Titan Souls

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,401 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Titan Souls Game Cover
One singular great idea is the foundation for a smart and occasionally thrilling action puzzler.
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"Titan Souls" is a challenging action adventure game where players explore a vast ruined world and defeat 19 massive enemies known as Titans using a single arrow and careful timing. Each Titan has unique attacks and weaknesses, requiring careful observation and quick thinking to defeat. With minimalist controls and permadeath, success depends on skill and strategy.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,401 reviews
gameplay338 positive mentions
story109 negative mentions
  • Unique and challenging boss fights that require strategy and precision.
  • Beautiful pixel art and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the gaming experience.
  • Satisfying feeling of accomplishment when defeating bosses after multiple attempts.
  • Tedious respawn system requiring long walks back to boss arenas after each death.
  • Limited controls on keyboard and mouse, making aiming difficult and frustrating.
  • Lack of story and character development, leading to a feeling of emptiness in the game world.
  • gameplay1,137 mentions

    The gameplay of "Titan Souls" is characterized by its minimalist design, focusing on a unique mechanic where players use a single arrow to defeat various bosses, each with distinct patterns and weaknesses. While the one-hit kill mechanic adds intensity and challenge, many players find the frequent respawn walks tedious and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience. Despite its simplicity, the game offers engaging and strategic boss fights, appealing to those who enjoy trial-and-error gameplay, but it may not satisfy everyone due to its repetitive nature and lack of depth beyond the core mechanics.

    • “The gameplay is centered around the player's lone weapon: a single arrow that they can shoot and then recall, a mechanic that requires precise timing and positioning.”
    • “Each boss has its own mechanics and challenges, and cool music too.”
    • “The gameplay is simple to learn, difficult to master, and each titan is an intense death match requiring lightning reflexes, good judgement, and better timing.”
    • “The gameplay is exceedingly simple and the bosses are anything but, distilling down a very fun formula that I haven't seen replicated since.”
    • “The gameplay is annoying because you die in one hit, and you need to hit the titans in their weak spots to deal damage.”
    • “The one-hit-death mechanic makes the fights intense, but taking up to a minute to walk to the boss again after you've died really becomes tedious after you've done so a million times.”
  • music804 mentions

    The music in "Titan Souls" has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and evocative qualities, enhancing both exploration and intense boss battles. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to seamlessly transition from calming melodies during exploration to dramatic, pulse-pounding themes during combat, although many lament that the brevity of boss fights often prevents players from fully appreciating the music. Overall, the combination of beautiful pixel art and a compelling soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, making it a standout feature despite some gameplay frustrations.

    • “The retro visuals and atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complement this epic adventure.”
    • “The music ranges from somber, almost meditative tracks during exploration, to more intense, pulsing compositions that set the stage for the life-or-death intensity of each boss fight.”
    • “The soundtrack is a key part of the experience, contributing to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Even the in-game music feels completely out of place because of how anti-climactic some of these fights are and how abruptly the music ends.”
    • “The music I heard was pretty bland and sounded like default instruments from a music creation program put together by a beginner composer.”
    • “It's a shame though that you don't get to appreciate the boss music as either you or the boss will instantly die and cut the music out just when it's about to play.”
  • graphics588 mentions

    The graphics of "Titan Souls" are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art style, which effectively complements the game's atmospheric soundtrack and enhances the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the unique aesthetic, with many noting the charming combination of retro visuals and modern design elements, although some express that the simplicity can lead to a lack of variety in environments. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, contributing to its appeal despite mixed feelings about gameplay mechanics.

    • “The retro visuals and atmospheric soundtrack perfectly complement this epic adventure.”
    • “The combination of pixel art graphics and the design of the titans creates an aesthetic that is both simple and powerful.”
    • “Titan Souls has gorgeous pixel graphics, a beautiful art style, and a fantastic soundtrack.”
    • “I understand that the game is from 2015, but the graphics are terrible.”
    • “The graphics are pixilated, and pretty 'meh' in all honesty.”
    • “I've seen the exact same type of graphics in 10 other indie game titles; all that's different is the art style, and even then, the art style isn't all that amazing.”
  • story529 mentions

    The story in "Titan Souls" is largely minimalistic and often described as nearly non-existent, with players finding it difficult to discern a clear narrative or motivation for their actions. While some appreciate the environmental storytelling and subtle hints scattered throughout the game, many feel that the lack of a coherent plot detracts from the overall experience, leaving them to piece together a vague backstory through murals and visual cues. Overall, the game prioritizes gameplay over narrative, which may appeal to those seeking a challenge but disappoints players looking for a rich story.

    • “Exploration is enhanced by environmental storytelling, which is told through visual cues and level design, allowing players to delve deeper into the game’s story without the need for lengthy dialogue or text.”
    • “The game is very pretty and has a mysterious, daunting atmosphere and contains a lot of environmental storytelling; most of the story is told through visuals and small clues.”
    • “For those who pay close enough attention, murals carved into the walls of cave passages tell a subtle story together with environmental detail and even the locations of the titans themselves—a story that cannot be fully grasped until a second playthrough after receiving the true ending, which translates enemy descriptions.”
    • “The story is non-existent.”
    • “Open world has no purpose as there is nothing to discover and the story is so abstract that it fails to provide any motivation.”
    • “There's virtually no story or characterization which is a bit jarring.”
  • atmosphere190 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Titan Souls" is widely praised for its captivating blend of retro visuals, minimalist design, and an evocative soundtrack that enhances the game's sense of solitude and challenge. Players appreciate the haunting and serene environments, which create a unique emotional experience reminiscent of titles like "Shadow of the Colossus." However, some reviewers note that while the atmosphere is initially engaging, it can become tedious due to the game's pacing and lack of direction.

    • “One of the standout aspects of 'Titan Souls' is its atmospheric and minimalist world design.”
    • “'Titan Souls' also employs an evocative, haunting soundtrack that enhances the game’s atmosphere without overshadowing the gameplay.”
    • “The gentle background music and huge landscape makes Titan Souls very therapeutic whenever you're not bashing your head against the wall which is a titan, and the fact that there are no other living beings present except for you and your rare foes gives off an atmosphere of loneliness and solitude, two of my favorite feelings in any game.”
    • “Sadly, this all accumulates in a severe lack of atmosphere and after killing 8 or so bosses, I had enough.”
    • “It's almost as if they made an atmosphere game with a bit of action thrown in...but it should've been the other way around.”
    • “The only boring area is the last one, which was fitting enough of a zone as far as atmosphere goes, but visually it was nothing remotely special.”
  • grinding152 mentions

    The reviews overwhelmingly describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious, primarily due to the long backtracking required after each death, which often takes longer than the actual boss fights. Players express frustration with the one-hit kill mechanic and the lack of meaningful progression between attempts, leading to a repetitive and unfulfilling experience. While some appreciate the challenge of the boss fights, the overall sentiment is that the tedious nature of the gameplay significantly detracts from enjoyment.

    • “No grinding or enemies with a million hitpoints - just a sequence of short, original, really difficult challenges.”
    • “But it's be action challenge time, not tedious restart time.”
    • “There's no tricks here, no grinding, no stats, no help.”
    • “Walking back every time I die is soul-crushingly boring and tedious.”
    • “The one-hit-death mechanic makes the fights intense, but taking up to a minute to walk to the boss again after you've died really becomes tedious after you've done so a million times.”
    • “Unnecessarily tedious, like others have said - the walk to the boss room usually lasts longer than the boss fight.”
  • replayability90 mentions

    Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly enjoyable with numerous unlockable modes and challenges that cater to speedrunning and achievement hunting, others feel that the short playtime and limited content diminish its long-term appeal. Many reviews highlight the presence of harder difficulty modes and the potential for speedrunning as key factors for replay value, but some players express disappointment over the game's simplicity and lack of depth, leading to a consensus that replayability varies significantly based on individual player preferences. Overall, it seems to offer decent replayability for those who enjoy challenges, but may not satisfy everyone looking for extensive content.

    • “Insanely replayable, really fun to try to speed run, honestly a 9/10 game.”
    • “Surprisingly replayable, I've finished over 4 full playthroughs and speedrunning it was a lot of fun.”
    • “The game is short, but it offers replayability through new game modes where you can use modifiers to modify your run.”
    • “I do wish the game was a bit longer and had more replay value.”
    • “Despite the replayability thanks to the achievements, almost 15€ for a walking simulator with some bosses is kind of a waste, at least in my opinion.”
    • “There is little in terms of story and not much replay value besides the different game modes and achievements.”
  • emotional26 mentions

    Players express a profound emotional journey while engaging with Titan Souls, often feeling a mix of desperation, frustration, and eventual triumph as they confront challenging bosses. The game's difficulty can evoke tears and a sense of vulnerability, yet it also rewards perseverance with moments of emotional satisfaction, particularly through its unique boss mechanics and beautiful art style. Despite a sparse narrative, certain interactions and the overall atmosphere contribute to a deep emotional connection, making the experience memorable and impactful.

    • “I managed to make it all the way through - but no game has made me feel as pathetically human as this one.”
    • “I cried and quit.”
    • “No matter how many times I cried and begged to defeat each boss, I still love this game.”
  • humor23 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of dark and absurd elements, often contrasting with its serious gameplay. Players find amusement in the quirky achievements and the unexpected outcomes of boss fights, leading to moments of laughter even amidst frustration. However, some reviewers feel that the humor can be overshadowed by the game's difficulty, making it a double-edged sword that can detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “This game has a weird, schizoid sense of humor that utterly contrasts with the seriousness of the rest of the experience.”
    • “You also get one rusty arrow, but the thing is the arrow can come back by holding C, which allows for some funny accidental boss kills.”
    • “When I pulled stupid moves that caused me to die, I couldn't help but laugh because it was just simply funny to die the way I did.”
    • “The humor feels forced and falls flat, making the game more tedious than entertaining.”
    • “What could have been a lighthearted experience is bogged down by unoriginal jokes.”
    • “The attempts at humor are so over-the-top that they detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
  • optimization16 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting random crashes, stuttering, and poor performance on PC, particularly regarding control mapping and resolution settings. While the gameplay is engaging and intuitive, the lack of proper optimization detracts from the overall experience, making it feel punishing for players. Despite some improvements made during development, many players feel the game remains poorly optimized, especially for keyboard and mouse use.

    • “The art is amazing, and the gameplay is intuitive, encouraging pattern recognition and optimization.”
    • “The controls are easy to remember and fluid, with minimal input lag; performance is not an issue, even on low-spec devices. The battles have solutions that are often creative or otherwise unanticipated.”
    • “It was originally created for the Ludum Dare game jam, but over the course of the next 6 months, it was ported from Adobe Flash to a new engine, which enhanced graphic capabilities and improved performance, with more titan fights being added during development.”
    • “Poorly optimized game with random crashes in some areas.”
    • “Completely unoptimized for PC and no option to rebind controls, as well as no mouse and keyboard options.”
    • “Technically, this game's optimization is very poor; it struggles immensely with alt-tab, not to mention the game's clueless ability to understand resolution formats, getting them often entirely wrong.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly with controller input and camera issues. However, others report a relatively bug-free experience, praising the pixel art and unique boss designs. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements, the presence of various technical flaws detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The sprite work is nice, the bosses are unique, and it's not buggy.”
    • “Pretty much bug-free.”
    • “This game is fundamentally flawed and kind of buggy.”
    • “Overall, I find the combination of sluggish camera, weird glitches, and unbalanced boss/travel time to make for a pretty unenjoyable experience.”
    • “The game demands precision play and split-second accuracy, but this is hampered by a lot of glitches and clipping.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is minimal, with players noting a lack of story and narrative guidance, which may disappoint those seeking deeper character arcs. The focus is primarily on combat against titans, leaving little room for exploration or meaningful character progression.

    • “Its minimalist approach means there’s little in the way of story or narrative guidance, which may alienate players looking for a more in-depth plot or character development.”
    • “The problem I have is that this game offers nothing besides killing titans; no exploration, no character development, no reward, and no real driving point besides killing the titans, which seem to bother no one.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers generally feel that the game's monetization strategy is fair and not exploitative, indicating that it does not come across as a cash grab.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
3hMain story
7hCompletionist
2-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 27 analyzed playthroughs

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