Unsouled Review Summary

Fast combo combat with great pixel art and music is satisfying, but clunky controls, confusing story, and poorly guided exploration hold it back.

Combat is satisfying and fast: Combat is repeatedly described as fast-paced, snappy, and deeply satisfying, with precise inputs and impactful combos. The system is engaging and rewards mastery, often highlighted as one of the coolest combat systems available.

Great pixel art and music: The pixel art is praised as excellent, exquisite, and expressive, with amazing backgrounds. The soundtrack and BGM are also consistently described as good, fitting, and a bop.

Overall positive game experience: Many reviewers find the game good, great, or fun overall. It is generally well-received and enjoyable.

Interesting story engages players: The story is described as interesting and neat, making players want to know where it goes. It adds to the overall experience.

Combat features combos and counters: The combat system involves combos and skills, with a counter system that adds depth. Players particularly like the counter mechanics.

Secrets and exploration poorly guided: Secrets are easily missed with no backtracking, requiring careful first-pass clearing. There is almost no guidance for collectibles or hidden paths, and external guides are often unhelpful.

Combat controls clunky and imprecise: Many reviewers find the combat controls clunky, imprecise, and unresponsive, with movement described as slow and sluggish. Attacks lock players into combos, and lack of input buffering causes missed inputs.

Story uninteresting and confusing: The story is widely described as boring, basic, uninteresting, and hard to understand. It features too much text without being informative, leaves many plot threads unresolved, and ends abruptly.

Tutorial overwhelms players: The tutorial frontloads all mechanics and combo information in the first 10 minutes, throwing huge text blocks and dozens of skills at the player at once. This causes confusion and disrupts immersion.

Input bugs and technical issues: Players report numerous bugs including getting stuck in walls, input not registering, screen going dark, and crashes during certain combo inputs. Some bugs persist across computers and controllers.

Combo-Based Combat System: The game features a combo-based attack system, including auto-combo options and normal three-hit combos. Players can execute various skills and combos with specific timing, and combat is based on combos and counters.

Multiple Difficulty Settings: The game offers multiple difficulty options, including a master difficulty such as Master Soul, and a baby mode for accessibility. Difficulty can be adjusted in real time in the settings.

Parry and Counter Mechanics: Combat includes parry and dodge mechanics, with block and parry options as well as a dash parry mechanic. Counter-based combat and chain attacks are central to the action system.

Top-Down 2D Pixel Art Style: The game is a top-down 2D action game with pixel art and stylish action. It is set in detailed pixel art environments, including a stage-based souls-like structure.

Multiple Endings and True Ending: The game has multiple endings, including a bad ending, a secret ending, and a true ending with hidden conditions. The true ending requires playing three levels twice each and unlocks additional content.

Game crashes during certain inputs: Players report crashes during combo E Q input and parrying, sometimes requiring a restart. These issues can disrupt gameplay and cause frustration.

Screen darkening and gray screen bugs: Thrown into walls can cause the screen to turn gray, and a rare bug causes the screen to go dark. Restarting the game often fixes these issues.

Camera issues in boulder section: Camera problems in the boulder section require dropping the screen refresh rate to 60Hz to play properly. This workaround suggests a performance or compatibility issue.

Recommended for Action Fans: The game is highly recommended for fans of fast-paced action games, intense combat, and stylish gameplay. Reviewers often compare it to titles like Devil May Cry, Sekiro, and Nioh.

Worth It on Sale: Many reviewers suggest waiting for a discount, as the game offers better value at a reduced price. Some still find it worth full price, but the consensus leans toward purchasing on sale.

Not Recommended by Some: A number of reviewers do not recommend the game, citing various issues, high price, or lack of enjoyment. Some explicitly advise against purchasing it.

Start on Easy Difficulty: Many suggest beginning on easy or rookie difficulties to learn the mechanics before ramping up the challenge. This approach helps players avoid frustration.

Complex Combos and Memorization: The game requires memorizing numerous combos for different situations, which appeals to some but not others. Those seeking simpler combat may be disappointed.

Community fair range: $9.99 - $14.99.

Game completion: 4.0h.

Story completion: 4.0h.

The game most commonly becomes fun only after players get past a frontloaded tutorial and learning-curve phase, with several reports saying it clicks after a few stages or after pushing through the tutorials. A minority never reach that point because the combat and pacing feel bad.

Friction: Frontloaded tutorials and repeated tutorial interruptions; Too much complexity and too many combat mechanics at the start; Steep learning curve and high demand for player mastery; Clunky, unprecise combat and unfair bosses; Pacing problems and design clash; Text display issues in the combo tutorial.

Unlock drivers: Getting past the long tutorial sequence; The learning curve clicking after a few stages; Using the restart option to level up when stuck; Progression through passive souls, skills, and upgrades.

Hardcore Action Combat Veteran: Seeks tough bosses, practices patterns, experiments with combo routes, and plays on higher difficulty. Motivation: Mastering difficult bosses and expressing skill through tight parries and combos. Stance: buy.

Accessibility-Seeking Time-Poor Player: Uses difficulty and accessibility options, chooses standard mode, and avoids overly punishing progression. Motivation: Enjoying fast action combat without needing to grind or become a hardcore expert. Stance: buy.

Indie Art and Story Appreciator: Explores the story and visual style, comparing the game to similar indie action titles. Motivation: Experiencing the pixel-art atmosphere and narrative. Stance: buy.

Compared to Hyper Light Drifter: Many reviewers compare the game to Hyper Light Drifter, often favorably noting its fast hack-and-slash combat and distinct mechanics, though some find it inferior or derivative.

Short campaign length criticized: Many reviewers note the game is very short, often beatable in 2-5 hours, with some calling it demo-level or not worth full price. The true ending and multiple endings can extend playtime slightly.

Sekiro and Hades comparisons: The game is frequently compared to Sekiro and Hades, especially for its challenging combat and roguelite elements. Reviewers also mention similarities to Devil May Cry and Dark Souls.

Dark Souls and FromSoftware inspiration: The game is heavily influenced by FromSoftware titles, with comparisons to Dark Souls for its save system, prologue structure, and precision combat. Some say it copies only the bad parts of Elden Ring and Devil May Cry.

Solo developer achievement: The game was developed by a single person (MeGustaGames) and published by NEOWIZ, which reviewers find impressive given its quality and polish.