Valor Mortis offers a unique take on the Soulslike formula, immersing players in the grim, necromantically-infused battlefields of the Napoleonic era. Developed by One More Level, the first-person perspective and unusual setting distinguish it from its genre contemporaries, while its core mechanics provide a tense and intimate combat experience.
The game's narrative begins with a unique premise: Napoleon, empowered by a necrotic ooze, achieved victory at Waterloo, raising fallen soldiers as eternally loyal, albeit monstrous, undead. Players embody one of these reanimated soldiers, gaining access to BioShock-esque powers that augment sword and pistol combat. The world is populated by a grotesque menagerie of reanimated French soldiers, from grenadiers fused into grotesque masses to spindly "Volunteers" with unnaturally stretched limbs, creating a striking visual contrast with their tattered uniforms.
A Unique Perspective on Combat
The first-person viewpoint offers a close-up and personal confrontation with enemies. While some feared this perspective would hinder combat effectiveness, it generally serves the game well, particularly in one-on-one encounters where players can observe enemy tells up close. The emphasis on parrying and posture-breaking encourages a tactical distance, mitigating potential issues with off-screen attacks. The environments are also designed with this perspective in mind, creating moments of claustrophobic dread within narrow tunnels and villages, and allowing for a gruesome appreciation of the detailed, macabre environments.
Parrying is a central mechanic, and Valor Mortis delivers satisfyingly weighty deflections that feel impactful. While ranged options like revolvers and muskets are available for crowd control and exploiting weak points, the visceral satisfaction of a well-timed parry-riposte combo remains the highlight. However, the game's arsenal and skill tree are relatively limited. Build diversity is constrained, with many talents focusing on straightforward health and damage upgrades, encouraging a sword-centric playstyle over more specialized magical or ranged builds.
Narrative and Level Design
Unlike traditional Soulslikes, Valor Mortis eschews cryptic storytelling for more conventional dialogue, cutscenes, and found notes. While this approach is less ambiguous, it also results in a less epic narrative, with the game clocking in at under 20 hours. The presence of recurring minibosses in the latter stages can also lead to some repetition, though the true boss fights, when present, are generally well-crafted, challenging mano-a-mano encounters.
The game incorporates more platforming and traversal elements than typical for the genre, drawing inspiration from One More Level's previous work on Ghostrunner. Grappling and wallrunning add a dynamic layer to movement, though some segmented parkour sections feel somewhat disconnected from the core combat. These traversal mechanics are more effective when integrated into combat arenas, allowing for stealthy approaches or new angles of attack, reminiscent of games like Dishonored. The level design also features branching paths and shortcuts, rewarding exploration, particularly when those detours lead to advantageous ambush positions.
Despite its streamlined elements and unique perspective, Valor Mortis rarely feels compromised. Its shorter length is offset by intelligent design that accommodates its first-person view without excessive handholding. The game's willingness to experiment within the Soulslike framework, offering a distinct visual style and engaging combat, makes it a compelling entry in an increasingly crowded genre.