Steam Next Fest 2023 offers a glimpse into Soulslinger: Envoy of Death, a title that attempts to combine roguelike and arena shooter elements but falls short of delivering a satisfying gaming experience.
Lacking clarity and depth
The game casts players in the role of the Soulslinger, a character navigating the limbo to recover stolen souls from a demon cartel. While the premise is intriguing, the game’s execution leaves much to be desired. One puzzling aspect is the Soulslinger’s association with Death, who grants the player some powers but doesn’t seem inclined to recover souls himself. This narrative inconsistency raises questions about the game’s lore.
Unjustifiable roguelike mechanics
Soulslinger: Envoy of Death follows the trend of many modern roguelikes, presenting formidable enemies as insurmountable barriers and providing incremental upgrades to grind through these challenges. Unfortunately, the game fails to justify its roguelike status. It lacks a satisfying unlock system, leaving players frustrated by the relentless difficulty curve.
The game’s attempt at presenting a roguelike experience feels forced, and it raises concerns about developers using this genre label without delivering the expected gameplay depth. The absence of a well-designed campaign, overly tough enemies even in the initial stages, and excessive grind for upgrades detract from the overall gaming experience.
Lack of content and pacing issues
The demo available on Steam concludes after battling the first boss, which is reachable within a mere 10 rooms. This brevity raises doubts about the game’s overall content and longevity. Soulslinger: Envoy of Death seems to rely on artificial means to extend gameplay, making it feel like a shallow experience.
Underwhelming combat mechanics
As a shooter, Soulslinger: Envoy of Death disappoints in delivering impactful combat mechanics. Weapons lack feedback and recoil, resulting in a sense of powerlessness. Oddly, the game shakes the screen excessively upon firing, adding to the frustration. The visual clarity also suffers as skills create massive waves and explosions, obstructing the player’s view and causing an unpleasant gaming experience.
Graphical potential hindered by performance issues
Despite its promising graphics, the game is plagued by stuttering issues. Entering a new combat room often results in a sluggish start, and enemy-generated particles further strain system performance. Overly cluttered environments and poor enemy AI lead to odd enemy behavior, like repetitive jumping or stationary menacing poses.
The game’s hub area, Heaven, offers a brief respite with visually pleasing but somewhat unrealistic tree animations. However, exploration is limited, and interaction options are restricted to conversing with Death and a lone NPC.
Dialogue and characters
Soulslinger: Envoy of Death provides dialogue that primarily serves to deliver exposition or guide players through mechanics, lacking in-depth character interactions. Death stands out as the most engaging character, thanks to his design and blunt dialogue, which occasionally adds a touch of humor to the experience.
A disappointing gaming experience
Soulslinger: Envoy of Death falls short as both a roguelike and an arena shooter. It struggles to offer satisfying unlocks, leaving roguelike enthusiasts unsatisfied. On the other hand, arena shooter fans may find the gameplay overly simplistic and monotonous.
The game’s visual appeal is marred by performance issues, and the cluttered environments hinder enemy AI, resulting in awkward behavior. The overall gaming experience is less than enjoyable, and it’s difficult to identify a target audience for this title.
While the initial presentation may entice some players, the lackluster gameplay and performance issues are likely to deter all but the most patient and forgiving gamers. In the end, Soulslinger: Envoy of Death fails to make the most of its potential, making it a regrettable waste of assets.
