Shadow Of A Soulslike

Frankly, I’m no expert when it comes to Soulslike titles, but there’s just something inherently satisfying about seeing through your opponent’s attack patterns, then taking them down accordingly.

By that token, I think it’s safe to say that we generally know what to expect from such titles at this point. Steelrising’s narrative is set within an alternate version of 17th-century France, one where King Louis XVI has crushed The French Revolution aided by an army of automatons. Players assume the role of Aegis, a mysterious automaton serving as Queen Marie-Antoinette’s personal bodyguard. Concerned about the state of her country as well as the fate of her young son, the Queen dispatches Aegis to investigate the ongoing situation in Paris, which is where your adventure begins.

First and foremost, I have to admit; it’s quite refreshing to see Spiders taking the “alternate history” route for Steelrising, and crossing the border into steampunk territory while they’re at it. Walking through the various environments, which can range from tranquil forests (albeit one strewn with corpses of soldiers) to the remnants of the once-thriving Paris is quite amazing, though the absolute dewdrop silence outside of the clanking automatons also means it’s eerie as hell!

Nowhere is this theme more apparent than in the hordes of merciless robots commanded by the King, which come in all shapes and sizes. From standard-fare mechanical hounds to wrecking-ball-wielding saucepans-on-legs, it’s an oddly novel experience, though I do say so myself. Many of the walking automatons even lumber around with a stilted gait that highlights their automaton nature, essentially tying a nice bow on the whole pseudo-steampunk package.