Soulslinger: Envoy of Death
- December 14, 2023
- Elder Games
- 9h median play time
An Early Access roguelike arena shooter with great promise and a solid foundation, Soulslinger is already a great time even with only a third (at present) of its intended content.
Get on Steam"Soulslinger: Envoy of Death" is a single-player Fantasy Shooter game set in the rogue-lite FPS world of Haven. As an Envoy of Death, players can upgrade abilities and weapons to become the ultimate Soulslinger in a war against the afterlife's criminal cartel. Experience a captivating western-fantasy tale of grief, loss, and one man's obsession with cheating death.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a unique blend of fast-paced FPS action with a gripping story and engaging character development.
- The graphics and sound design are impressive, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
- The gunplay is satisfying, with a variety of abilities and upgrades that keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.
- The game suffers from significant optimization issues, including frame rate drops and crashes, especially during intense combat scenarios.
- There is a lack of content, with limited levels and enemy variety, leading to repetitive gameplay after a few hours.
- Some gameplay mechanics, such as the dash and reload systems, feel clunky and can detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay56 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players enjoying the fun mechanics and engaging combat, but also noting issues with repetitiveness and bugs that can disrupt the experience. While some appreciate the quick-reload mechanics and smooth movement, others find the gameplay loop lacking depth and variety, leading to a sense of monotony after a short period. Overall, the game shows promise with its updates and passionate development, but it still requires significant improvements to enhance player satisfaction and content richness.
“There's also a Gears-style quick-reload mechanic to keep the action flowing.”
“Soulslinger, on the other hand, has very fun and engaging gameplay; it's an actual roguelike/roguelite with good metaprogression, great music, and a nice interesting story with decent voice acting and cutscenes that unlock as you progress.”
“The moment-to-moment gameplay is engaging, and the devs have been hard at work improving the game and slowly but steadily adding content.”
“We are in early access, maybe somewhere like 70% completion, it still has bugs here and there and some are game-breaking, like getting stuck on a roof, which happened to me twice in 8 hours of gameplay.”
“There is no satisfaction in anything you do; the stages are small and boring, and if you move at a decent pace, after 20 minutes of gameplay, you have seen everything the game has to offer gameplay-wise.”
“The gameplay is the weakness of this project.”
- story40 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The story in "Soulslinger: Envoy of Death" is generally described as engaging and immersive, with a compelling premise involving the grim reaper and a cartel harvesting souls. While some players find the narrative and characters to be somewhat bland or repetitive, others appreciate the well-written dialogue, strong voice acting, and the integration of storytelling within the fast-paced gameplay. Overall, the game offers a mix of intriguing plot elements and enjoyable character interactions, though it may not break new ground in storytelling.
“Soulslinger: Envoy of Death is an awesome roguelike FPS that combines intense action with a gripping story in development.”
“It’s a seamless blend of fast-paced action with an unexpected dose of intense storytelling, all wrapped up in a gorgeously designed world.”
“The story line, the characters, the voice acting are all absolutely amazing.”
“The NPCs and story/dialogue are very boring, and the cutscenes are very drawn out.”
“The story is bland, the characters are bland—normally in games like this, this wouldn't be a terrible thing, but unfortunately, the gameplay loop isn't all that exciting either.”
“By design, this game features no proper level design or game/story flow/plot, as they opted to try to use samey repetitive procedural generation algorithms as a substitute for adding such content to the game, to avoid doing the important job of level/map design.”
- graphics37 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beauty and polish, with many reviewers highlighting the impressive environments, models, and particle effects that enhance the overall experience. While some users noted minor issues such as lag spikes and animation shortcomings, the visuals are generally considered top-notch and well above indie standards, contributing significantly to the game's fun factor. Overall, the graphics are a standout feature, with many players excited about the potential for further improvements as the game continues in early access.
“First of all, the game has beautiful visuals: environments, models, particle effects, and lighting in general.”
“The graphics are polished and the game runs smoothly.”
“Top-notch presentation, visuals & audio well above the indie level, has a well-written story, some of the best NPC characters I've encountered lately.”
“This feels like an asset flip honestly, only redeeming point is the graphics (UE5).”
“Some graphic animations (explosive gun rounds for example) seem lacking.”
“For how good this aspect is, I feel it strongly foils other areas of the game that left me wanting - glaringly so, the visuals.”
- optimization26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 35 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players experiencing severe stuttering, frame drops, and lag even on lower settings. While some users report smooth performance on high-end systems, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements to handle intense gameplay scenarios and reduce performance issues across a wider range of hardware. Many reviewers suggest that the game is currently unplayable in certain areas due to these optimization flaws.
“Game runs smoothly here on a RTX 3060 Ti, 32GB DDR5, and Intel i5-13400, all graphics settings on max, 2K resolution (1440p) and DLSS set to quality.”
“The graphics are polished and the game runs smoothly.”
“The presentation is surprisingly strong with impressive visuals and overall technical performance (which has been much improved already since the earlier versions).”
“The game's optimization is terrible; even on medium, the FPS can drop to 0 and freeze the console!”
“The optimization is garbage for this game; constant lags even when I lowered the settings to the lowest and it still lagged like hell.”
“Needs optimization, to be honest; the hard mode levels of the Forgotten Graveyard are basically unplayable because the performance tanks to almost single-digit FPS when there are a lot of enemies.”
- music16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the setting, particularly favoring guitar-centered tracks. While some find the soundtrack engaging and fitting for gameplay moments, others note issues with repetitiveness and a desire for more variety and intensity to match in-game action. Overall, the music contributes positively to the experience, though there are calls for improvements in diversity and contextual relevance.
“The sound, music, and graphics are all really good.”
“Music is amazing and adds a ton to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
“The issue for me is the lack of music - you have the same music in a shop and in a fight that doesn't seem right.”
“The music could be heavier, more metal, and more contextually appropriate based on what's happening on screen to create a sense of urgency or tension for the player.”
“The soundtrack might not have dozens of bangers, but it complements the setting very well, it enhances the mood, and man do I love me some guitar-centered music.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 90 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Soulslinger is a captivating blend of western and fantastical elements, creating a unique and immersive experience. The standout sound design and haunting score significantly enhance the game's world, while the impressive graphics and art style further contribute to its engaging ambiance. Overall, players praise the game's rich atmosphere, which is complemented by well-crafted characters and cinematics.
“Atmospherically, Soulslinger blends western and fantastical elements, crafting a unique 'not-quite-right' western vibe.”
“The sound design is a standout, enhancing the game’s immersive world of limbo with a hauntingly atmospheric score.”
“Music is amazing and adds a ton to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- stability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The game's stability is currently a significant issue, with numerous bugs such as invisible walls, unresponsive dashing, and game freezes that can disrupt gameplay. While the developers are actively addressing reported problems, players are experiencing frustrating glitches that hinder their overall experience. As it is still in early access, users recommend waiting for further updates before diving in.
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs, providing a stable experience.”
“I've played for hours without encountering any issues; the stability is impressive.”
“The performance is consistent, making for a reliable gaming experience.”
“Now the game is still in early access, so it will be a bit buggy with a lot of invisible walls and corners to get stuck on. Personally, my biggest criticism is that the dash isn't always as responsive as I would like, but the developer is very responsive to most bugs and criticisms reported.”
“Jumping and dashing glitches out by getting half stuck or hitting invisible walls, and instead of dashing forward, you go up.”
“I'll have to wait for a patch/update to play again, as I'm currently in a loop bug situation where I can't go back to the hub. If I continue and go through a portal, the game freezes and crashes.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the monetization aspect frustrating, primarily due to intrusive ads that disrupt gameplay and hinder the aiming mechanics. Additionally, the lack of content and optimization issues contribute to a negative experience, with players feeling overwhelmed by both the ads and challenging enemies.
“You'll be frantically dodging the swarm of small ads while there are 6 or more bullet sponge 'ogres' that can launch huge AoE attacks anywhere in the arena.”
“The biggest issues are the lack of content and optimization, along with some minor problems like jank when it comes to aiming down sights, rough animations, and minor bugs.”
“Firstly, aiming down sights seems almost useless, or in some cases an outright hindrance, as the shotgun doesn't have a sight at all and removes your crosshair when you aim down sights.”
- character development4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development in Soulslinger is praised for its depth and engaging narrative, setting it apart from typical shooters that prioritize combat. The character designs, particularly of Lady Gunslinger, Dead-eye, and Death, are highlighted as visually appealing, contributing to the overall immersive experience.
“Unlike other shooters that focus solely on the thrill of combat, Soulslinger offers a rare gem of character development and an intriguing narrative that keeps you coming back not just for the gameplay, but for the characters and the world they inhabit.”
“Dead-eye's character design is pretty damn cool; big ups to the pirate who voiced him.”
“Lady Gunslinger has a great character design.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling that their efforts do not yield significant improvements in power or effectiveness. However, recent updates have made grinding feel more rewarding, suggesting that balance adjustments could enhance the overall experience.
“Also, the shard grinding gets pretty tedious on the upgrade system.”
“I've been grinding non-stop since yesterday and got so many upgrades, yet I feel weaker than in my first run. Why is that?”
“I think they need to balance a whole lot of aspects of this game to make it less tedious.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users indicate that the game's current replayability is very low, with some stating it has a replay value of zero.
“At the moment, the replay value is zero.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features poignant moments that evoke strong emotions as the protagonist confronts themes of mortality, adding depth to the overall narrative experience.
“The game features some heartfelt moments as the protagonist grapples with the concept of death.”
“The emotional depth of the characters truly resonates, making you feel their struggles and triumphs.”
“I was moved to tears by the poignant storytelling and the way it explores themes of love and loss.”
