource gathering and crafting feel much more dynamic.”
“Interesting concept, but the gameplay was lackluster, combined with an announcement for a DLC already... pass on this one.”
“The difficulty spikes can be harsh, and without a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics, things can go south quickly.”
“The gameplay loop consists of gathering resources, crafting gear, eliminating the same 3-5 mobs from a point of interest, repeat.”
- grinding337 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that the game features a significant amount of grinding, which can be both a point of contention and a source of enjoyment for players. Many find the resource gathering and crafting processes tedious and time-consuming, often leading to frustration, especially in solo play. However, some players appreciate the depth of the grinding mechanics, noting that once tribesmen are recruited to automate tasks, the experience becomes more manageable and engaging. Overall, while the game offers a rich survival experience, the grind can feel excessive and detracts from the enjoyment for some players.
“The building isn't tedious and actually made me build so many structures just for the sake of aesthetics.”
“Skill progression - 8 of 10 skills are a hair slow but still not tedious (x3 setting feels a little better).”
“It has a good progression and it's not too grindy once you figure things out.”
“The game is ridiculously too grindy... to the point most players have resorted to AFK crafting to level.”
“The thought of farming those crystals again is just horrible.”
“It's just way too grindy. You need too many items to do another item... this is crazy!”
- graphics249 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with many users praising the stunning visuals, vibrant environments, and attention to detail. Players appreciate the game's aesthetic, which combines tribal themes with immersive landscapes, and note that it runs smoothly on various systems. However, some reviews mention occasional graphical hiccups and optimization issues, particularly in early access, but overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature of the game.
“The graphics are stunning and run smooth.”
“The graphics are amazing for a builder game; the attention to detail of all that you need to do to assemble everything you need to survive and live comfortably is amazing.”
“The graphics, atmosphere, and sounds are all fitting and immersive.”
“Graphics are so bad it looks like it should have come out like 8 years ago.”
“The graphics are poor, with everything looking wet all the time.”
“The game itself is made with an older version of Unreal Engine, and at max settings the graphics look fuzzy and not sharp, the character models could be better and the armor skins could be much better and more fun.”
- story125 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it captivating and well-developed, while others criticize it for being disjointed and lacking depth. Many users appreciate the intriguing premise and the potential for growth in storytelling, but express frustration over unclear quest directions and a lack of meaningful narrative progression. Overall, while the game offers a unique blend of gameplay mechanics and an immersive world, the storytelling aspect appears to need further refinement and clarity.
“It’s a thrilling adventure that perfectly blends eerie atmosphere with compelling storytelling, making it an unforgettable journey into the unknown.”
“The storyline is captivating, with well-developed characters and intricate world-building that keep you engaged from start to finish.”
“Soulmask, for me, is not just another addition to the survival genre; it is an innovative masterpiece that uses the survival genre as the vehicle to present a fascinating story that compels engagement and rewards the player with something we have never had available to us before.”
“The opening is a bit too much 'all over the place' as you don't really know what is going on; it is all moving a bit fast and the story is hard to keep up with.”
“The game lacks a meaningful story, mostly consisting of running around to collect items for upgrading armor and weapons.”
“There is no story, or plot.”
- optimization105 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While many praise its solid performance and smooth gameplay for an early access title, noting that it runs well even on lower-end systems, others report significant issues such as crashes, lag, and graphical hiccups, particularly in multiplayer scenarios. Overall, the game shows promise with ongoing updates aimed at improving performance, but it still requires further refinement to address various optimization concerns.
“This game is only in early access but it is extremely polished for the most part and runs smoothly; the optimization is good and there aren't any game-breaking bugs.”
“The game runs better in DirectX 11 for my older computer, but unlike many modern AAA spaghetti-coded games, it doesn't rev up my PC's fans with memory leaks and performance spikes after 30 seconds of gameplay.”
“The foundation is really solid and well optimized, and the default settings feel good, but there is a lot you can adjust server or host side.”
“But the game is so poorly optimized that it crashes all the time.”
“The game needs serious optimization with multiplayer and it becomes a different game altogether when there are more than 30 players online.”
“Combat is also in a terrible state because of server performance, or bad optimization.”
- stability59 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 78 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs, particularly in combat and NPC behavior. While some users have experienced minimal issues and find the game largely functional, others highlight significant problems that can disrupt gameplay, especially in PvP scenarios. As the game is still in early access, many players acknowledge these issues but express hope for improvements in future updates.
“It's a largely bug-free and fun game with a long and varied gameplay loop that ticks all the needed boxes.”
“The game looks excellent on the highest settings, but it runs great and still looks good if you're running on a dated system.”
“No bugs, no glitches, no anything.”
“There are glitches all over the place too, my favorite being your save/character just straight up getting deleted if it dies to a snake.”
“The combat feels clunky, and you’ll find yourself dying to random, frustrating glitches.”
“It is rough, buggy, and very clearly has a long way to go before it deserves to have the title of 'full release,' but it surely isn't claiming otherwise.”
- music27 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere, while others find it underwhelming or repetitive. There are reports of technical issues, such as sound cutting out and the need to lower the volume in certain interfaces. Overall, while some appreciate the ambient sounds and fitting soundtrack, others prefer to listen to their own music, indicating a lack of engagement with the in-game audio.
“One of the standout features of Soulmask is its music.”
“The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing every moment of exploration and combat.”
“It's extremely attractive, the music is perfect, and it has a proper mix of lore built into it.”
“Music is quite underwhelming.”
“There's not really any music to speak of and sound effects are sorely missing.”
“The music soundtrack was apparently designed to keep people from playing too long.”
- humor18 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding joy in unexpected glitches, amusing character interactions, and the absurdity of certain gameplay mechanics. Many highlight the comedic value of the AI's dialogue and the overall chaotic nature of multiplayer experiences, which often lead to laugh-out-loud moments. Additionally, the game's self-aware commentary on its early access status adds to the humor, making it a lighthearted experience despite its flaws.
“Some weird glitches here and there but honestly have led to some really funny moments (getting launched into orbit by an anaconda and surviving).”
“One of the things I respect the most is that the devs are very active and actually post the ban lists (which is hilarious).”
“Very funny game, awesome multiplayer experience.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and captivating design, featuring beautiful graphics and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that enhances exploration and combat. Players appreciate the diverse biomes and environments, which contribute to a thrilling and engaging experience, making it a standout title in the survival genre. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as deep, fun, and well-crafted, providing a memorable journey into the unknown.
“It’s a thrilling adventure that perfectly blends eerie atmosphere with compelling storytelling, making it an unforgettable journey into the unknown.”
“The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, enhancing every moment of exploration and combat.”
“The graphics and atmosphere are beautiful, creating an immersive environment that enhances the overall experience.”
“At first, the tropical rainforest atmosphere frustrated me.”
“The graphics, atmosphere, and sounds are all fitting and immersive.”
“Graphics and atmosphere.”
- replayability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited and somewhat frustrating, with some players expressing hope for improvements through future updates and the potential addition of procedurally generated maps. While the PvP aspect adds some value, many feel that the current experience lacks variety and can become redundant. Players remain cautiously optimistic about the game's development and its future replay value.
“And I think the PvP makes it even better and actually replayable.”
“Replayability to be determined; if random/procedurally generated maps make it into the game, I will give it a 10.”
“I'm glad to give them a positive review as this product on day one is way more playable than most survival early access titles that are coming out.”
“Replayability is poor and redundant.”
“Update: recent update seems to have made the game a bit more playable for some I've talked to, but it is still very frustrating and often asinine.”
“Maybe another year or two this game will be at a more playable state.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- -14 % neutral mentions
- 71 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game heavily relies on microtransactions, which many users perceive as a cash grab that detracts from the overall experience. Players feel that the game is designed to push them towards in-game purchases, making solo play frustrating and misleading in its advertising. Overall, the monetization approach is criticized for lacking transparency and quality.
“Microtransactions are well-balanced and don't feel intrusive.”
“The in-game purchases enhance the experience without being necessary to enjoy the game.”
“I appreciate that the monetization model allows for free play while offering optional purchases.”
“Feels like a cash grab.”
“It's just punishing you for taking time and making it blatantly obvious that there was no intention of this being played solo, which isn't very clear through the sales page or advertising.”
“I see them as cheap cash grabs by modders that try to make a game with no art or animation talent on their team.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with players noting a lack of variety in character design options, such as limited hairstyles and customization features. While some appreciate the game's visual appeal and the integration of roguelite elements, others express disappointment over the restrictive leveling system, which caps skills at level 50, hindering deeper character progression. Overall, the character development aspect is seen as solid yet standard, lacking the depth and variety that players desire.
“What started off as an addicting blast of fun and exploration with character development and gameplay tailoring to fit my play style has turned into an abomination of controller/keyboard schizophrenia.”
“Solid but standard survival fare with souls-like bosses and roguelite character development.”
“It's a good looking game both in terms of character design and stylistic choices.”
“Too few options for character design, hairstyles, hair colors, and individual tribe hairstyles.”
“However, what I found so far has been a massive disappointment; the leveling and character development is, as of this post, soft locked at 50 for all skills.”
“The first thing that struck me was the rather minimalist character design options, with very limited choices available.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find that hardcore games enhance their emotional engagement through investment in units, fostering a deeper connection to the gameplay. Despite some glitches, such as issues with the anaconda mechanics, the overall emotional experience remains intact, appealing particularly to those who immerse themselves fully in the game.
“I'm a fan of hardcore games because the investment in units increases my emotional engagement with the game.”