Valor Mortis presents a punishing action experience that blends sword fighting, spellcasting, and firearms within an alternate history of the Napoleonic era. Developed by One More Level, the game attempts a compelling fusion of elements, including Titanfall-esque platforming and a bizarre 19th-century setting. While these experiments largely succeed and provide memorable moments, the game is not without its flaws, featuring a hodgepodge of ideas that occasionally fail to coalesce and numerous bugs.
The core combat mechanics will feel familiar to players of the BioShock series, with the player channeling magical abilities through a corrupted left hand. However, Valor Mortis diverges by emphasizing close-quarters combat with a sword, incorporating parrying and dodging in the tradition of soulslike games. The interplay between melee, firearms, and supernatural abilities creates engaging encounters, such as igniting explosive barrels from a distance or using a mutated arm for defensive maneuvers before finishing an enemy with a pistol. This variety in approach helps maintain player interest, despite a notable lack of enemy diversity.
Players assume the role of William, a soldier in Napoleon's army in an alternate reality where the Emperor's victory at Waterloo has drastically altered the world. As an undead warrior with the ability to resurrect, William navigates war-torn environments. The narrative, while attempting a "war is hell" theme, is often undermined by the game's more unusual elements, such as encountering a Sphinx in Egypt. The story ultimately falls short of delivering a cohesive message.
Valor Mortis' ambition to incorporate numerous elements results in a somewhat uneven experience, particularly in its combat. Some issues are minor, like peculiar invisible borders affecting hit detection against larger enemies. More significant problems include enemies whose aggression can inexplicably shift away from the player, and a tendency for foes to repeat a limited set of attacks, requiring players to wait for specific openings. While the combat is generally functional, these shortcomings occur with some regularity.
To combat the monotony of enemy attack patterns, Valor Mortis offers a substantial arsenal of weapons and powers. Players have access to three melee weapon types, three firearms, and three distinct magical abilities, each with its own upgrade tree. These upgrades allow for customization, such as enhancing flame abilities to cause enemies to explode when shot after being ignited, or improving the saber to restore stamina upon a successful dodge. Complementing this are a skill tree and equipable modifiers known as Ambers. Perks enhance survivability through increased health or improved parries, while Ambers can fundamentally alter gameplay. For instance, equipping mods that restore health upon executing staggered enemies, combined with a mod that boosts damage at full health, rewards a perfectionist playstyle.
Boss fights, a staple of the soulslike genre, are a weak point for Valor Mortis. There are surprisingly few bosses, and many are underwhelming, often being reskinned versions of existing enemies or previously encountered foes. Even original boss encounters suffer from predictable attack patterns, making them less challenging than standard enemy encounters. Many players may find themselves dying more frequently to common enemies or environmental hazards than to the game's bosses.
The game's unusual setting contributes to distinct level designs, featuring 19th-century battlefields littered with corpses and airborne naval wreckage. While some familiar soulslike tropes appear, such as poison swamp equivalents, many areas possess unique personalities. One memorable section involves navigating a ruined town inhabited by children who have adapted to their environment, creating a compelling and eerie experience.
Valor Mortis also attempts platforming sections, but these often feel unpolished. Issues like getting caught on ledges, falling through the environment, and passing through objects detract from the experience. While some mechanics, like appearing platforms with hand powers and wall-running, are engaging when they function correctly, the platforming often feels like a tacked-on feature.
The overall jankiness of Valor Mortis stems not only from design choices but also from significant technical issues. Hard crashes, recurring PC shutdowns upon launching from Steam, missing environment assets, and general wonkiness contribute to a feeling of unpolish that can detract from the game's otherwise compelling world.