Summary
There’s a new Soulslike on the block calledDeathboundthat brings forth a unique party-based system, promising to innovate upon other iterations of the punishing subgenre.Deathboundis a Soulslike developed by Trialforge Studio, which recently showcased a demo atSteam Next Fest. After numerous players had a taste of the game, the Brazilian studio collected all the feedback and pledged improvements for its second upcoming demo, available starting March 21 on Steam.
Soulslikes feature higher difficulty levels than usual and focus on environmental storytelling, whichmight intimidate newcomers to Soulslikes.Still, the punishing gameplay style of Souslikes became a global phenomenon and inspired developers worldwide to create their own take on the genre.
Deathboundhas the unprecedented feature of being a party-based Soulslike. The game is set in the world of Ziêminal, where the science of the past clashes with the faith of the present. Players will control a character that can absorb fallen warriors' Essence and acquire their personality and traits. With new Essences, it’s possible to switch between four heroes, assuming their abilities and battle style mid-combat. To clarify,Deathboundisn’t a Soulslike where you create your own party members and fight collectively side by side, but rather a single-player game where the protagonist can assume the identity of the chosen party at will.
Deathbound Trailer Showcases the Game’s Accolades
Among the available heroes is Mamdile, a warrior who utilizes Afro-Brazilian Capoeira martial arts skills. It’s one of the most original combat styles not only in Soulslike games but in any action-RPG. Besides the Capoeira fighter,Deathboundfeatures the knight Therone Guillaumen, the brute and violent Agharos of Meriva, the sorceress Olivia Heinz, and the elusive assassin Anna Lepus. Players can only take four of these heroes into battle at the same time, and if, by chance, their personalities clash with each other, the party’s relationship can sour, resulting in buffs or debuffs for all. Each of the four heroes has their own HP pool, suggesting asomewhat easier Soulslike experience. However, if one dies, they all perish together.
Some argue that the market is becoming saturated with Soulslikes. However, many games present a new facet to the subgenre and win over audiences. For example,Lies of Pwas nominated for several awardsand conquered the hearts of fans worldwide with its Belle Époque settings.Deathboundis a new Soulslike with a release scheduled for 2024, hoping to please the discerning Soulslike audience with its new party-based feature and a unique world background that blends faith and science.
