Valor Mortis Review : An Immersive, Exploration-First Soulslike
REVIEWSAUTHOR - SPAWN2026
Spawn
10/12/20267 min read
Playing a Soulslike game without online guides is one of the best feelings in gaming. Valor Mortis is the first Soulslike game I am reviewing as part of my content creator journey, and I hope you enjoy reading it.
It's true that no game is quite like Bloodborne, and when studios attempt to chase that exact formula, the results are rarely as glowing as expected. Enter Valor Mortis: a first-of-its-kind, first-person Soulslike experience that many thought wouldn't work, but developer One More Level proved otherwise.
The devs behind Ghostrunner definitely know what it takes to build a stellar FPP game. As huge fans of the genre, they wanted to put their own unique spin on it, giving birth to Valor Mortis in all its glory.
I played it on Steam and spent over 30+ hours in the game, exploring as much as I could before finally hitting the credits. While there are still a few side quests left to clean up, it was easily some of the most enjoyable 30 hours I've spent gaming in quite some time.
An Exploration-first Soulslike
Words hardly do justice to how captivating the exploration in Valor Mortis is, but it's worth highlighting.
While many modern Soulslikes prioritize combat above all else, the level design in Valor Mortis is masterfully executed. The feeling of unlocking a shortcut that loops back to a Lantern checkpoint is unmatched, capturing that classic Bloodborne magic all over again.
The game ramps up its world design gradually, reaching full scale by the mid-game. Levels expand significantly as you progress, offering even more room for thorough exploration.
Exploration is immensely rewarding, granting either Embers (charms that boost abilities) or upgrade materials. With nine distinct weapons available, these resources are always welcome to help refine your playstyle.
Active platforming further enhances exploration, serving as another fresh twist that One More Level brings to the mix.
Platforming isn't just window dressing; you actively deploy abilities to forge paths forward. Tackling these sequences at dizzying heights in FPP creates an unmatched sense of verticality and immersion.
The cherry on top of exploration is the Metroidvania-inspired backtracking. Certain blocked paths require specific abilities to traverse, rewarding attentive players who keep diligent notes so they don't miss out on cool rewards later on.
A Right Punch into the Combat
As mentioned earlier, gauging distance in FPP takes getting used to. Game Director Radoslaw Ratusznik noted in a dev diary that parry windows were intentionally broadened to accommodate this shift, a choice that proves essential for maintaining combat flow.
This design direction keeps the overarching focus on world navigation rather than boss rushes. While memorable boss encounters exist, exploration remains the beating heart of the game.
By exploring thoroughly, I stayed well-equipped for the difficulty curve, managing to overcome most boss encounters within just a few attempts.
The true skill test lies in navigating level encounters. From the mid-game onward, enemy placements require deliberate planning. Much like in Sekiro, running head-first is a quick recipe for failure.
Arsenal that The Gunners would be Proud of
How often do you play a Soulslike with dozens of weapons, only to stick with a single comfortable blade from start to finish?
Valor Mortis avoids weapon bloat by offering a refined arsenal divided into three categories: Swords, Firearms, and the Plague-ridden Transmutation Hand.
Melee offerings feature three sword styles: standard Saber sword, nimble Rapiers, and heavy Claymore, each backed by its own dedicated skill tree.
The standard Saber grants a balanced approach with solid damage and parrying capabilities. The Rapier turns you into a parry god at the expense of overall damage. Finally, the Claymore goes all-in on damage; while you lose the ability to parry, sturdy blocking remains available.
Switching between weapon types based on combat encounters kept the gameplay dynamic, and maxing out three favorite blades felt deeply rewarding.
The ranged options are equally distinct: flintlock pistols for medium-range damage and interrupting attacks, a Blunderbuss for close-range destruction, and a Musket for long-distance precision shots.
Finally, the Plague Transmutation Hand introduces magical Transmutations that completely alter tactical combat.
Fire Transmutation incinerates foes, Stasis freezes targets in place, and Shield protects against incoming damage. Building around Stasis allows you to lock down dangerous threats effortlessly.
Combat is far more than just parrying and dodging; blending firearms, Transmutations, and blade work creates a versatile hybrid playstyle that excels at any range.
Build for Success
Build variety is a crucial pillar of any great Soulslike, and Valor Mortis handles it well.
While weapon variety forms the foundation, Embers (charms) discovered through exploration and boss fights serve as the key build-defining components.
These Embers dramatically alter playstyles, enabling builds such as Freeze, Fire, Heavy Damage, Parry Focus, or Stealth.
As someone who loves parrying, pairing high-crit blade setups with Stasis freezing effects made for an immensely satisfying playthrough that highlights the game's stellar design achievements.
Bravery in the face of Death
Valor Mortis translates to "Bravery in the face of Death," which perfectly mirrors the ambitious approach taken by the developers. You would think a third-person perspective is mandatory to keep track of chaotic enemy movement, but Valor Mortis didn't shy away from the challenge of going first-person.
A common hurdle for any new entry in the genre is the inevitable comparison to FromSoftware's legendary titles. For the developers of Valor Mortis, the FPP view turned out to be the perfect trick up their sleeve.
By designing around FPP, they carefully adjusted the rhythm of combat. Since gauging distance can be tricky in first-person, parry windows are slightly more forgiving, a welcome tweak that ensures encounters feel tight rather than frustrating.
While FPP comes with design challenges, it also offers incredible cinematic benefits. Imagine facing the eerie, atmospheric horrors of a Soulslike right up close in first-person; it elevates the immersion significantly.
That perspective shift is where Valor Mortis truly shines. It feels like experiencing the genre from a brand-new vantage point. Execution finishers up close serve as immensely satisfying rewards after tense, hard-fought battles.
The experience becomes even more intense in tight corridors. Several levels benefit immensely from this perspective, evoking the survival-horror tension of Resident Evil 7: Biohazard or Resident Evil Village, except monsters here won't go down with a single bullet or stab.
A Story Worth Telling
This is always a tricky section of any review, as it is challenging to convey the narrative premise without spoiling key details for the audience.
To set the stage, Valor Mortis is a Napoleonic-era historical fantasy game. You play as a soldier in Napoleon's army who possesses unique transmutation abilities.
The narrative features key decision points where your choices shape the outcome. While multiple endings seem likely based on these choices, confirming that will require additional playthroughs.
The voice cast features talented performances from actors such as Vincent Cassel, Jennifer English, and James Alexander.
The game also features meaningful side quests that yield valuable in-game items. While I wasn't able to finish every side quest before writing this review, I look forward to completing them in my next playthrough.
Visuals,Environments & Performance
Visuals and Environments
The world of Valor Mortis is beautifully crafted. Scenic vistas regularly invite you to pause and admire the views, while the environments are meticulously designed to visually tell the story of each location.
The game features 10 distinct areas. The environmental tone shifts gradually from one zone to the next, keeping the journey feeling fresh and captivating throughout.
Performance
I didn't encounter any full crashes during my time with the game, though occasional frame drops occurred that will likely be addressed in post-launch patches. I did experience a minor bug where Transmutation abilities temporarily stopped working during boss fights, requiring a quick restart to resolve.
I do think that the final boss needs some more baking as I was able to exploit a move to my benefit.
Verdict and Recommendation
Valor Mortis brings a fresh perspective to the Soulslike genre. It trades relentless boss rushes for deep immersion and stellar level design. The exploration is wonderfully crafted, and the overarching story, side quests, and character progression keep you motivated to explore every corner.
Through atmospheric environments and deliberate enemy placement, Valor Mortis keeps tension high at all times, making overcoming its challenges the ultimate highlight.
While the game has its share of minor bugs and technical hiccups, none of them ruin the overall experience. A patch or two would just elevate the overall experience.
I wholeheartedly recommend Valor Mortis to anyone who enjoys world exploration, regardless of whether you are a fan of Soulslike games. If you do enjoy the genre, it is a must-play: the first-person perspective intensifies the horror elements, giving you an up-close seat to tense combat encounters. For a $39.99 its the best bang for the buck.
While I don't assign numerical scores, I hope this review helps you decide if the game is right for you. Thank you for reading, and stay tuned for more content!
My goal is to bring you latest gaming news, info, clips and conversation through various platform, be it X, Insta, Tik-Tok, youtube or this blog, where I share my in-length reviews and gaming opinion with the hope that it resonates with some fellow gamers.
