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As always, this year’s Gamescom was filled with new game announcements. Among the highlights was Valor Mortis, a first-person soulslike developed by One More Level, the Polish studio behind the Ghostrunner series. Although I was initially skeptical due to my experience with the Ghostrunner games, my first impression of Valor Mortis turned out to be completely wrong.
Valor Mortis is a first-person soulslike where players control William, a soldier in Napoleon’s Grande Armée brought back from the dead to combat an unknown plague that corrupts and destroys Europe. The premise alone sets this game apart from others in the genre, with its unique setting and gameplay reminiscent of the early days of FromSoftware’s King’s Field series.
One More Level has clearly learned from their past work, as Valor Mortis offers a smooth, well-balanced experience. Controlling William is incredibly fluid, and the combat retains the heaviness and positioning focus typical of soulslike games. What I enjoyed most was how the first-person perspective allows for proper soulslike encounters—duels or fights against smaller groups of enemies—unlike many other developers who prefer to overwhelm players with large enemy counts using unsuitable combat systems.
After a few minutes adjusting to the new perspective, I was immediately engrossed in the experience. Fights involved short-range weapons and guns, special abilities, dodging, and parrying attacks effortlessly. The game strikes a good balance between challenge and pacing, though it remains uncertain how difficult Valor Mortis will be when fully released. In terms of level design, the devastated battlefield featured intricate shortcuts and alternate paths, including optional locations with powerful enemies, suggesting that traversal is as important as combat.
After defeating many corrupted soldiers and dying a few times, I faced the demo’s final boss: a massive corrupted soldier split into two phases. This battle tested my limited knowledge of Valor Mortis mechanics, demonstrating how guns can target weak points and make fights easier. By learning the boss’s attack patterns and parrying or dodging appropriately, I managed to defeat it with time to spare. The development team then showed me another enemy encounter where ranged weapons could destroy an enemy’s cannon, dealing significant damage. Unfortunately, my time with Valor Mortis ended there, leaving me wanting more.
In a market saturated with average soulslike games that fail to capture the essence of this genre, Valor Mortis stands out as a refreshing experience. The demo clearly showcased what makes a proper soulslike enjoyable. As such, it was one of the best games I tried at this year’s Gamescom and one I eagerly await. Thankfully, some players won’t have to wait until next year for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, or Xbox Series S to experience Valor Mortis firsthand, as a playtest is planned soon.
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