The Last Faith
- November 15, 2023
- Kumi Souls Games
- 14h median play time
The Last Faith doesn't have a hugely original setting, but it’s an atmospheric, thrilling experience throughout.
"The Last Faith" is a single-player horror hack and slash game, described as a brutal yet empowering combination of metroidvania and soulslike elements. Explore a beautiful gothic landscape filled with precise combat, custom executions, and a range of weapons and spells. Embark on a cursed mission as Eryk, seeking salvation in a world that challenges your mind and conscience. Despite some bugs and grinding, the game boasts excellent music, splendid visuals, and a fantastic atmosphere.
Reviews
- Beautiful pixel art and atmospheric design that captures a gothic horror vibe.
- Engaging combat with a variety of weapons and spells, allowing for different playstyles.
- Challenging boss fights that require learning patterns and strategy, providing a satisfying experience.
- Clunky controls and movement mechanics that can feel unresponsive and lead to frustrating gameplay.
- Lack of clear direction and guidance, making it easy to miss important quests and items.
- No New Game Plus or respec options, limiting replayability and experimentation with builds.
- story220 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in this game is often described as cryptic and convoluted, typical of souls-like titles, with many players finding it difficult to follow and lacking depth. While some appreciate the atmospheric and dark themes reminiscent of games like Bloodborne and Blasphemous, others criticize the vague storytelling and the frustrating design choice that locks players out of side quests after progressing too far. Overall, the narrative is seen as serviceable but not particularly compelling, with many players feeling that the gameplay and art overshadow the story itself.
“The story caught me unexpectedly after I wasn't sure I was interested in that aspect, but I really enjoyed everything about this game.”
“The last faith is a captivating journey through a world shrouded in darkness and mystery, offering a unique blend of challenging gameplay and atmospheric storytelling.”
“Every encounter and discovery feels meaningful, driving you forward in your quest for truth and salvation.”
“The story is also especially vague, which is very much to be expected with souls-esque games, but it was more apparent in this game than others I've played, to the point that, even after getting the true ending, I still don't really know what happened in the story, or the significance of most of the bosses.”
“The problem is that the overall story and quests are obtuse babble.”
“The story is not very accessible as it is the usual cryptic fare that games like these normally offer.”
- gameplay213 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Last Faith" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its challenging combat and exploration mechanics reminiscent of classic metroidvanias and souls-like games. However, players have noted issues such as clunky mechanics, frustrating healing item systems, and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. While the art and atmosphere are highly regarded, some feel that the gameplay does not fully live up to the potential set by its inspirations, leading to a somewhat uneven experience.
“The gameplay offers a wide range of combat options and tactics with its choice of many primary and secondary weapons, along with a slew of spells at your disposal.”
“The gameplay is a satisfying mix of challenging combat and exploration, with tight controls that make every move count.”
“I can safely say that the core mechanics are fun and the combat feels good.”
“Annoying mechanics, pixel-perfect platforming with each platform containing an enemy that will push you over if they hit you, and the only way to dodge projectiles is to roll off the platform, prolonging the game artificially.”
“The gameplay is clunky at best, like you're moving slow as molasses while the enemies are moving way faster than you.”
“The mechanics feel clunky, the music is repetitively somber, the weapon choices are limited, and overall I feel the story is annoying to follow.”
- graphics153 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning pixel art and gothic aesthetic, drawing heavy inspiration from classic 32-bit titles like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night while utilizing modern technology for fluid animations and detailed cutscenes. Many reviewers highlight the impressive art style and atmospheric visuals that effectively immerse players in a dark, foreboding world, although some note a lack of graphical options and occasional repetitiveness in design. Overall, the visuals are considered a major strength of the game, appealing particularly to fans of the metroidvania genre and those who appreciate a gothic art style.
“The game's dark and atmospheric visuals, accompanied by a haunting soundtrack, immerse you fully in its grim and foreboding world.”
“The pixel art graphics for this game are very well detailed with a dark gothic style, fitting the theme of the game perfectly.”
“The art style is gorgeous, the music fits the ambience quite well.”
“I would like to be able to select the monitor, resolution, etc. but there are no graphics options.”
“Cant really recommend, a game that doesn't let you change the graphical setting on PC is a giant red flag to me.”
“There's no menu option for graphics settings, which is disconcerting.”
- music133 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and fitting for its gothic theme, with standout tracks during boss fights that enhance the experience. However, many reviewers noted a lack of variety and memorability in the overall soundtrack, with some areas feeling empty or repetitive. While the sound design and ambiance are praised, the inconsistency in music presence detracts from the overall immersion.
“The game's dark and atmospheric visuals, accompanied by a haunting soundtrack, immerse you fully in its grim and foreboding world.”
“The music fits the theme and really enhances several of the tougher encounters.”
“The soundtrack overall, but especially in the boss fights, is really well done and creates some good tension in the battles!”
“The areas look good and have good atmosphere, but the lack of good, memorable music (sometimes it's not even playing) unfortunately makes it a worse experience.”
“I eventually just shut off the music because it was so repetitive and boring.”
“But as a musician myself, I find the soundtrack of a gothic-horror platformer to be a very important aspect, and The Last Faith just kind of dropped the ball in this department.”
- atmosphere95 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, gothic aesthetic, reminiscent of titles like Bloodborne and Blasphemous, with beautifully crafted pixel art and immersive sound design that enhances the overall experience. While the music effectively sets the mood, some players find it repetitive, and the lack of memorable tracks can detract from the atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully creates a captivating and eerie world that draws players in, despite some criticisms regarding the depth of its story and character interactions.
“The game's dark and atmospheric visuals, accompanied by a haunting soundtrack, immerse you fully in its grim and foreboding world.”
“The last faith impresses with its atmosphere, music, and visualization of the dark, gothic world.”
“Absolutely breathtaking pixel art, the controls are easy to navigate and pick up if you are familiar with souls-likes, and wonderfully atmospheric tone and characters.”
“The atmosphere is not its forte, and some boss battles feel cheap.”
“While the game's atmosphere is remarkable at first glance, over time I believe many players will find their experience dulled by the repetition of textures and animations.”
“Not just in terms of gameplay, but also in terms of the mood, atmosphere, and visual aesthetic; a gothic-style world engulfed in evil and bereft of humanity.”
- grinding65 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players express significant frustration with the grinding mechanics in the game, citing tedious farming for resources and upgrades as a major drawback. Many feel that the lack of efficient fast travel options and the high health pools of enemies and bosses contribute to a repetitive and exhausting gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the challenge and the necessity of grinding for progression, the overall sentiment leans towards grinding being overly burdensome and detracting from the enjoyment of the game.
“Because you upgrade your weapons in the souls-like fashion (getting an applicable + level and stats), it can make some progression feel unnecessarily grindy.”
“Imagine this: you get items only 4% of the time that you kill an enemy. You could go hours playing and maybe get 2 items from like 100 enemies you killed. Farming for items is close to non-existent, and merchants that sell some of the good items have limited supply.”
“The absolutely ridiculous amount of grinding you have to do in this game is also unreal, even when playing in the intended linear fashion.”
- stability15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- -13 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant progress-blocking glitches and bugs, particularly at launch. However, recent patches have improved performance for many, with reports of stable gameplay and a steady frame rate. While minor glitches persist, the overall experience has become more reliable, especially on platforms like the Steam Deck.
“It runs great on the Steam Deck!”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, ensuring a smooth experience.”
“I've had no crashes or bugs, which really enhances the overall stability.”
“I love playing it and enjoy the combat a ton, but there are plenty of progress-blocking glitches to contend with.”
“When I first purchased the game, I encountered several bugs and glitches, and immediately refunded it.”
“There were a couple of times I was stuck in a wall and had to exit the game, so it can be a bit buggy at times.”
- replayability13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is currently viewed as limited, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of features like New Game Plus and boss rush modes. While there is potential for replay value through character builds and exploration, most reviewers feel that the lack of meaningful choices and content hinders replayability at this time. Future updates may enhance this aspect, but as it stands, replayability is minimal.
“There's also a nice variety of weapons and spells to find, and a good amount of replayability to try out different builds.”
“You have stats just like in a souls game, so you can choose how you want to build your character, adding replay value and encouraging experimentation.”
“I see this game having a lot of replay value for me, especially when they bring out the extra content later (ng+, boss rush, dungeons, etc.)”
“The game has 0% replayability, no new game plus, boss rush, or other features.”
“Basically no replayability though, unless you locked yourself out of quests like I did.”
“No new game plus option yet; they said they will be adding it in the future, but I think it's not replayable currently.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with some players experiencing significant lag and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems, while others report excellent performance on high-end setups. Additionally, the lack of options to adjust graphics settings for better performance has been noted as a drawback. Overall, the game's performance seems to vary widely based on hardware capabilities.
“Note: Given the requirements, performance is most likely not an issue.”
“- Performance: Excellent (played on ASUS ROG Ally, 1080p, 60fps)”
“Each one has a crucial impact on your character's performance based on the build you're using.”
“The game seems to hit the Switch's performance max, so it often lags.”
“Pode ser só comigo por conta do meu PC mais humilde, mas o jogo sofre com constantes travamentos e não possui nenhuma opção que permita diminuir a qualidade em prol da performance.”
“Worst of all, it doesn't take the Dark Souls approach to healing, making a fixed, usually upgradable amount of healing available after every checkpoint use, or influence from the smart approaches of some modern metroidvanias, like the way Hollow Knight and its followers tie the availability of healing to combat performance.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game features visually appealing designs but suffers from a lack of meaningful differentiation between classes, as they only affect stats rather than appearance. The leveling system is criticized for its frustrating currency allocation, forcing players to invest in a single attribute at a time, which can hinder overall character growth. While the artwork is praised, the mechanics and character design leave much to be desired, impacting the overall experience.
“Moody, atmospheric, great character design.”
“Visually very well done, with well-crafted character designs, although the overall colors are quite dull.”
“The use of spells and secondary weapons, mechanically reminiscent of Castlevania's sub-weapons, are hindered by a mana/bullet system requiring specific character development, reducing their practicality.”
“The only downside is that the class choice doesn't change the character design, just the stats.”
“The level-up system is frustrating, as you have to spend the currency you get from killing monsters on attributes, and can only spend it on one attribute instead of the entire character development. So if the next level takes 10,000, you will spend that level on only one out of five!”
“The use of spells and secondary weapons, mechanically reminiscent of Castlevania's sub-weapons, is hindered by a mana/bullet system requiring specific character development, reducing their practicality.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from quirky character designs, such as the protagonist's funny face mask, and the absurdities of gameplay mechanics, like the speed differences between weapon types and the stargazer class's weapon requirements. While some players find these elements amusing, others feel that the humor detracts from the overall experience, highlighting a mix of intentional and unintentional comedic moments.
“The protagonist has a funny face mask.”
“Despite cryptic storytelling being one of the signature features of the souls-like genre, I find it quite funny that many indie developers are trying to reproduce it since the characters in The Last Faith sound weird at times.”
“It's funny that the stargazer class starts with a weapon without having the stat requirement of the starting weapon.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express mixed emotions regarding the game's design, particularly the immediate penalties for falling or touching spikes, which can detract from the exploration aspect of the metroidvania genre. The frustration of backtracking to checkpoints with respawned enemies can lead to feelings of being punished for their choices, especially during lengthy boss fights that may feel overwhelming. Overall, while the game offers emotional highs through exploration and challenge, it also introduces significant frustrations that can dampen the experience.
“I had two bosses which made me feel like I really shouldn't fight them at this point in the game because the fight took so long.”
“This made me feel stupid and punished for choosing dex.”
Critic Reviews
The Last Faith review
The Last Faith is a beautiful but inconsistent rehash of older, better games.
60%The Last Faith Review (PC)
The Last Faith is a grueling metroidvania, leaning into pinnacle souls-like gameplay elements that reward exploration, precision, and patience. Its combat may be simple and fun, but the challenge of mastering its traversal may be too much to handle. Its gorgeous visuals might not be distinct enough to separate itself from the pack of its predecessors, but it’s a great start for those wanting to test the waters of the souls genre.
85%The Last Faith review
The Last Faith doesn't have a hugely original setting, but it’s an atmospheric, thrilling experience throughout.
90%