It’s simple to think about pretension as nothing however a web detrimental, particularly once you’re unsure of what you’re coping with. Not figuring out precisely the place the trail will take you is actually a fear-inducing idea, however on the similar time, when the sunshine is proven, it’s at all times gratifying to know you’re in a position to be stunned. If something, SOULVARS is a creation that workouts this with admirable finesse.
That is the debut recreation from solo Japanese developer Ginolabo, initially launched on iOS and Android in 2022, to a modest however nonetheless optimistic reception. Along with the gaming department of manga writer Shueisha (Recognized for publishing Chainsaw Man and One Piece in Japan), the deck-building RPG has made its option to consoles and PC. Not solely that, however these ports have additionally seen their HUD and graphics revamped and polished from their smartphone counterparts.
You play as Yakumo, a contract “Soulbearer” contracted by PMCs to take care of the specter of Dominators, technological beasts who’ve tailored and advanced via human developments into digitizing souls. Along with fellow Soulbearers Izuna and Hizume, you’re tasked with eliminating Dominators sprouting round Suzaku Metropolis, in addition to coping with the shadowy group Izanami, who’s in cahoots in opposition to your contractor.
Regardless of my rationalization of the story, you’d be pretty hard-pressed to infer this data your self via cut-scenes. Whether or not it’s on account of its authentic launch on cell or in any other case, cutscenes are scanty in terms of offering context, with most dialogue consisting of 3-word responses that very briefly point out plot parts. It’s an exceptionally impenetrable narrative, one which I struggled with, even with SOULVARS’ inclusion of a glossary and instruction handbook.
It’s the form of story that may get in the best way of gameplay, with that very same scanty nature bleeding into mechanical presentation. The tempo of SOULVARS is breakneck, blisteringly quick in battles, animations, and the final company with which the sport calls for of the participant always. There’s barely a second to suppose, and the identical context lacking for story beats can present up when making an attempt to determine precisely what the sport is making an attempt to current.
Phrases will fly previous you, like “Soulbits” or “Alternations”, and whereas the aforementioned glossary can clear the air relating to them, SOULVARS nonetheless does a horrible job of outwardly explaining stats to you. Like several RPG value its salt, your characters can have Assault, Protection, and Pace stats that you would be able to develop and enhance with sure objects and upgrades. On the similar time, it fails to relay what monsters are harm by which stats, particularly in terms of attributes like “PSY” and “TEC”.
It’s laborious to elucidate what SOULVARS is, previous the style tags and its use of deck-building mechanics. Whether or not it’s an auteur imaginative and prescient or an intensive tribute of Ginolabo’s favourite titles, there’s an execution to it that brings to thoughts the Flash video games of yesteryear, and that’s not a detriment. The power is electrical, and the precise route is honest, each narratively and visually – it appears like a recreation utilizing the developer’s pleasure as a useful resource.
With that stated although, the sport’s outward layer of creating the participant second-guess shortly decays when you notice the depth of fight. Every flip, you’re given 5 playing cards to attempt to combine n’ match combos, each offensively and defensively, selecting assaults that enemies shall be weak to, or efficiently dodging or blocking a transfer made by your opponent. Each buff, debuff, block, dodge, and significant hit, shall be extra power so that you can use subsequent flip, and actually? Watching this mechanic be exercised in-game is exhilarating.
It’s a threat/reward administration system that turns into an addicting endorphin rush, enjoying into the extra myopic features of a card recreation. There’s greater than a fats handful of abilities and combos obtainable for every social gathering member to make use of, and luck turns into much less of a requirement than it’s a bonus. Even if you happen to block with one character and the enemy doesn’t goal you, it’ll nonetheless account for the block subsequent flip, a metaphorical wall from which you’ll assault behind cowl.
Is it simple? Sure, and actually, that is the place SOULVARS may’ve used somewhat tweaking. It’s an inconsequential breeze for giant elements of the sport, even when boss fights present up with some pretty intimidating resistances to fundamental assaults. On that notice, when the sport does resolve to indicate up with a beast value its weight in a battle, the stats are skewed to date again in your favor that it turns into a slog. Whereas it’s extra painless than painful, problem is one thing that SOULVARS struggles with, even on tougher modes.
Nonetheless, regardless of its preliminary complexity, via obscurity or in any other case, SOULVARS is the form of recreation the place you may flip your mind off and simply watch the sparks fly. Regardless of a visible route consisting largely of purple and yellow, the precise aptitude with which assaults are displayed is uniquely lovely. The super-speedy animations of characters suggest a battle that’s over within the blink of an eye fixed, the merchandise of demigods extra than simply “advanced people”.
Keep in mind that these are demigods that you would be able to at all times mildew into any side of fighter. Completely different weapons and outfits with playing cards hooked up are only one angle of customization, you even have their “Souldriver” to fret about; interchangeable gadgets that you just equip and stage up as a substitute of the character themselves. As your sync price will increase with these Souldrivers, you could have the chance to unlock extra stat boosts, combo assaults, and what’s tantamount to a very completely different construct with every Souldriver.
Truthfully, the most important sin of SOULVARS is its lack of context, however even that wouldn’t make a confession. Once more, you may inform it is a recreation that Ginolabo was simply so completely satisfied and excited to be making, and what strengths SOULVARS – the aptitude, the fluidity, the texture and the fascination stemming from its ludicrously dense narrative – are indicators of blind ardour greater than silly oversights. They know how you can have enjoyable, they know how you can present it, and the outcome? The product of a 70-hour RPG that you would be able to end in 15.
I couldn’t ask for extra, personally.
TechRaptor reviewed SOULVARS on Xbox Collection S, utilizing a duplicate supplied by the writer over the course of 15 hours of gameplay – all screenshots had been taken in the course of the means of evaluation.
