Mortal Shell 2 is a monumental second outing for Cold Symmetry, building upon the foundation of its predecessor to deliver a phenomenal experience that channels the spirit of 90s PC gaming classics. The game successfully blends the modern dark fantasy Soulslike with a distinctive sense of humor and a willingness to deviate from genre conventions.
Set in the harsh realm of Fainweald, the game introduces players to memorable locations like The One Legged Wolf tavern, a place where brigands gather to listen to a lute player, even if they are unceremoniously dispatched. This blend of dark fantasy and irreverent humor is emblematic of Mortal Shell 2's approach.
Unlike its predecessor, which suffered from jankiness and confusing level design, Mortal Shell 2 improves upon every aspect. Players control the Harbinger, a resilient being capable of inhabiting "Shells" of fallen warriors, which function as distinct character classes. Instead of traditional character creation, the Harbinger's base stats improve with levels, while abilities are derived from the Shells themselves. These Shells each feature unique skill trees, ranging from the stealthy Tiel the Acolyte to the formidable Lazlo. The sequel expands the roster to eight Shells, each with unlockable memories that provide straightforward, character-driven backstories, a refreshing departure from the lore-heavy item descriptions common in the genre.
The narrative centers on the Harbinger serving an entity known as the UnderMether, tasked with collecting her unbirthed Ova. However, the true crux of the story lies within the Shells and their personal tales, such as Tiel's struggle with addiction or Proxima's budding camaraderie.
Beyond its narrative, Mortal Shell 2 injects a significant amount of dark humor. Players will encounter dancing babkas, a boss who turns them into a sheep, and another piloting a rocket-powered mobility scooter. The inclusion of items like the Troubadour's Lute, which can be used to fire magical blasts or to simply play music, further emphasizes the game's quirky charm. This allows players to even embody a bard-like role, a first for the Soulslike genre.
The game also forgoes a traditional stamina bar, allowing for more aggressive and speedy playstyles, similar to Sekiro. Instead, Mortal Shell 2 offers three distinct ways to manage incoming damage through equippable Seals: Guard, Parry, and Harden. Guarding allows for damage blocking at the cost of posture, Parry requires precise timing for greater impact, and Harden turns the Harbinger to stone, offering a safer but cooldown-dependent defense. These mechanics are well-balanced and tie directly into the items found within the game, providing in-world justifications for abilities.
Accessibility and Flexibility
Mortal Shell 2 further distinguishes itself with its accessibility options. The Slayer Seal effectively enables an "easy mode" by providing a powerful punch and ranged weapon damage, though it disables Achievements. For a more significant challenge, the Gloombound Candle can be lit atop the game's hub tower, plunging the world into night, strengthening enemies, and unlocking hidden dungeons. This flexibility allows players to tailor the experience to their preferred difficulty.
The game draws clear inspiration from classic PC titles like DOOM, Heretic, and Hexen. This influence is most apparent in the dozens of dungeons scattered throughout the world, which feature intricate, old-school level design reminiscent of 90s shooters. These tombs often include perched enemies, secret passages, and key-based progression, with one dungeon even directly homaging DOOM's E1M1: Hangar level. This retro-feeling level design is seamlessly integrated into an expansive and interwoven open world.
Despite its many strengths, Mortal Shell 2 is not without minor flaws. Some bugs were encountered during play, such as Sester Genessa's clones missing attacks. Certain areas could benefit from more save points to reduce lengthy boss runbacks. Additionally, the game seems to encourage commitment to one or two Shells due to limited Glimpse currency, which might disappoint players who wish to max out all abilities.
However, these issues are largely forgivable. Patches are likely to address bugs and runback criticisms, and the focus on a few Shells can be seen as a design choice encouraging New Game+ playthroughs. The game's immediate replayability is high, driven by a desire to experiment with new Shells like the time-stopping warrior monk, Smert.
Mortal Shell 2 stands as proof that the Soulslike genre can still innovate. By tweaking genre conventions, adding accessibility options, and paying homage to PC classics, Cold Symmetry has delivered a package brimming with gothic, weirdo charm. It offers an alternative to the mainstream, a deliberate and delightful departure that will resonate with players seeking something unique in the genre.