Void Sols: Prologue
- November 17, 2022
- Finite Reflection
- 1h median play time
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Get on itch.io StoreMinimalist, Top-Down, Souls-Like This is a Prologue of Void Sols. We want to hear your feedback on this game, to help us decide if we will continue to develop it into a larger experience. Learn enemy attack patterns, manage your stamina, and die until you learn. Patience is rewarded in this challenging reinvention of the souls-like genre. Light torches to keep track of where you've been. Run th…
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Reviews
- The game captures the essence of classic Souls games with satisfying combat and a unique minimalist aesthetic.
- The atmosphere and sound design are exceptional, creating an immersive experience that enhances gameplay.
- The combat mechanics are deep and rewarding, allowing for various playstyles and strategies, making each encounter feel engaging.
- The game is quite short, leaving players wanting more content and variety in weapons and enemies.
- The parry mechanic feels clunky and unrewarding, leading to frustration during combat.
- Some players find the boss fights to be overly punishing and not well-balanced, which can detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay49 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a standout feature, combining a top-down perspective with souls-like mechanics that offer a satisfying challenge as players learn enemy patterns and dodge timings. While the combat is engaging and polished, with a variety of mechanics and weapon styles, some players find the parry system clunky and would appreciate more options for defensive maneuvers. Overall, the game successfully hooks players with its unique style, rewarding exploration, and well-paced tutorials, making it a promising experience for fans of the genre.
“The gameplay does a really good job of hooking you in, and once it clicks, it feels awesome.”
“Combat mechanics and gameplay flow are enjoyable, with good visual feedback; hits feel crunchy, and all the weapons feel good to use, each bearing different stat bonuses that lean into a particular playstyle.”
“Level design is surprisingly good, the minimalist aesthetic gives the game a lot of appeal, and gameplay is polished—it's snappy, satisfying, and definitely skillful.”
“One thing I feel is rather iffy is the shield and parry mechanic.”
“The only point of criticism I have is that the parry mechanic feels really clunky to get the hang of, so I didn't bother with it.”
“It's really cohesive and pretty to look at, while not distracting from the gameplay.”
- graphics35 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the unique minimalist and grungy aesthetic that enhances the atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the clean visuals and dynamic lighting, others find the simplistic art style lacking depth and variety. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's immersive qualities, though opinions vary on their effectiveness and appeal.
“The atmosphere and 2D-in-3D art style is a win.”
“The minimalistic art style is reminiscent of Geometry Wars and pops off the screen with its use of color and bold yet simple shapes.”
“The minimalist aesthetic gives the game a lot of appeal, and gameplay is surprisingly polished; it's snappy, satisfying, and definitely skillful.”
“Graphics are too simplistic for the big bucks.”
“The environment artwork was bland.”
“The minimalist graphic is just too abstract even for a man who can tolerate pixel games.”
- music32 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its quality, particularly during boss fights, where it is described as energetic and engaging. However, many players express a desire for more music throughout the exploration phases, as the current reliance on ambient soundscaping can leave the experience feeling somewhat empty. Overall, while the boss themes are standout highlights, there is a consensus that a more consistent musical presence would enhance the game's atmosphere.
“The boss is creative and fun with some super good music which is like breakcore.”
“The music is on point, the ambience is amazing, I'll be waiting for the full game.”
“It's got it all: satisfying combat, tough but fair difficulty, unique visuals, and fantastic music.”
“But holy shit if you lack on the music after that amazing boss theme, you're gonna have to pack it in, mate.”
“I am not sure if it's a design choice to only really have music kick in during the boss fight.”
“However, I think this game needs a soundtrack for exploring the map; just the ambiance alone kind of makes it feel empty.”
- atmosphere20 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive sound design and effective minimalist art style, which together create a compelling and engaging environment. Players appreciate the balance between exploration and combat, noting that the ambiance enhances the overall experience, making it feel both mysterious and intense. Despite its simplicity, the atmosphere successfully evokes strong emotions and a sense of style reminiscent of classic souls-like games.
“The atmosphere and sound design in this is surprisingly well made and I found myself getting sucked into the ambience.”
“Even though it has a minimalist approach, the game has a great sense of style and atmosphere.”
“Great atmosphere with a wonderful soundscape; the combat may defeat me in the end, but I love the edge it gives to the exploration.”
“Honestly, somehow this game feels more like Dark Souls than Elden Ring in atmosphere, level design, and difficulty.”
“The game does a great job of creating a spooky, stressful atmosphere too!”
“They pulled off the minimalist style very well, while still creating a story and atmosphere that made you feel something.”
- story9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely minimalistic, with some players expressing disappointment over its absence, especially in the prologue phase. While the atmosphere and combat are praised, there is a desire for a more developed narrative and additional gameplay elements to enhance the overall experience.
“They pulled off the minimalist style very well, while still creating a story and atmosphere that made you feel something.”
“Minimalist dark souls with fun combat and solid movement, I'm pretty excited to see where this game goes from here in terms of gameplay and story (if it will have one).”
“The only downside in this game is the lack of story, but that is just my opinion and this is just a prologue after all, so I can't expect too much.”
“I had a lot of fun playing this; however, with the minimalist setting and story, I think the combat will have to be a bit more fleshed out (more weapons, items, enemy types, etc.) in order for a full release to work.”
“Hope it gets multiplayer or roguelike challenges in addition to a main storyline.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, suggesting that it feels excessive and unnecessary for progression. Many feel that the game should not require such a significant time investment to level up or improve stats.
“Or maybe I am just severely under-leveled, but a game like this should not encourage grinding for levels and stats.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers a decent level of replayability primarily through its trials and challenges, allowing players to experiment with different builds despite the static map and enemy designs. While some users find limited replay value outside of challenges, others are pleasantly surprised by the content available in the demo/prologue.
“I have to say that for a demo/prologue, it has a surprising amount of replayability!”
“Little replayability, unless you want to play the challenges.”
“The trials and challenges offer a smorgasbord of replay value, and even though the map and enemies don't really change, it's still fun to go through again and try new builds.”
- stability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to experience several crashes and freezes, indicating some stability issues. However, it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, which enhances the overall experience despite minor bugs. Overall, players find it enjoyable despite these stability concerns.
“Runs great on Steam Deck, which is a fantastic platform for this gem.”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth experience throughout.”
“I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, making for a very stable gameplay experience.”
“Experienced a number of crashes and freezes.”
“A little buggy, but still very fun nonetheless!”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by unexpected moments, such as the amusingly loud reaction from the end boss, which adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
“The end boss also blew out my eardrums when I beat it, but that was funny, so it's okay.”
