Retro-inspired pixel games are all the rage right now with a number of titles paying homage to classics of the past.
But only a few of these games manage to surpass their inspiration, becoming new classics.
Developers Retro Forge is looking to finally introduce their Metroidvania Souldiers to the world and if early footage is anything to go by, they could have a hidden gem on their hands.
Souldiers’ fantasy plot starts at the beginning of a war between two nations, Zarga and Dadelm.
Zarga’s Royal Council meet with the King to discuss their plan of attack under the leadership of General Brigard.
Once the council has all but agreed and is ready to set off, the sorcerer Arkzel suddenly proposes another plan.
The King agrees to Arkzel's new plan which leads the troops to a cave. While in this cave the troops are struck by a devastating earthquake which seals them in darkness.
When all hope seems lost a Valkyrie appears to the trapped army and tells them that they are dead and should follow her into the light.
Once the army decides to follow the Valkyrie they end up in Terragaya, a world caught between the dead and the living and have been tasked with seeking out a guardian to help them pass on to the next world.
Souldiers’ premise is entertaining, to say the least, with an abundance of great characters and thrilling twists.
The plot is more than just a prompt to progress gameplay and actually features great world-building and fantastic lore.
Souldiers looks amazing with its vibrant 16-bit world invoking all kinds of nostalgia while including modern additions such as particle effects and neon lighting.
The attack animations radiate so much personality especially when you unlock newer ones further into the game.
I particularly love the little animations, like when each of the characters takes out a map or when they find a new key item.
Each of the supporting character models has fantastic designs with intricate details that enhance their characterisation.
The level design is great, with every new area oozing so much personality that massively differentiates from the previous one.
Souldiers is visually a pixel-perfect game that stands above many of the retro-inspired titles.
The soundtrack is fantastic, with each retro-inspired theme elevating the sense of adventure, adding an extra atmosphere to every situation.
Souldiers' is a combat focused action-adventure, where the player will control one of three classes. The Scout, Archer and Caster each have their own unique abilities and stats that cater for different styles of play.
I found that the three classes offered vastly different experiences, pushing me to formulate new strategies when facing the same enemy. This will help with the game's longevity as players will want to beat the game with each class.
Combat will greatly depend on the class you pick, forcing players to develop tactics that play to that character's strength.
But as players progress they will gain new skills by levelling up and using Mastery Relics to purchase them. They will also earn new skills by defeating bosses too.
Each character will also have access to a secondary weapon that uses ammo which can be refilled.
But I found the best additions to a player's arsenal are the orbs which grant buffs and elemental changes, which are really effective in combat.
Players will have a lot to experiment with, which helps with the variety of enemies.
I did find that most of the enemies outside of the bosses didn’t have particularly challenging attack patterns, but they make up for it with the amount of damage they can dish out.
The game wants players to perfect all layers of combat and it really punishes you if you don’t.
The boss battles are fantastic challenges that will keep players on their toes and wanting more, one of the many highlights of the game.
Souldiers also features a lot of exploration with backtracking here and there, but luckily players will be able to fast travel to almost anywhere.
Missions will consist of players traversing a dungeon while completing one main objective and side missions from NPCs.
The main missions and side missions were varied enough to keep the game really engaging with the rewards being massively beneficial.
The level designs in the dungeons are quite enthralling, offering great platforming challenges and devious traps.
The developers have done an amazing job at finding the right balance between mixing combat with platforming.
Souldiers also features plenty of RPG elements that allow players to build their character how they desire.
I don’t think players could really ask for more customisation as I felt like I was playing a classic JRPG like Golden Sun or Chrono Trigger.
Verdict 4/5
Souldiers is a fantastic adventure that manages to find the right balance between its different elements.
It can get a little tough even in the middle setting, however, it’s a hidden gem that fans of the genre and newcomers alike should pick up.
Souldiers is out for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox One, and PC on 2 June
