In Soulslinger, a rogue-lite first-person shooter by Elder Games, you’re not just a player but a gunslinger in the afterlife. Your mission? Battle the sinister Cartel for the souls of the dead, which you need to retrieve on behalf of Death himself. But it’s not all about the shootouts. You’ll also explore Haven, a Limbo-like world where you can customize your weapons and craft new ones. It’s up to you to uncover why you’ve been tasked with this deadly duty! To my surprise, Soulslinger was a sound voice-acted, non-stop action badass experience that hooked me to the very end.

Developer & Publisher // Elder Games, Headup
Platforms // PC
MSRP & Release Date // $17.99, December 14th, 2023
Reviewed On // PC

Soulslinger’s Gameplay

Right out the gate Soulslinger immediately lets you know it is a rogue-lite FPS. You will notice that the game plays very similar to your primary shooter. However, there are a few added differences, like power-ups. Overall, the gameplay loop is solid and to the point.

Portals Reign Supreme in the Gameplay Loop

As the player ventures through portals, they will encounter a thrilling array of enemy waves. Each portal unveils a unique enemy type or a thrilling combination of new and familiar foes. The player’s evolving strategy to tackle the mounting number of enemies is an exciting aspect of the game. Triumphing over each level rewards the player with a tantalizing selection of three power-ups to further amplify their strategic choices.

Each randomly presented power-up offers the player a wealth of strategic options to engage with the enemy. One of my personal favorites is the lightning strike ability. Its capacity to stun and damage enemies in its path, as well as providing the option to retreat or reload the weapon, makes it a versatile and potent tool. Another standout is the shock bullets, which can pierce through enemies in groups, making it an excellent choice for crowd control.

Variety of Enemies in Soulslinger

As is common in rogue-lite games, you’ll face a variety of enemies, collectively known as the Cartel, a sinister legion of demons seeking innocent souls. These enemies come in different forms. From teleporters that engage in close-quarters combat, to projectile shooters, and fire-rushing variants. For instance, teleporters are agile and can quickly close the gap between you. While the projectile shooters can attack from a distance, forcing you to keep moving. Each enemy type presents a unique challenge, requiring the player to adapt their strategy.

The different enemy types could be handled easily in smaller numbers. However, when it came to larger groups, that’s where the real challenge began. In these situations, it’s often best to focus on crowd control, using power-ups like shock bullets to thin out the group, and then dealing with the remaining enemies one by one. Having so many enemies on screen simultaneously can be quite the challenge, where you’ll find yourself quickly overrun. So it’s wise to play to your strengths according to the power-ups equipped during your run.

Movement

When it comes to traversal, Soulslinger is a little to write about as controls are pretty simple to what you would expect from games like Call of Duty. For example, the game allows you to jump, dash, and sprint worldwide. These will be the main tools to get you from point A to point B.

Dash to the Rescue

When confronting enemies, your primary tool, aside from your weapons, will be your dash. It is absolutely crucial when dealing with enemy projectiles and rushers. The dash mechanic grants the player a brief period of invulnerability from damage after activation, enabling the player to deftly phase through projectiles when the battlefield becomes too intense.

Soulslinger Weapons & Upgrades

Soulslinger offers a diverse array of weapon options for players to dive into. Your trusty revolver, a primary weapon, can be enhanced with various attributes through power-ups. But the excitement doesn’t stop there. You can also wield double-barreled shotguns, rifles, and relics, each with their unique playstyle and potential, crafted from schematics found in the world or received from bosses.

My personal favorite was the double-barreled shotgun, a weapon that scaled beautifully with my chosen abilities. These abilities, such as the Unstoppable upgrades for increased damage, the Dash Shield for damage resistance with each dodge, and the Gunslinger upgrade for a whopping 40% more damage against enemies. These were not just upgrades, but strategic choices that amplified my experience in the game. Paired with the double-barrel shotgun and revolver, they formed a formidable combo.

Skill Trees for Days

Aside from the array of weapons the game offers, you will also have access to upgrades for Soulslinger through numerous skill trees that you can access, from Power Tombs and The Well of Tears. Each skill tree focuses on a specific attribute, which you can use to make your experience much easier as you progress. These upgrades are permanent, which gives you more legroom as you try out newer weapons you unlock through progression.

In terms of balance, the game is well thought out. It comes down to the type of player you are. For example, if you are the type of player about nonstop chaos, then odds are you will be more inclined to use the upgrades centered around your Health. Overall, everything was pretty balanced.

Soulslinger’s Story

The game immerses you in the enigmatic world of Limbo, where you embody the cursed gunslinger named Soulslinger, an Envoy of Death. Your eternal duty is to ferry departed souls from Limbo to Haven, where Death awaits. The narrative centers around a fierce conflict with ‘The Cartel,’ a merciless faction striving to liberate souls from the afterlife’s chains. The Cartel, led by a charismatic yet ruthless leader, uses dark magic and manipulation to achieve its goals. In this context, you, as Soulslinger, emerge as a pivotal figure, akin to a sheriff, maintaining order by restraining the Cartel and apprehending both innocent and corrupt souls.

Remarkably, the game’s narrative was robust, delivering a satisfying conclusion. Without me spoiling anything, the main motive of Soulslinger is to free his soul from Death and escape Limbo. The pacing of the story is really good and it’s held together by the voice actors’ performances. One of the biggest positives that sets it off is the flashback scenes that Soulslinger relives in his mind. These poignant moments, as he is forced to serve Death, who, mind you, is not his but his master, reveal the internal conflict within the character. This emotional depth really helps the game stand out. The overall pacing was also commendable, ensuring a gripping and immersive gameplay experience.

Missed Opportunities

Unfortunately, Soulslinger has no additional game modes. Once you beat the main story, you can always replay the game on a higher difficulty for a challenge. However, I find it a missed opportunity to avoid including challenge modes for players who want to test their skills.

No Multiplayer or Co-op

Honestly, this game would benefit quite well from a multiplayer option. Especially co-op, mainly because there is not much else here after you beat the main story, which is unfortunate. It would have been great to have different players battle it out for who the greatest Soulslinger is.

Graphics & Artstyle

In terms of graphics, Soulslinger looks great. The game pays great attention to detail and has some awesome particle effects on the weapons and abilities.

When it comes to the art style, Soulslinger uses a Western-like setting with old rundown saloons for specific areas and fantastic-looking hell worlds that merge the two. Giving you some excellent-looking levels

Performance

I ran the game on my Intel 8700k with my RTX 3070 on max settings. I didn’t experience any framerate issues or screen tearing. The game performed perfectly with an average framerate of 60 to 100.  Cutscenes flowed nicely, and the gameplay was super smooth.

Sound & Audio Design

When it comes to the sound design for Soulslinger, it’s not just immersive, it’s a game-changer. With a top-notch set of headphones, you’ll be transported into a world where audio cues are perfectly timed. Enemy sounds are spot-on, and the environments, while not the main focus, add a subtle layer of depth to your experience. But what truly sets Soulslinger apart is its background music, which seamlessly blends into the gameplay, enhancing every moment of your adventure.

Soundtrack

Speaking of music, let’s highlight the excellent score for the game. Soulslinger uses a country-style music selection that combines rock with a dark twist to bring it together. My favorite song in the game is Land of Memories and Sunset which is the main menu theme.

Voice Acting

The voice-over work was a standout, with each character’s voice adding depth and authenticity to the story. Soulslinger sounds like a real badass, and his voice is intimidating, thanks to the talented voice actor D.C. Douglas. Another standout performance is from voice actress Jessica Lynn Lewis, who plays Lady Valerie. Personally, my favorite is Todd Barsness‘s performance as Death. I appreciated his dark approach to bringing the character to life.

Final Thoughts on Soulslinger

Soulslinger honestly surprised me. I went into the game with meager expectations, and surprisingly, I left feeling the game did a great job of keeping me engaged and entertained. This is a game you should try out for yourself, as the team over at Elder Games has delivered an enjoyable experience. For me, Soulslinger was a pleasant surprise, especially with the current games out at the moment. Yes, this game isn’t a AAA budget title, but don’t let that discourage you. The game combines a lot of good ideas and executes them very well.

Note –

Version 0.452 was tested during the early access impression period.

A Steam key was provided for the purpose of this early access impression preview.