Eldest Souls Reviews
Eldest Souls wears its inspiration on its sleeve, though in the end that counts for very little. The boss fights are often unbalanced and tedious, which only contributes to a frustration that deters you from wanting to pick the controller back up.
As a game Eldest Souls does not hide the fact it is a tough game but it is trying to outshine in a genre that has had better examples, and better bosses over the years. Eldest Souls is by no means a bad game but it does rely on players having luck on their side a little bit too much, and that can make it a frustrating experience rather than a fun or engaging one.
Eldest Souls is a brutal and unforgiving action game with some interesting lore, gorgeous visuals, and some really good music.
If you’re hungry for a fresh Souls-like experience, this isn’t it. If you’re the type of player who craves a challenge and loves memorizing boss patterns, then this could be for you. Just don’t expect to have meaningful options.
Eldest Souls is a difficult boss rush game with great combat, fun enemies, and a mysterious world that could break the spirit of casual adventurers.
Eldest Souls is so hard that most of the times it feels unfair and there are so many passive unlockable choices in the game’s skill tree that don’t really help to ease your pain in an impactful way. It feels like the game wanted to go for fast paced combat but its hero is maybe a little too weak to wield his crazy big sword properly, so if you are OK with getting punished for entertainment, this is absolutely one of the best choices in the market.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Eldest Souls incorporates two of the best traits from a Souls game: challenging boss-fights and a minimalist storytelling approach. You will die a lot, but at the same time you will never feel cheated by the game — au contraire, you will find yourself on that “one more try” loop, unable to put the controller down until you find out a nice build combination to defeat a boss. And when you do, the satisfaction is near-instant.
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.
I had a great, albeit frustrating time with Eldest Souls and thoroughly enjoyed the short experience. It is a brutally difficult game, but the music, art style, and overall challenge had me coming back for “one last try” each and every time. I will say that if you are not a fan of boss-rush or challenging games, then this will not change that. But if you are after a title with an old-school appeal that does not hold you by the hand and presents a truly captivating time, then I think you will find a lot to enjoy here.
As lovers of the narrative aspect of Hidetaka Miyazaki's work more than the high level of challenge regardless, we struggled to fall in love with Eldest Souls. Because, while somehow attempting to mimic the fragmented writing cleared by From Software, this experiment fails to be evocative in the same way. The debut of Fallen Flag Studio speaks more the language of those who are desperately looking for challenges, but risking to leave out all those who in such a title are looking for something more than such a smugly hardcore approach.
Review in Italian | Read full review
This is why I don't think it's really apt to say that Eldest Souls is a Souls-like game (though what defines a souls-like game is really not a debate that I'd like to get into). Rather, I think it's a boss-rush game with Souls-like aesthetics because, in terms of gameplay, the only real similarity with the Dark Souls franchise is the fact that it's a difficult game with a stamina bar, boss fights, and a focus on dodge mechanics. Consequently, it's also why I feel if you're looking for a game similar to the Soulsborne games, Eldest Souls may not be your cup of tea. But hey, if you're a fan of boss rush hack-and-slash games, why not give it a try?
Eldest Souls is a suitable way to test your limits in an engaging boss rush with plenty of foes to deal with, but don't expect anything more than that.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Eldest Souls is one of the most beautiful indie games out there but the hurdle to get into it is far too high. The skill points handed out to upgrade your character do little to help while there is no room to learn the mechanics. The notorious Souls difficulty is only amplified in the boss-rush genre, which makes this a near-impossible entry-level game. For anyone who enjoys Dark Souls’ most difficult segments emphatically because of the challenge, Eldest Souls has a lot to love. But that’s just it - Eldest Souls is one for the die-hard fans and no one else.
While the overall world-building and customization options leave a lot to be desired, Eldest Souls is still a worthy game for Souls' fanatics despite its blatant flaws.
For the Dark Souls fan who sees every From Software game as a validation of the “git gud” mentality, Eldest Souls will probably scratch a persistent itch. For everyone else, especially those who appreciate Souls-like games for their journeys and not their boss destinations, Eldest Souls may seem too focused on doing one thing, no matter how well it succeeds. Eldest Souls is designed around frustration and challenge, and if that’s your idea of a good time, then this game is for you.
'Boss waves', it would be the best word about 'Eldest Souls'. All processes were simplified with only a few tests and elements for players to take a break or explore shortly. Other things were totally focused on combat.
Review in Korean | Read full review
An experience that includes problems such as vague endings, low content, as well as inefficient reinforcements made by NPC's, but generally, it's fun and keeps its users satisfied.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Young developers to quality From Software are still a long way off, but Eldest Souls is a piece of solid code that will appeal to lovers of heavy challenges and Bloodborne!
Review in Polish | Read full review
Eldest Souls straddles the line between frustratingly difficult and overwhelmingly satisfying. I had to stop playing before bed because I'd have trouble sleeping from the nervous tension it caused. Whether that's appealing or not is up to you, but for me I eventually found my way around to really digging Eldest Souls. I was slow to warm up to it, but now welcome it amongst the others in the genre like Furi or Titan Souls. It builds up gradually but the fun is found in the depth of combat customization, and there's plenty if you're up for the challenge.
For me, Eldest Souls is a bit of a pleasant surprise...