Mortal Shell came out quite recently, much to the positive reception of both fans and critics. The title was lauded for its incredible atmosphere, fun gameplay, and adherence to the Souls-like formula while also adding in its own unique touches. Cold Symmetry, the developers behind the game, clearly had FromSoftware’s Dark Souls in mind when creating this game. A lot of the aspects of the game such as atmosphere, non-linear storytelling, and difficulty is very reminiscent of that of the Dark Souls trilogy
Be that as it may, Mortal Shell does indeed have unique elements that make the game stand out. This perfect mixture of originality and tribute is what makes Mortal Shell such a compelling entry to the Souls-like collective.
9 Different: The Hardening
Cold Symmetry’s most notable difference from Dark Soul’s gameplay is the harden system. While the mechanic initially seems like its the game’s own way of individualizing blocking, players can later find just how diverse the mechanic can be. With the harden system, players can time attacks better, compensate for depleted stamina, and handle multiple enemies at once. Couple this mechanic with parrying and dodging and players are treated with diversified combat that is skill-demanding and satisfying. The hardening is one of Mortal Shell’s most unique contributions to the world of Souls-like games and players have welcomed this mechanic with open arms.
8 Similar: Storytelling
The style of storytelling in Mortal Shell is something Souls veterans will be all too familiar with. The narrative is not handed to the players on a silver platter. Instead, players will have to scour the world and search for inscriptions and etchings to get a glimpse of the entire lore. Hints and pieces of information are also placed within dialogues and item descriptions. It will then be the player’s duty to put all of these vague pieces together in order to form one crystal-clear, cohesive narrative. While this style of storytelling isn’t exactly exclusive to Dark Souls, it’s a very recognizable signature that almost every single Souls-like game follows; and so does Mortal Shell.
7 Different: Healing System
Players won’t be able to equip themselves with a refillable healing valve similar to the Estus Flask in this game. Instead, it will be very similar to Demon’s Souls’ strategy where players will have to stock up on consumables for healing. There are other interesting ways to heal up in the game as well, such as riposting and other shell-exclusive abilities.
In a nutshell, players will have to be extra efficient with their consumables and not just needlessly spend them. On top of that, the ability to heal when riposting allows players to assess which mechanic to use at a given moment. Considering how parrying-to-riposting is a much more challenging way of dealing with enemies compared to hardening or dodging, it will really force players to master and utilize this skill so they can deal with the tough enemies and survive within the game.
6 Similar: Atmosphere
Mortal Shell will almost feel like a déjà-vu to everyone who has played the first Dark Souls game. The game’s atmosphere—from level and character designs to user interface—are all highly reminiscent to that of Dark Souls.
The game has a very minimal use of music aside from certain areas and boss battles. The use of sound in the game carries more emphasis on the environment. The minimal, yet stellar voice performances within the game also drive this point forward. The players are really able to feel how mystical and damaged the world is simply based on how the characters in it speak. Once again, these aspects are very similar to Dark Souls.
5 Different: Exploration
The world map within Mortal Shell is not as interwoven compared to what Dark Souls players are used to. The latter game really has a way of making the players feel just how interconnected each level is. On the other hand, the levels in Mortal Shell feel far removed from one another. Players can essentially move from one level to another in Dark Souls with ease, but the same cannot be said with Mortal Shell.
In this title, players will have to do a lot of backtracking in order to move from one place to another. Although players can actually gain the ability to fast travel later on, it’s just something earned instead of something given.
4 Similar: Difficulty
A game is not a Souls-like game if it isn’t difficult. It’s this degree of challenge souls veterans expect, even crave at this point. The sense of danger that’s ever-present is what made players get hooked to this type of game in the first place. The rush of adrenaline and the rewarding satisfaction you get when moving forward after failing one too many times, that’s the trademark of a souls-like game. This very trademark is, unsurprisingly, also present in Mortal Shell.
Any type of enemy in the game, even the most minor ones, have the ability to deplete the player’s health bar in an instant. This hostility is something that can only be found in souls-like games. One mistake and it’s back to the checkpoint.
3 Different: Class System
Mortal Shell’s class system is very unique and refreshing and it is one of the best examples of how you can make a well-known and widely accepted element much more exciting. The game’s class system doesn’t only make it a unique souls-like game, but a unique RPG game entirely.
Instead of having the players choose which attributes to prioritize at the beginning of the game, they’re instead presented with 4 different shells to inhabit. These shells represent a class many players are accustomed to. What’s even better is a player will not be tied to one shell only throughout the entire game but is given the liberty to switch from one to another whenever they choose via the hub or a special item.
2 Similar: Weapon Handling And Combat
The weapons in the game feel very similar to most of the weapons in Dark Souls. They’re heavy, the wind up requires timing, and they feel dangerous. Even the only light weapon in the game feels too heavy for its own weight. Knowing when to attack is essential and the time between the player hitting the button and the weapon reaching the enemy is a window of time that should always be considered.
Souls veterans will know that the best way to handle bosses is to try and try again. Players must first assess the enemy’s movements and use this information to time when to attack, to dodge, to parry, and in this case, when to harden. Hacking and slashing mindlessly is highly discouraged in a game like this.
1 Different: Item Familiarity
Mortal Shell has a really interesting way of teaching the players what each item does. Similar to its storytelling approach, the players won’t be spoon-fed the details of an item in its entirety. Instead, items will have to be consumed first in order for a player to know what it’s exactly for.
While this is a very risky approach, it’s really quite impressive just how much this adds to the immersion. One would be wise to be more careful of the things they consume in a world that’s hostile and foreign.
Both Dark Souls and Mortal Shell have a really high replayability value. Once the credits start rolling, players will just crave for more of these worlds despite how harrowing the experience was. Thankfully, both games offer a New Game Plus option where players will be able to play the game from the beginning while carrying over all of the items, tars, glimpses, and upgrades they already have.
Both games’ RPG elements also add to the replayability value. If a player decided to exclusively stick to one play style in their first run, they can replay the game and try out an entirely different approach. This adds a level of freshness even though the game, the run, and the world will remain exactly the same.
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