Mortal Shell II Reviews
Mortal Shell II turned out to be a benchmark work of fixing the mistakes of its predecessor. The world exploration is engaging, and the player is rewarded for their curiosity. The weapons and shells offer plenty of room for experimentation. Of course, Cold Symmetry won't escape the label of "yet another Dark Souls clone," but the studio has done a lot to appeal to players who consciously avoid this genre.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 demonstrates that the studio has taken a decisive step towards the future, giving new dignity to a series that was unfairly being forgotten far too quickly.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A Soulslike game that is varied in terms of gameplay and visuals, with a great world and atmosphere that far surpasses its predecessor.
Review in German | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 clearly tries to imitate the success of Elden Ring's open world, yet falls drastically short, with a map that can be frustrating to navigate. However, the combat and shell system are where the game shines, offering an enjoyable experience that's sure to give you that Soulslike thrill.
Mortal Shell II posed a bracing challenge at the time of review, toeing the line between a character-action game and Elden Ring.
Mortal Shell II is a promising evolution over its predecessor, yet it doesn’t feel as polished as it perhaps aspires to be. With its occasionally repetitive and frustrating-to-navigate environments and lack of much of a plot, some imperfections may turn away some players. That said, Mortal Shell II’s large variety of Shells, weapons and Tarstones and engaging combat system ultimately provides a mostly satisfying experience for Soulslike fans.
Mortal Shell II's eviscerating difficulty and grimdark world work to grind the player into a fine paste. But its build variety and satisfying loop often turn the tide, rewarding exploration and experimentation to brave enough players.
Mortal Shell 2 is an excellent Soulslike that meaningfully expands on the original with engaging exploration, satisfying combat and progression mechanics.
Mortal Shell II is easily one of the biggest improvements from one entry to the next that I've seen in this space.
Mortal Shell II takes everything that worked in the original and turns it into a much stronger, more confident Soulslike. The deeper Shell system, satisfying combat, and rewarding exploration stand out, and despite the camera issues and some frustrating progression choices, none of those issues stopped me from having a damn good time with it. This is fantastic follow-up and Cold Symmetry has seated themselves at the big table with Mortal Shell II.
The devs at Cold Symmetry not only upped their game by making a better, bigger, and more beautiful title but also set foot in the footsteps of giants by providing a solution for the most controversial issue of soulslike titles, which is having adjustable difficulty.
Mortal Shell 2 represents one of those rare cases where a sequel manages to make its predecessor seem almost like a prototype.
Review in Italian | Read full review
"Mortal Shell II" is a successful sequel that expands on the original's ideas while adding significantly more pace and freedom to the gameplay. Not all of the changes will appeal to fans of the original, and a few simplifications and technical issues detract from its character. Nevertheless, it's an engaging, impressive, and satisfying adventure that deserves recognition.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 surpasses its predecessor in every way and is highly recommended to all fans of the genre. However, as the game nears its conclusion, some very annoying, avoidable issues become more apparent.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Mortal Shell 2 has a lot of great things going for it. The aesthetic is amazing, the combat is exceptional, and the various shells offer a lot of variety, without being overwhelming. You also have tons of room to experiment with weapons, so it’s very satisfying to finally create your own build.
Although Mortal Shell 2 starts off far more forgiving than genre veterans might expect, it compensates over time with escalated enemy encounters and dynamic boss fights that reward precise timing and strategic positioning. Enhanced by breathtakingly bleak visuals and immersive audio-visual world building, it stands as a commendable follow-up-even if a few early-game shortcomings prevent it from claiming a spot among the elite.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Mortal Shell II shows significant improvement over the first game, with more dynamic combat, great ideas, and an interesting world to explore. Despite some technical and design issues, the experience is quite enjoyable and shows Cold Symmetry's potential to continue developing the franchise. With a few adjustments, the game has everything to become one of the best soulslikes released in recent years.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Mortal Shell II is an ambitious soulslike that stands as a far more accomplished game than its predecessor; a game that, in nearly every facet, proves that Cold Symmetry has profoundly expanded upon its original vision. The deep and richly varied Shell system, the captivating arsenal of weapons, the treasure-laden exploration, the impressive diversity of enemies, the sprawling dungeons, the striking art direction, and the evocative score and sound design all coalesce into an experience that is as immersive as it is enthralling. Yet, persistent technical hiccups and bugs, occasional clumsiness in physics, uneven balancing in certain encounters, and a handful of other shortcomings hold the game back from realizing its full, dazzling potential.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Currently sitting in my top five releases of the year, fans of gritty Soulslike action RPGs will absolutely love Mortal Shell II.
Mortal Shell 2 can be considered a successful sequel that takes meaningful steps forward in almost every major area compared to its predecessor. With more diverse Shells, a large and open world, handcrafted dungeons, and a combat system that offers surprising depth despite its seemingly simple design. Cold Symmetry has created an entertaining and challenging experience that has plenty to offer, especially for fans of the Soulslike genre. The absence of a stamina system doesn’t make the game any simpler. Instead, it gives players greater freedom in combat and allows the battle system to develop a more distinct identity of its own. That said, the game still has some shortcomings, particularly in its progression system, main story, and soundtrack. Even if the first Mortal Shell failed to fully win you over, Mortal Shell 2 is still worth giving another chance. As a standalone sequel from a narrative perspective, it shows that Cold Symmetry has a much better understanding of its original formula, resulting in an experience that can keep you engaged for hours while offering a satisfying sense of immersion in a dark and unforgiving world.
Review in Persian | Read full review