Valor Mortis Is the Sleeper-Hit Soulslike Worth Playing (Review)

After spending the last two weeks with Valor Mortis, I’m convinced this sleeper-hit soulslike is an absolute must-play. As I mentioned in my video preview, the experience left me wanting more. Now that the review embargo has ended, it’s time for me to tell you exactly what makes this Napoleon-approved game so special.

Valor Mortis is a single-player first-person perspective soulslike action-RPG developed by One More Level and published by Lyrical Games. Launching October 13th on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass, and PC, PS Plus subscribers can also access a 90-minute trial that same day. Valor Mortis costs $39.99 and has no pre-orders.

An Epic Action RPG

The story takes place in an alternate 19th-century Eastern Europe where Napoleon’s endless war has become a supernatural plague. Players step into the shoes of William, a resurrected British soldier. Napoleon orders him to battle undead monsters and solve the mystery behind the plague. The narrative is a survival-meets-mystery historical timeline what-if scenario designed to keep you hooked the moment you start playing.

After previewing the game, I thought I had a good idea of what to expect from the narrative. Surprisingly, the story is way deeper and more compelling than I ever imagined. William’s primary mission is to solve the mystery about everything that’s happening to and around him. From facing off against deadly, grotesque adversaries to interacting with important, equally interesting characters, the journey feels complete and immensely fun to explore. I definitely plan on jumping into New Game+ when I have more time.

Breathtaking Visuals

Switching gears to graphics, Valor Mortis was developed with Unreal Engine 5 and looks spectacular. Players can expect insanely detailed environments and objects, highly defined character models, and a strong emphasis on shadows, lighting, and particle effects.

The level design is top-notch, with a Metroidvania feel and realism. These factors, coupled with the game’s dark tone, fully illustrate the horrors of war and prove that making this an immersive first-person game was smart. If you’ve played the Ghostrunner games, then you know One More Level excels at these experiences, and you won’t be disappointed by what they accomplished here.

I reviewed this game on my base PS5 console. I didn’t encounter any performance issues or crashes. Quality mode runs at 4K 30 FPS, while Performance mode runs at 4K 60 FPS. The early review build was very polished, and the team remains committed to making patch updates to guarantee it runs great on every platform. As I always say, check out Digital Foundry for a deep dive on how this game performs across every platform.

Incredibly Addictive Gameplay

In Valor Mortis, combat is the cornerstone of the overall phenomenal gameplay experience. William starts with a cutlass as his primary weapon and collects additional weapons, like a flintlock pistol and shotgun, as he progresses through the game. He also unlocks magical transmutation abilities, like fire to burn his enemies. These powers remind me of the cool abilities you can unlock in BioShock. If you love how this sounds, then you’ll definitely dig this game.

Combat mechanics like blocking, dodging, and parrying are straightforward and incredibly satisfying. Switching between targets and sneaking up on enemies for execution kills is easy. Avoiding unblockable attacks can be challenging, especially when surrounded by groups. Maintaining stamina is a key highlight of every fight. You can also level up your abilities and reassign points at any given time after defeating enemies and collecting catalysts. Lastly, the smooth traversal mechanics are also awesome and require precise timing to jump from one platform to the next.

Fighting the deformed soldiers and townsfolk was fair and balanced. Jumping into a few boss battles, however, was exhilarating and tough. Defeating bosses after dying multiple times is easily the best feeling in the world. Paying attention to enemy attack patterns, positioning yourself correctly, and parrying at the right time is crucial to your survival. As with any soulslike game, there is a learning curve to getting good. Valor Mortis, however, is a game where putting in the right amount of time guarantees success, making it a great starting point if you’ve never played a soulslike before.

Impeccable Sound Design and Voice Casting

Next to graphics and gameplay, Valor Mortis‘ sound design is outstanding. Everything from the sound of swords clashing to bullets ricocheting and enemies having their heads blown off is truly remarkable. The voice cast also delivers memorable performances throughout and authenticity and emotion to the characters they are portraying. The musical score also matches the tone and historical setting perfectly.

Valor Mortis takes around 20 hours to complete, depending on your skill level and how fast you adapt to the controls. This is the sweet spot for a game that costs only $39.99 and respects your time and money.

Final Verdict

If you can’t tell by now, I really enjoyed my time with Valor Mortis. In a year full of stacked releases, One More Level has released a gem that’s truly worth your time. Definitely let us know if you plan to check it out.

This review was based on a review copy of Valor Mortis for the PlayStation 5 provided by One More Level and Lyrical Games.