Combat and Parrying
There’s little else quite so satisfying in gaming as a really chunky parry sound effect. When a player reads an opponent precisely and times a deflection to perfection, hearing that impactful audio cue as a reward is about as good as it gets — especially if it can be followed up with a devastating finishing move. Valor Mortis nails this core mechanic.
The source reviewer found the reverberated twang of blades clashing consistently engaging throughout their time with the first-person Souls-like from developer One More Level. Given how much time is spent duelling with the reanimated corpses of Napoleonic soldiers, body horror monstrosities, and unique creatures, nailing this feel was essential.
Fortunately, the developers succeeded, making the combat one of the primary reasons to stick with Valor Mortis through its less successful design choices.
The opening is notably strong. Waking up on a battlefield surrounded by corpses, with the rousing voice of Vincent Cassel as Napoleon encouraging the player forward, sets a grim tone. The conflict has turned into something far worse than standard blade and cannon fire, as a plague transforms humans into monsters and unlocks mystical powers.
It fits the Dark Souls-inspired core of the game, featuring a dangerous, foreboding, war-torn world to explore. Lanterns serve as safe spaces to save progress, level up using blood from fallen enemies, tweak builds with skill-altering gems, and respawn upon inevitable death.
Player power builds slowly and remains relatively focused. Starting with a sabre, players eventually gain a pistol, hand-fired magic, and stasis abilities. These tools can be switched on the fly to exploit specific enemy weaknesses.
Level Design and Pitfalls
Basic soldiers fall to a few sword slashes, while axe-wielding officers require ranged fire to detonate explosive kegs on their backs. Similarly, malformed grenadiers protecting explosive sacks can be countered with well-timed shots to trigger massive chain reactions.
Each encounter demands assessment and strategy rather than reckless button mashing. With limited stamina and aggressive enemies capable of eliminating the player in just a few hits, charging in blindly is rarely viable.
As is typical for the genre, learning enemy patterns involves trial and error, but the source review notes that Valor Mortis leans too heavily into frustrating trickery. Excessively delayed attacks preceded by long feints become tedious rather than engaging after repeated encounters.
Level design suffers from similar issues, frequently relying on gotcha moments such as hidden enemies, sudden ambushes, falling rocks, and collapsing floors. While intended to keep players alert, these elements quickly shift from challenging to cheap when stacked consecutively.
On the bright side, certain boss fights and set pieces successfully blend combat, puzzle, and platforming elements into memorable highlights that showcase the game's peak design.
Pacing and Exploration
The game mixes linear gauntlets with more open areas, allowing for stealthy approaches, backstabs, and tactical thinning of enemy groups—a necessity given the vulnerability experienced when facing multiple foes in a first-person perspective.
Variety is further enhanced by inventive set pieces that incorporate elements from the developer's previous Ghostrunner series. A sequence across ships suspended in time above the sea stands out as a high point of blending frantic platforming with tight combat.
Finding its footing
Conversely, a diversion into a mine stands out as one of the game's most aggravating sections. Dark, windy corridors combined with incoming near-fatal minecarts create an overwhelming level of chaos that forces reliance on brute force and luck over tactical skill.
Fortunately, such pacing dips are often balanced by thrilling on-rails segments and surprising, imaginative boss encounters that bring the rewarding parrying system back to the forefront.
Verdict and Conclusion
When the mechanics click, Valor Mortis succeeds. While the limited weapon variety and frustrating traps will likely deter mainstream players, dedicated fans of challenging Souls-like experiences will find an intriguing premise and a neat twist worth exploring.
Play it if…
You’re looking for your next Souls-like. As far as the genre goes, Valor Mortis delivers a solid experience, particularly for players who prefer parry-focused combat akin to Lies of P and Sekiro.
You enjoyed Ghostrunner but wanted more involved combat. While slower-paced than Ghostrunner, Valor Mortis incorporates similar inventive set pieces with a much heavier focus on direct melee confrontation.
You’re a fan of horror. The world, environments, and monsters carry a distinct horror aesthetic, complemented by unsettling and dark side narratives.
Don’t play it if…
You get frustrated repeating encounters. If quick deaths and extensive trial-and-error repetition are unappealing, this title is best avoided.
You like extensive weapon and build variety. The arsenal is largely restricted to a few swords, guns, and magic skills, offering limited long-term customization options.
Accessibility features
Valor Mortis offers minimal accessibility options, limited primarily to subtitle scaling, field of view adjustments, camera shake toggles, and gore settings.
