Eldest Souls

Despite the occasional moments of frustration the game provided, Eldest Souls is an experience no fan of the Soulslike genre will want to miss. From its unforgettable boss battles to its deceptively deep and engaging progression system, it’s the kind of game that will get its hooks deep into you and keep you coming back for more. While the game only features ten boss fights, it’ll easily take players about a dozen hours to make their way through the story. And those who do make their way to the end credits will unlock a New Game + mode, which dials up the already considerable challenge even further. If you’re eager for a challenging boss-rush with a killer aesthetic, look no further. Fallen Flag Studio’s latest offering will swallow your soul.

Eldest Souls suffers only from a limited implementation of world navigation and a not-so-standout design. Still, the combative cycle is compelling and well-implemented through its splendid boss battles, immersive mechanics, and extraordinary audio design. If you’re yearning for a title to demand precision and aggression accompanied by thought-provoking skill progression, this game is worth your time.

Eldest Souls sets out to do one thing very well and achieves its goal. The imaginative design of its bosses is underpinned with some finely balanced additions to Soulslike combat that make for tense, undulating battles. It can feel overly punishing, even exhausting, at times, but rising to its challenge is highly satisfying.

Though it wears its overly obvious influences on its sleeve, Eldest Souls is an incredibly satisfying boss rush that still manages to set itself apart. Its brilliant combat is complimented by a smart skill system and some incredible pixel art. Designed with replayability in mind, it’s a little bit of a bummer that its impressive customization doesn’t really blossom until partway into your first playthrough. But one thing that’s there from the start is that feeling of immense glory after every hard-earned victory: Ceremoniously slumping onto the living room floor, clutching the carpet for dear life with one hand while exhaustedly flipping off the television with the other.

Sporting wonderful pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack, Eldest Souls is sure to go down a storm with Soulslike fans who would simply like to get to the nitty-gritty. Of course, the loss of the smaller battles in between means that there’s no opportunity to level your character up if you’re struggling, but the short and sharp nature of the fights on offer, and the ease of which you can respec to try a different approach, makes up for that somewhat. It’s a just a shame that Eldest Souls sometimes feels unfair, with victory being the result of your foes not making use of certain powerful skills.