Lost Soul Aside will Basically be an Open-World Devil May Cry
Lost Soul Aside is the game that is essentially “the little engine that could.” It started off as an ambitious project with just one person, Yang Bing, who was in complete control. Ever since then, this game has grown into a full-fledged development with a small team now helping out Bing. It has been a slow process, but there is some new hope that this title will eventually see the light of day. Since there are now over thirty people assisting in crafting this world, this title becoming a playable product is now entirely feasible. Sony contacted Bing and partnered up with his new studio, UltiZero Games, to help finally release this new IP. Even though the story is still under wraps, there are snippets found in the most recent trailer that signify what kind of world this will be. This new game has potential for sure. This new realm is a melting pot of various genres mixed into one. Everything from sci-fi to fantasy can be found in Lost Soul Aside.
The trailer basically mentioned that the main protagonist is a fugitive in which some kind of church has deemed him an “outlaw.” He’s being hunted by apparently all kinds of bounty hunters that want his head. Of course, mayhem ensues in the trailer that showcases combat that’s akin to Devil May Cry and even the most recent installments of Final Fantasy. The newest gameplay trailer provides a healthy dose of content to digest and, honestly, it looks like things are shaping up pretty well. The world appears to be vast, mysterious, and oozing with history. The main character in Lost Soul Aside is also accompanied by a crystallized entity that looks like a dragon. This being will not only provide exposition and hints but can also be used in a practical sense with traversal and combat. One thing is for sure, there is much more to this game than what it seems to be.
Majestic Swordsmanship
The combat that was shown in the gameplay of Lost Soul Aside is, quite obviously, inspired by the Devil May Cry series. Flashy combos, air juggles, quick evades and insane weapons clashing are all present here. From what was seen, everything looks like it plays smoothly, no doubt thanks to the Unreal Engine 4. The main protagonist fights all manners of characters that range from metallic angels to giant insectoids. He comes equipped with a sword, which can be used in a number of ways. Additionally, he can also morph it into a giant cleaver to dish out some hefty attacks mid-combo. It’s hyperactive fighting for sure. Thusly, the main character’s dragon companion plays a pivotal role in combat, as well.
The dragon can help out the protagonist by transforming into a shield to protect him from attacks. Not to mention it can morph into giant slamming weapons that players can use. It appears that it will also be possible to trigger some kind of QTE at the end of combat encounters to finally finish off a foe. Of course, the other angle is that maybe it could be just a cut scene. Everything is integrated so seamlessly it can be difficult to distinguish between the two. Whatever the case, the combat in Lost Soul Aside appears to be pretty satisfying. Quick reflexes and memorization of combos will win the day with this game. Even though the combat will undoubtedly be the star of this title, there is also a surprising amount of exploration, as well.
Land of Lost Souls
In-between combat in Lost Soul Aside lays a big world to poke around in. Whether this game will be a full open-world or wide-linear remains to be seen. Rumor has it that it’s aiming to be the former. There are ruins, mountains, roads, bridges, and open fields seen in the trailer. At the very least, the gameplay did show a good amount of platforming. Not only that but there are also a little bit of action-set pieces peppered within the platforming segments. There was a moment where the main protagonist tries crossing a bridge, only to have it crumble from beneath his feet. His dragon friend helped him out at the last second. There were no button prompts, either. Everything unfolded organically, which makes this game appear to be all the more immersive. Hopefully, it will stay like that with the final product.
When it comes to traversing, the dragon can also help the main character get around in a number of ways. He can transform himself into a pair of wings to help players glide across gaps. Not to mention that he can also assist in propelling him across great distances by turning into a sling between two pillars. There are also some sliding segments in Lost Soul Aside that are akin to Jedi Fallen Order. Instead of using his feet, the main character can summon a hovering board whenever he wishes. It can also be used for dodging projectiles during combat in real-time. Lastly, the music in this game has a familiar vibe to it. This is because Cody Matthew Johnson is scoring the music for this title. His work is mostly noted with the Devil May Cry series, respectively. With everything coming together, this new IP has a sense of freshness to it despite its clear inspirations from other titles.
Flash and Slash
Even though Lost Soul Aside has been in development for several years, the developers never lost sight of their end goal. With Sony now on board, it looks like things are finally full steam ahead. There is still a lot of work to do, but the fundamentals are well established and many people are beginning to take notice. Despite the turbulent development cycle Lost Soul Aside went through, all the stars are beginning to align and things are looking solid. Expect this game to be released sometime this year for the PlayStation consoles and PC. Hopefully, there won’t be any further delays in the future, and gamers can finally get their hands on this new hack and slash fantasy adventure.
