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Demon Souls is the "source of all evil" of "soul games". Someone must have said that the concept of "souls" in people's mouths now dates back to From Software's earlier works, such as the Tower of Shadows and the King's Secret Order series. But modern "Souls" games still inherit more elements from Demon Souls, such as adopting challenging ARPG game types, bringing up various giant bosses, introducing the concept of risk and reward, attracting players to explore with fragmented mysteries, and prompting players to make choices in a compact combat mechanism.
To note here, although "Only Wolf: Shadow Death Ii" has the structural framework of "soul" games, considering that the player's growth and pointing system are different from traditional "soul" games, I still did not include it in this article. But seriously, this game is so great that players who haven't played it must find a chance to try it.
Well, back to the point, knowing that "Eldon's Law Ring" has made everyone itchy again, it is better to take a look at the list of "soul" games this time, maybe there are new discoveries that can accompany you through a long wait!
Another point is that the definition of a "soul" game is sometimes not so clear. So, don't be surprised if you see Hollow Knight not on the list, we love the game too, but after careful consideration, it still doesn't include it. But that doesn't stop everyone from playing! With more and more members of the "Soul" game, this list may change a lot one day.
10. "Blood-Eating Code"
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
In the review, we have already criticized the game well, and its shortcomings are still quite obvious. Still, if you want to watch the show and listen to ear-catching music while fighting monsters, this piece is worth experiencing.
"Blood Code" also gives players teammates, and the difficulties and obstacles along the way can also be more comfortable, which is not liked by everyone, so it is a matter of opinion. Although the passage I wrote looks like a guide to dissuasion, if you really like Japanese-style anime works, don't hesitate to start right away, this is a real "love simulation" game, you can play your favorite character and get special rewards.
IX. "Burst 2"
The evaluation of the first Burst is very polarized, and by burst 2, there has been a lot of progress and the acceptance of players has increased significantly. In the game, the choice of weapons is rich, there are many directions for upgrading and transformation, and if you want to do everything, you have to search around for fragments, metals, parts and other materials.
Traditional fantasy and dark fantasy are the mainstream background of "soul" games, and if you want to experience other genres, Burst 2 is worth a try. The combat system is designed around different parts of the enemy's limbs, and the winding level design is fascinating. If you like modern "soul" games where saws and nanomechanics fly together, then Burst 2 is your thing.
VIII. "Salt and shelter"
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, Switch, Vita, PC
Salt and Shelter is a 2D game full of "souls" from head to toe, and with a particular focus on platform jumping elements, players can jump around the scene, treetops, high walls climbing, all without saying a word, you can take advantage of the boss battle. The game also encourages players to revisit the early maps as they acquire new abilities, for example, by navigating the world upside down after getting the Anti-Gravity Imprint.
In Salt and Shelter, big bosses abound, and in fine art, the dark aesthetic casts a dark, gloomy color over this cartoonish world. If you want to experience a 2D side-level game that fully retains the core mechanics of the Soul Class, don't miss Salt and Shelter.
VII. "Relics: Ashes Reborn"
平台：Xbox One、Xbox Series X/S、PS4、PS5、PC
There are many games that try to combine "soul" and shooting gameplay, but few have succeeded. Remnant: Ashes Reborn stands out by combining fast-paced third-person gear-driven shooter gameplay with the feature mechanics of the Soul game.
There is more than one boss in this game, and re-running the map is not boring, and it has a certain replayability. In addition, the online mode is also very interesting, call friends to charge together, learn a few powerful skills, try to strengthen weapons, and find your own genre of play. After running through the normal process, you can also choose roguelike mode to give randomness a new feeling. Remnants: Ashes Reborn is fast-paced, dark and fun.
VI. "Renwang 2"
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
"Ren Wang" was well received, and "Ren Wang 2" was not to mention much. This sequel inherits many of the features of a generation and has been massively expanded on top of it. While there isn't much innovation in the core mechanics, we have more weapons, richer play styles, and more exciting challenges, all in all, stacking materials and adding, and how much time it takes for players to eat through everything, I dare not think.
Although "Renwang 2" has a lot of materials, it is not greasy, and while borrowing from the "soul" works, it also retains many of its own characteristics and has unique highlights. If you want something exciting, choose a fist armor and blast out a bloody road. All kinds of action elements, only you can't think of, without the "Renwang" series can not do.
V. Demon Soul Remake
Platform: PS5
From Software and Hidetaka Miyazaki created the "Souls" game, and the remake of Bluepoint's PS3 game was absolutely high quality. Players who did not catch up with the original version are blessed, and now when they enter the pit, they can experience the amazing picture effect. The PS3 version is limited by hardware, and once it encounters a boss battle like the Storm King, the grand performance effect is greatly reduced, and the remake version can finally burn the performance of the machine to the fullest, presenting a silky smooth big scene.
Compared with a series of "soul" games launched later, the difficulty of "Demon Soul" is low, there are many mechanistic bosses, you can easily defeat them if you find the trick, but the save point is still full of malice, which brings a lot of trouble to the player, who has not run several times "three hundred and sixty-five miles"?
All in all, Bluepoint's Demon Souls Remastered is definitely a must-see stop on your Souls Journey.
IV. Dark Souls Remake
Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, Switch, PC
Dark Souls has gained popularity among players with its strong sense of atmosphere, difficult boss battles, and enigmatic worldview, cementing the status of "soul" games. Players are tortured in the game, either by the Rolling Stone Trap to teach people, or by a greedy knife, or just a foot in the air and fall off the cliff, make stupid trial and error, crawl and roll, and finally learn a good skill.
My first Dark Souls trip ended hastily because of the wrong picture, and I thought that starting from the campfire, there were only two ways to go, the catacombs and the Small Lund Ruins (but just ask an old player, no one will think that this Dragon Pond Tiger Cave is suitable for newcomers for the first time, right?). ）
When I repacked and touched the undead town outside the city, I knew that I was locked in this game. Navigating Dark Souls alone, facing challenges and achieving goals in a unique way, this process itself explains the true meaning of the word "adventure" - overcoming all kinds of adversity and wandering in a strange and wonderful other world.
3. Dark Souls 3
If I had to recommend a title for newbies to Souls games, I would prefer Dark Souls 3. Compared with other works in the same series, it may be a little less mysterious temperament, but it is definitely mature and refined enough. Although there are several super difficult battles in the DLC, the difficulty curve of the game itself is no longer as "head-on" as before, and has become much more relaxed.
How can this be explained? For example, before going down into the deep water, you have the opportunity to try the water and warm up. The content of Dark Souls 3 can be described as "climactic", and the DLC includes extremely oppressive bosses like Sister Frid and the dark-devouring Midir, and the combat experience is so thrilling that it is still ranked in all the games today.
2. Dark Souls 2
Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, PC
Dark Souls 2 is undoubtedly the most controversial game in the series, but the game's bold and experimental innovations are definitely enough. For example, the innovative "Campfire Explorer" prop allows players to experience the intensity of next week's purpose without running the entire process; the powerful dual-wielding "two-knife flow" mechanism; and the super rich boss and map, all of which are outstanding.
But it is undeniable that the ability and agility points can affect rolling and invincible frames, which is really not very clever, so if you want to play, I recommend pointing these two attributes first to ensure that the tumbling feel is a normal "soul flavor". There are also people who think that there is a windmill in the swamp, and there is a melted castle on the windmill, which looks discordant and destructive, but I don't really care, this is a fantasy world, and anything can happen. Besides, I still like this hidden sense of relevance in the "soul" works, which is beneficial and harmless.
Dark Souls 2's DLC also features a number of well-designed bosses, such as Knight Aaron and Smoke Knight. If you've been "expelling it" all the time, it's a shame, it's really, really a good game.
I. "Bloodborne Curse"
Platform: PS4
There are very few games that are seamless in every aspect, and they are like a work of art, and Bloodborne Curse is one of them. The game's overall atmosphere, gameplay, music, art, and sound all come together to create a world of Victorian horror and cosmic horror.
"Bloodborne Curse" does not stick to the traditional "soul" setting, but also encourages active attack, so that the tension of the boss battle is stronger, and the tension is more real when walking in uncomfortable scenes. I don't know when the Bloodborne Curse body and DLC will be able to land on platforms other than the PlayStation, so that everyone can play at 60 frames, this work is definitely a good game in my heart.
I still remember the forbidden forest of the "Cup Bow Snake Shadow", the eerie and twisted nightmare frontier, and the Dream of Yanan that binds every hunter - the treacherous and charming feast of "Bloodborne Curse" is worth a taste.
Translated by 丨 Zhou Xiao
Edit 丨 Zoe
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