Valor Mortis

Valor Mortis is a novel soulslike packed with interesting ideas, even if they don’t always work out super smoothly.

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.

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.

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.

A Soulslike with parry-focused combat has to do far more than shift the camera to first person to stand out from such an overcrowded pack. Valor Morris is relatively well-executed and has moments of real character and charm, but the gameplay's more familiar than my own shadow.

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.

As unforgiving as Valor Mortis can be, it doesn’t forget the fun between the frustration.

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.

Valor Mortis, the latest project from Ghostrunner developer One More Level, is absolutely wonderful, though not without its flaws.

The bottom line about *One More Level* is that it doesn't reinvent the wheel. Nor does it set out to do so.