Soulstone Survivors: A Bullet Hell Dance of Color and Chaos
Dive into an endless battle against the Lords of the Void, collecting Soulstones, crafting weapons, and mastering a cascade of spells in this dynamic roguelite experience.
Early Access Review
last updated Aug 08, 2024
Soulstone Survivors delivers an exhilarating rush of chaotic gameplay that skyrockets adrenaline levels like a caffeine-fueled roller coaster.
Gameplay: Unleashing the Madness
Soulstone Survivors delivers an exhilarating rush of chaotic gameplay that skyrockets the player's adrenaline levels like a caffeine-fueled roller coaster. The core concept echoes the survivors genre, dropping players directly into the action where dodging, weaving, and unleashing an onslaught of spells feels immensely satisfying. With rapid character progression and diverse skill trees, the gameplay promotes experimentation, allowing players to concoct unique builds that reward creativity. However, be forewarned: as the enemy hordes grow, so does the visual chaos on screen. Navigating through a kaleidoscope of effects, projectiles, and particles can result in moments of utter bewilderment, where surviving the onslaught feels more like a high-stakes game of whack-a-mole rather than a carefully executed strategy.
Audio: A Sonic Journey or a Dissonant Discord?
The soundtrack in Soulstone Survivors alternates between dancefloor anthems that keep players pumped and some serious misfires. While some characters jam to tunes that boost your inner hero, others seem to miss the mark entirely, leading to mixed feelings encasing the experience. It's evident that some tracks are more enjoyable than others, creating a dissonance that could detract from the overall immersion. Ultimately, it feels like a gamble—when it hits right, it elevates gameplay; when it doesn’t, you might find yourself yearning for a mute button instead of a revamp of the tracklist.
Graphics: Pretty Lights and Performance Drama
Visually, Soulstone Survivors presents a vibrant explosion of color that could make even a rainbow feel jealous. The art style is captivating, merging fantasy vibes mixed with an appeal reminiscent of classic ARPGs. However, the thriving chaos comes at a cost—the game occasionally struggles with performance, particularly during the heightened action of late-game runs. Lag spikes and frame drops can mar an otherwise dazzling visual experience, and players may find themselves adjusting graphic settings to maintain smooth performance. The option to tweak visual effects is a thoughtful addition, allowing users to dial down the colorful consternation, but experiencing a fully illuminated battlefield is undeniably a spectacle to behold—if one can survive it, that is.
Addictive Progression: A Rabbit Hole of Fun
A standout feature of Soulstone Survivors lies in its progression systems that grant players access to a plethora of characters, skills, and builds—each enhancing the replayability factor exponentially. The crafting options open new avenues for weapon enhancement that provide savvy strategists the means to outsmart the ludicrously large swarms of enemies. Still, it's crucial to note that the grind can become formidable, as unlocking deeper skills and characters often requires a considerable investment of time. Yet, for those who revel in tallying achievements and finding synergies between builds, this grind is part of the charm. A frequent criticism is the chaotic visual clutter that can obscure gameplay elements to the point of confusion, threatening to shroud the fun in a haze of frustration. With numerous updates underway, it's clear that the developers are committed to polishing the experience further and addressing player feedback.
EARLY ACCESS RATING
Developer & Publisher
Game Smithing Limited
Early Accesss Release Date
November 07, 2022
Addictive Chaos with Room for Improvement
Soulstone Survivors is a captivating bullet-hell roguelite that successfully combines frantic gameplay with deep progression mechanics and enchanting visuals. While the chaotic on-screen action can sometimes devolve into an overwhelming mess and the audio may leave some wanting, the sheer enjoyment and creativity fostered within its mechanics is hard to ignore. It's a worthy addition to the roguelite genre that manages to stand out among a sea of titles, leaving players eagerly anticipating what’s to come in future updates.
