While there’s a natural tendency in gaming to compare titles to their influences, drawing comparisons betweenMortal Shelland the iconic games that have informed its DNA is something that’s almost impossible to avoid. Between developer comments and the formula that runs through the core of the game, it’s almost instantly apparent how much FromSoftware’sDark Soulstitles inspired the small team when developing the studio’s debut adventure. Unlike some of theSouls-like clones that have popped up in the wake of the series' rise to stardom though,Mortal Shellhas enough unique twists and wrinkles to justify players giving it a shot.
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The Mortal Shell Formula
Instead of throwing concepts right into the player’s face, a lot of the best lore of the roughly 12 hour campaign is trickled out rewardingly through notes and occasional interactions with NPCs. From a combat perspective, an emphasis on visceral third person melee combat, that’s often a step above the difficulty of most franchises in the genre, will also feel familiar to FromSoftware veterans.
DescribingMortal Shellas a simple love letter to theSoulsgames risks undermining the readily apparent efforts that Cold Symmetry has gone through to take its game in a bold new direction.
One of the first clues that the studio’s debut title is more than just a clone can actually be observed in the composition of its name. Both of those words have deeply significant meanings. Instead of building out a character to fit their own playstyle for example, players get the chance to possess four distinct shell-like classes, thanks to some murky necromancy-based shenanigans. Each of these characters naturally offers unique combat styles that can be fun to experiment with. An item available later in the game also eventually allows players to shift between the party on the fly, further adding to the sense thatMortal Shellis trying to be a pioneerin the genre.
While an emphasis has been placed on players having a limited number of healing items, which often forces aBloodborne-esque playstyle reliant on parry-regenerating tactics, the way in which Cold Symmetry has tackled the topic of death is truly unique. When players succumb to one of the game’s diverse array of enemies, instead of dying outright and immediately losing all of their progress, they’re instead ejected from their body.
In these scenarios there’s a desperate fleeting window where players can re-possess their shell and continue the fight with full health. Mechanics such as this, in combination with a rewarding upgrade system, and a hardening ability that allows players to tank a hit, really help to makeMortal Shellfeel more like a power fantasy than otherSouls-inspired games. While still by no means as accessible as most other non-Soulsaction-RPGs,Mortal Shellis one of the easier entriesin the brutal sub-genre.
Mortal Shell: Enhanced Edition Benefits
If that wasn’t enough, Cold Symmetry looks set to have a big month when it comes to promotingMortal Shell, thanks to the fact that recent credible leaks point toMortal Shellalso landing onSony’s PlayStation Plus in December. What’s intriguing, based on the unconfirmed information, is that it appears as though the base edition of theSouls-like is specifically making its way over instead of the remastered one.Due to the inconsistent way in which next-generation upgrades have worked within Sony’s ecosystem, it remains to be seen if PS5 owners will be entitled to the shiny new version like their Xbox Game Pass cousins.
Mortal Shellis available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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