Souls-likes are hard to get right. The reason games like Dark Souls and Hollow Knight are so beloved is because they are greater than the sum of their parts. Eldest Souls lacks quite a few of these parts, such as a bloodstained mechanic, interesting lore, and a varied roster of normal enemies. As such, it’s fair to say it doesn’t reach the heights of its inspiration. However, by focusing on its strengths, those being the combat and bosses, Fallen Flag Studio has managed to create a title that stands out in an overcrowded genre.
Boss rushes are nothing new, but I haven’t played one that was so consistently satisfying. Every single boss after the tutorial has unique mechanics that create beautiful, deadly dances between them and the player. I died over 300 times before reaching the credits, but I was never frustrated because my deaths were fair and I was allowed to immediately retry the fight. I cannot stress enough how much I love the immediate retries, along with being able to return to the last save point if you need a break or want to switch your loadout. These are things every video game with boss fights should include going forward.
As for the combat, it puts a few twists on traditional Souls-like combat. Attacks feel heavy like in Dark Souls, but you have a charge attack that allows you a fill a meter. When it’s full, your attacks are faster, stronger, and heal you. This only lasts for a short time, so being aggressive is important. That’s just the tip of the iceberg though. There are also runes you can equip that enhance your moveset, a slam attack that deals heavy damage at the cost of depleting the charge meter, and a stamina system that depletes only when you dodge instead of every action you take (successful dodges even refund stamina). There’s a good amount of depth to the combat once you adapt to it.
Streamlined really sums up Eldest Souls. It knows exactly what it wants to be and commits to it. One could argue that the game is too barebones as a result, but with so many Souls-likes adopting similar structures and gameplay loops, I welcome the change of pace. Bosses are often the highlight of these games, so if you’re like me and want that classic challenge of overcoming larger-than-life foes using the satisfying, weighty combat the genre is known for, Eldest Souls will deliver.
Boss rushes are nothing new, but I haven’t played one that was so consistently satisfying. Every single boss after the tutorial has unique mechanics that create beautiful, deadly dances between them and the player. I died over 300 times before reaching the credits, but I was never frustrated because my deaths were fair and I was allowed to immediately retry the fight. I cannot stress enough how much I love the immediate retries, along with being able to return to the last save point if you need a break or want to switch your loadout. These are things every video game with boss fights should include going forward.
As for the combat, it puts a few twists on traditional Souls-like combat. Attacks feel heavy like in Dark Souls, but you have a charge attack that allows you a fill a meter. When it’s full, your attacks are faster, stronger, and heal you. This only lasts for a short time, so being aggressive is important. That’s just the tip of the iceberg though. There are also runes you can equip that enhance your moveset, a slam attack that deals heavy damage at the cost of depleting the charge meter, and a stamina system that depletes only when you dodge instead of every action you take (successful dodges even refund stamina). There’s a good amount of depth to the combat once you adapt to it.
Streamlined really sums up Eldest Souls. It knows exactly what it wants to be and commits to it. One could argue that the game is too barebones as a result, but with so many Souls-likes adopting similar structures and gameplay loops, I welcome the change of pace. Bosses are often the highlight of these games, so if you’re like me and want that classic challenge of overcoming larger-than-life foes using the satisfying, weighty combat the genre is known for, Eldest Souls will deliver.