Valor Mortis Reviews
Ghostrunner studio One More Level returns with a Napoleonic alternative history Soulslike that fuses fluid sword- and gunplay with exhilarating parkour, and it's a delight.
Valor Mortis is a novel soulslike packed with interesting ideas, even if they don’t always work out super smoothly.
Valor Mortis is still a thoroughly engaging experience that left me more than satisfied with my time going through its story and learning about its world.
There are the bones of a great game here–one that would benefit from a tighter focus on its engaging first-person combat and a trimming of the superfluous mechanics that detract from the ones that work. Instead, it’s an uneven experience that delights as much as it disappoints.
Apart from the difficulty hiccups, Valor Mortis is a steady Soulslike that prioritizes fun over hardcore gameplay, and it's made my time with Napoleon all the more memorable.
I was skeptical about a Soulslike in first-person, but Valor Mortis proves that it works very well.
One More Level came into Valor Mortis with a bucketload of ideas, spilling them onto the drawing board and seeing what happened. Surprisingly, many of these disparate ideas seamlessly snap together like magnets while others show a bit more resistance, requiring some clever design work to form a unison. The end result is an inventive take on the soulslike genre that offers a satisfying, challenging gameplay loop without the laborious RPG trappings.
As unforgiving as Valor Mortis can be, it doesn’t forget the fun between the frustration.
Valor Mortis is a textbook soulslike, somewhere between the grandeur and fame of Napoleon Bonaparte and the triviality of Joseph Bonaparte.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Valor Mortis, the latest project from Ghostrunner developer One More Level, is absolutely wonderful, though not without its flaws.
Valor Mortis manages to combine some of the best features from Metroid, Dark Souls, Bioshock, and even Dishonored all into one addicting package. Combat feels great, and exploration keeps you moving forward thanks to a more linear approach with plenty of branching paths to discover. There's a learning curve to the parry system that combat relies on, but plenty of games in these genres have demanded more of us than Valor Mortis does. Skill progression loses focus in later levels, missing a great deal of potential still in the skill tree. Boss fights also lack a great deal of challenge, with the first one proving the most challenging. Nonetheless, Valor Mortis is a slam dunk purchase at $50.
Valor Mortis starts strong with responsive first-person combat and a fascinating Napoleonic setting, but loses steam past the midpoint, only reecovering towards the endgame. Level design not fully taking into account first-person combat, limited enemy variety and character customization options, and technical issues on PC hold it back from greatness, though it remains a solid and somewhat ambitious soulslike that many will like for trying something different within the genre.
Better balance and more gratifying progression would help Valor Mortis become a must-play Soulslike.
Valor Mortis is a worthy addition to the Soulslike genre, its first-person perspective and Napoleonic setting making it stand out from a sea of samey titles. With strong combat and impressive level design, its well worth your time and investment, especially considering the reduced pricepoint.While it may stumble in places and starts stronger than it finishes, Valor Mortis should be high on the list of anyone in the market for a grimdark action game.
Valor Mortis, in short, is a soulslike that fans of the genre will not want to miss: an unexpected, golden link between the From-style action RPG and the first-person world.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Valor Mortis is a well-realised Soulslike FPS with a 19th-century coat of paint that enthusiasts of the genre will surely enjoy.
Valor Mortis stands out in a saturated genre thanks to its fun combat, excellent level design, and gorgeous visuals.
Valor Mortis is a well-executed experiment that isn’t afraid to draw on the best the genre has to offer, whilst also implementing bold ideas that actually work. The experience gained from the Ghostrunner series has resulted in dynamic, satisfying combat and parkour in FPP, all set within a unique setting. Whilst not all bosses are of the same level and the range of attacks can be difficult to assess at times, as a fan of the soulslike genre, I had a great time playing Valor Mortis.
Review in Polish | Read full review
This Soulslike set in the gritty Napoleonic era offers challenging combat and diverse locations, as well as parkour mechanics. It is a great choice for genre enthusiasts looking for a title set in a less frequently explored period.
Review in Slovak | Read full review