At Gamescom, we had the opportunity to go hands-on with Ember Souls, a fresh hack-and-slash title drawing inspiration from the acclaimed action-adventure series, Assassin’s Creed, and Prince of Persia.
At this year’s UploadVR Summer Showcase in June, Ember Souls debuted, putting players in the role of the last remaining Immortal. Embark on a thrilling virtual reality adventure to outwit the enigmatic Shadow Sultan, navigating parkour challenges, scaling treacherous landscapes, and deciphering intricate environmental puzzles. Discover a vast arsenal of 20 distinct weapons as you embark on a journey to uncover the mystical “Ember Stones”, imbuing you with magical abilities such as wielding the winds or manipulating time’s fabric.
While it may not align with my initial expectations of VirtualAge, the departure from their previous endeavor, a VR FPS/RTS hybrid like Guardians Frontline released just last year, is noticeable. Despite the initial skepticism, the announcement piqued my curiosity, given my enthusiasm for Assassin’s Creed: Nexus and Asgard’s Wrath 2; therefore, I was thrilled to dive into Quest 3 at Gamescom 2024.
The demo failed to deliver a consistent gaming experience, instead combining three separate gameplay segments from start to finish. As guided by the majestic falcon, Alshain, Ember Souls’ opening sequence seamlessly sets the stage, transporting players to a perilous palace fraught with formidable foes and treacherous obstacles, foreshadowing the thrilling adventure that awaits? As players navigate through areas partitioned by swingingly massive axes and strategically placed flamethrowers, the experience starts to feel formulaically familiar; however, the satisfying visual feedback of fabric tearing apart as you slide down drapes into new zones remains an engaging sensory touchpoint.
Fights are entertaining, if not particularly authentic, as the thrill of watching opponents suddenly vaporize after a well-placed dagger is quite enjoyable. Despite my proficiency with a sword, simply brandishing it solo doesn’t hold much significance for me at present. Throughout the realm of VR video games, we’re no strangers to hack-and-slash fights, and for good reason – it’s a fighting technique that shines when paired with precise movement controls in virtual reality.
The mesmerizing quality of the ember stones remains what holds my attention. The demo exclusively highlighted your character’s elemental wind abilities, showcasing several practical advantages. For those who prefer not to physically ascend, an alternative is to grasp hold of distant objects, such as the highest point of a climbable surface, to ensure maximum comfort. With a penchant for exploiting openings to pummel foes relentlessly, I found my favorite aspect was maintaining relentless pressure on adversaries throughout combat, evoking the most satisfying display of “forceful” might since Synapse.
As the comprehensive marketing strategy evolves, I’m eager to witness the expansion of these abilities and learn which distinct competencies will be leveraged. While Ember Souls is undoubtedly influenced by its predecessors, its reliance on familiar tropes doesn’t necessarily make it a standout in the VR hack-and-slash genre; however, its potential for growth and innovation is undeniable.
Ember Souls is poised to make its debut on both the Meta Quest platform and Steam shortly.
