Sony is trying to get back into the action-packed kind of games because, after the Devil May Cry series, there’s still a hole in our hearts that needs to be filled. Of course, many developers have tried creating a game that could compete with DMC, but very few could deliver something special. Even when developers are trying to fit in the genre with a popular franchise like Final Fantasy, the game just couldn’t fit the standards of the community. Sony tries to embrace the genre with their next game called Lost Soul Aside… Let’s see if it can relieve the pain that DMC has left us.
I won’t sugarcoat it… Lost Soul Aside has an interesting concept, but still needs some work. Despite its flaws, Lost Soul Aside will definitely be something worth remembering… Before Sony had an interest, the game was already built by a Chinese Developer called Yang Bing. If one of the big names gives you a production team to continue and perfect the game you already built, you might be onto something. Unfortunately, the game still needs some time in the oven and some feedback from the die-hard action fan base.
“A good game often needs some time to build up…”
Let’s start with the beginning… The game had me interested a couple of times in the beginning of the story, where the past was shown and where you, as a player, could take part in it. It’s one of those chapters where you’re thrown onto the battlefield with your best gear and skills. It’s kind of a show moment to see what you’ll eventually become. Most of the time, you can expect quite the battle, but this time, I didn’t find it amusing. At this point, only a couple of minutes in, I feared that the game couldn’t convince me anymore. Then again, a good game often needs some time to build up, to set the stage, to create a connection between you and the protagonist or a dramatic chapter that turns the tables in an instant, but all of these things weren’t there…
From the moment you start the game, you feel like you’re in an identity crisis. The game tries to be everything in one game, tries to take the best things from other great action-packed games, but loses its uniqueness along the way. The environments look like they’re coming straight out of the Final Fantasy world, the characters could come out of DMC or even Genshin Impact, the movement has a bit of everything, … It just feels a mix of everything and nothing.
“To be honest, there really isn’t much more to it…”
I immediately had a problem with the storytelling, the cringy over-the-top dialogues, the weird voice-acting, … It was quite painful to get through. The main story also couldn’t captivate me, and therefore stimulated me to play the game no longer than I had to. I also played the game with English Audio and Subtitles… I have a feeling that this wasn’t the right choice as well. The voices just didn’t suit the characters, but that is, of course, my own personal taste.
The main story is about finding his sister’s soul after a Voidrax (interdimensional beast) absorbed her soul. There is also this boss called Aramon who gives out the orders. His goal is to get as many souls as he can, so he can break free from his prison. Which, btw, also has some similarities to Sephiroth. To be honest, there really isn’t much more to it… I kept trying to read between the lines to get something more out of the story, but it’s quite plain.
“It’s great to have these different systems to find a fighting style that suits your playstyle best…”
Kaser, the main character, found himself in a terrible situation, and he stumbled upon Lord Arena. They form a bond together to escape the clutches of the Voidrax from this laboratory. Lord Arena seems to be a Voidrax as well and gives Kaser some cool abilities that could definitely help with Kaser’s survivability. Along the way, you’ll earn skill points to unlock other attacks and abilities. Each ability has a kind of playstyle, and like any other game, the abilities come with positives and negatives.
It’s great to have these different systems to find a fighting style that suits your playstyle best, and it’s also good to have these different abilities to make your fighting a bit more flexible. Some abilities are single-targeted, others may be a bit more multi-targeted. Each of these abilities can also become a better version of itself by upgrading them. You’ll definitely use these abilities to break the shields of the enemies, before you start giving out punches with your weapon.
“One of the best-selling points the game features is the combo system…”
Speaking of weapons, there are 4 different weapons (that can be infused with some kind of elemental energy): sword, greatsword, twinblades, and a scythe. The sword is focused on quick attacks, the greatsword is slow but packs a punch ( it is also one of the most rewarding weapons due to its unique playstyle), the twinblades combine fast attacks with flying, and the scythe combines wide-range attacks with long-range attacks. Each weapon complements a different fighting style and other combo opportunities. The developers made sure that you’re stimulated to use different weapons in different scenarios. All of the weapons have a unique feel and can definitely turn the fight around in your favour. One of the best-selling points the game features is the combo system, by allows the player to switch weapons with the click of one button. However, the parry/ block system needs some work as it isn’t intuitive, and it also feels clunky or even unresponsive.
Enemy design is okay, and you’ll be confronted with more re-skinned enemies than fairly unique ones. There are a lot of bosses in the game, and most of the time, I enjoyed the mechanics of those battles. They aren’t the greatest, but they aren’t the worst either. I’d rather want them to focus more on polishing and creating qualitative bosses than cannon fodder.
“It doesn’t stay fun for a long time.”
The environments are okay, but could use some extras to make them more enjoyable. For example, jumping puzzles or certain challenges you might face. The pathways within these areas are straightforward, and there isn’t too much room to go out and explore. Of course, the characters that fill these environments aren’t exactly the kind of characters you want to look for. The generic quotes and voice acting don’t really help to stimulate exploration. There are a few environments worth running around in because of the colouring scheme and vividness overall. Even some of the environments, but more specifically, the progress through these environments, seem recycled. It feels like you’re doing the same thing over and over again when it comes to the introduction, the progression, and the ending within the environment. Fight mobs, find an alternative route through dimensions with even more mobs, kill the biggest mob, and clear out the crystal. Next environment: repeat the process. It doesn’t stay fun for a long time.
Conclusion:
Lost Soul Aside could have been a great game on the PS3. It feels like a game from the past with the recycling of enemies/ environments, basic exploration, badly written dialogues, and terrible voice acting. The fact that it also borrows a lot of elements from other games is quite noticeable. Lending mechanics and still making it your own is something I can look past, but it isn’t a great feeling when the game feels too familiar with other IPs within the genre. The game just has too little to stand out from the crowd. Combat feels decent, but I have a problem with the fluency of dodging, blocking, swapping, … Combat should be a bit more than button-mashing and flashy. Then, of course, you’ll probably have a community for the simplicity the game has to offer. If you just want to pick up a combat game, this game might be for you, just don’t expect too much of it.
