Mortal Shell
Dungeonhaven
Release Date: August 18, 2020
RPG, TPP, fantasy, action RPG, soulslike, PS Plus Premium, PS Plus Extra, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Steam
A dark soulslike action RPG, the debut of the Cold Symmetry studio. In Mortal Shell, as the hero who takes over the bodies of dead warriors, we find ourselves in a gloomy fantasy world, facing powerful opponents in challenging, arcade battles.
Last Update: August 21, 2020
Mortal Shell Guide, Walkthrough
Mortal Shell guide, walkthrough is a collection of the best tips and location of all secrets and shells. We've covered all boss fights, mechanics, crafting and exploration. Our trophy roadmap contains a description of how to obtain a platinum trophy.
Videos and Screens
[1:00] Mortal Shell launch trailer (Nintendo Switch)
[1:17] Mortal Shell Enhanced Edition trailer
OpenCritic Rating
Game is Recomended by 63% of Critics. There are 124 Critic Reviews.
Inverse: 9 / 10 by Corey Plante
Mortal Shell might be the best Dark Souls game ever, despite not having any official affiliation with the franchise. What this small team does with a short playtime is nothing short of astounding.
Metro GameCentral: 8 / 10
The best Dark Souls clone so far features a number of interesting new ideas and also offers an experience that is easier to acclimatise to for new players.
TheSixthAxis: 8 / 10 by Jason Coles
Mortal Shell is just an incredibly satisfying experience. It'll punish you constantly, but if you can master the mechanics it lays out in front of you then you'll have an incredible time of things. The lore is a little more obvious that in other soulslikes, and the story it tells and the world it puts you in are both rather enthralling. This is definitely a game that fans of dying a lot will enjoy, but it's probably not for everyone.
The main pros of the game
- Unique Mechanics: The game features innovative combat mechanics, such as the ability to "harden," which adds a strategic layer to combat. Players appreciate the diversity of shells (character classes) and weapons, each with unique abilities.
- Atmosphere and Visuals: The game is praised for its dark, immersive aesthetic and sound design, creating a mysterious and engaging environment.
- Challenge: Many users enjoy the game's difficulty, finding it rewarding and reminiscent of other Souls-like games. The combat is described as satisfying and engaging, especially after mastering the mechanics.
- Good for Souls Fans: Players who are fans of the Souls genre generally find Mortal Shell to be a solid addition, with some noting its potential as a worthy alternative to FromSoftware titles.
The main cons of the game
- Clunky Combat and Controls: Several reviews mention that the combat feels clunky and unresponsive, with issues related to targeting, animation lock, and overall fluidity.
- Limited Content: The game is criticized for its short playtime, with many players feeling that it lacks the depth and variety found in other Souls-like games.
- Bugs and Glitches: Users report numerous bugs that affect gameplay, including enemies becoming invulnerable and issues with hit detection.
- Level Design: Many reviews highlight poor level design, including linear exploration, repetitive enemy types, and frustrating navigation without maps or markers.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Healing Items: Players express frustration over the limited availability of healing items, which can lead to punishing gameplay, especially when trying to reach these items amidst numerous enemies.
- Diversity in Enemies: A lack of variety in enemy types leads to a repetitive combat experience, making encounters feel less engaging over time.
- Progression System: Users feel that the leveling and progression system is not rewarding enough, with little incentive to engage with non-boss enemies.
- Map and Navigation Aids: The absence of a map or quest markers makes exploration confusing and can detract from the overall experience.
Summary
- Overall, while Mortal Shell has intriguing mechanics and an engaging atmosphere that appeals to fans of the genre, it suffers from a variety of design and technical issues that can hinder the gameplay experience.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 396 votes. 126 players anticipated the game.
Mortal Shell Description
Mortal Shell is a debut project of Cold Symmetry studio. This is a soulslike game, or action RPG in the style of the Dark Souls series. The game began in 2018 under the name Dungeonhaven as a project of three developers who worked on, among others, the Call of Duty series and Ghost of Tsushima.
Plot
Mortal Shell action is set in a fantasy universe. However, this is not a colourful land of elves or dwarves, but a dark world world filled with horror, where only ruins and fragile memories remain of human civilisation. The mysterious existence known as the Dark Father does not like it. He is the one who gives orders to the main character - an empty vessel without form - to go in search of the lost shrines of the faithful, where he will have to cope with enormous challenges.
Mechanics
Mortal Shell uses the classic soulslike scheme. We observe the action from the third person perspective (TPP). The fight is very skillful, but there is no question of chaotic pushing buttons or joyful sword waving (or other cold weapon) like in typical slashers. Every enemy is a threat to us, and often we are forced to face several opponents at once. Good reflex is not enough to come out of these fights victoriously. It is also necessary to conduct the fight carefully and to keep a sense, so that a too hasty attack is not the last one.
What makes Mortal Shell different from other games is an unusual system of development of the character. The character we lead has no body, but instead takes control of dead warriors. Each of them during their lifetime was unique in their abilities and specialization, which we can use after taking over their bodies. As the hero deepens his understanding of a certain body, further abilities and upgrades are unlocked, making him even more dangerous in battle. We receive both a large arsenal of weapons and a large number of offensive spells.
Game modes
Mortal Shell is designed for the single player adventure. There is no multiplayer here. The story campaign is non-linear in nature, giving us the freedom to choose our next goal.
Technical aspects
Mortal Shell graphics brings to mind other soulslike games, but it is closest to the style known for From Software studio games. The graphic design is kept in a dark tone, emphasizing the gloomy and frightening character of the game world. The fights are accompanied by various visual effects of attacks and spells.
Mortal Shell Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows August 18, 2020
PlayStation 5 March 4, 2021
Xbox Series X/S March 4, 2021
Switch December 19, 2022
PlayStation 4 August 18, 2020
Xbox One August 18, 2020
Developer: Cold Symmetry
Publisher: PlayStack
Mortal Shell System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-4590 3.3 GHz / AMD FX-8350 4.0 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 970 / Radeon R9 290 or better, 12 GB HDD, Windows 7 SP1 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i7 / AMD Ryzen 7, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce GTX 1070 / Radeon RX Vega 56 or better, 12 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Mortal Shell has Unexpectedly Returned to Game Pass
The Dark Souls-inspired action RPG Mortal Shell has unexpectedly returned to Game Pass. The game was removed from the offering last November.
video games
Adrian Werner
January 6, 2023
PS Plus for December 2021 - Leak Confirmation and a Little Surprise
The German branch of PlayStation has confirmed the game titles that we'll be able to pick up in December as part of our PS Plus subscription. Subscribers will be able to play Godfall, Mortal Shell and LEGO DC Super-Villains. But that's not all - there's also a little surprise in store.
special offers
Hubert Sledziewski
December 1, 2021
Mortal Shell and Two EA Classics in the Cloud - Xbox Game Pass for Second Half of November 2021
In November's second game batch, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will get their hands on 10 more titles, including Mortal Shell and Evil Genius 2.
special offers
Artur Flaga
November 16, 2021
Mortal Shell: The Virtuous Cycle Free for Owners of the Base Game
To celebrate the release of Mortal Shell on Steam and The Virtuous Cycle expansion, the developers have decided to make the DLC available for free. The offer will last from August 18 to 22.
special offers
Agnes Adamus
August 16, 2021
Mortal Shell Coming to Steam; The Virtuous Cycle DLC Gameplay Revealed
Mortal Shell will finally be available on Steam. The work of Cold Symmetry will hit the platform simultaneously with the debut of DLC The Virtuous Cycle, which was presented on the first gameplay video.
video games
Jacob Blazewicz
July 28, 2021
Mortal Shell The Virtuous Cycle DLC Announced
The team at Cold Symmetry announced The Virtuous Cycle, the first major expansion for last year's action RPG Mortal Shell.
video games
Adrian Werner
June 12, 2021
Mortal Shell Sales Exeeded 0.5 Million. Enhanced Edition Hits PS5 and XSX
Sales of Cols Symmetry's Mortal Shell exceeded 500 thousand copies. The enhanced version of the game is now available on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles.
video games
Adrian Werner
March 5, 2021
Mortal Shell Player Beats All Bosses Without Using Any Shell
A player defeated all bosses in Mortal Shell without shell and without getting hurt. See what the fan's extraordinary clashes look like captured in the half-hour video.
video games
Aleksandra Dziwinska
September 2, 2020
Mortal Shell - Players Report Serious Bugs
Mortal Shell players report two serious bugs in Cold Symmetry's game. The first one concerns the key Harden mechanics, while the second one resets the player's progress by overwriting the saved game data.
video games
Bart Swiatek
August 19, 2020
First Reviews: Mortal Shell - Tasty Morsel for Dark Souls Fans
Today marks the release of Mortal Shell - a dark action RPG from Cold Symmetry, which draws inspiration from the famous Dark Souls series. It seems like we've got quite a good game on our hands.
video games
Bart Swiatek
August 18, 2020