Valor Mortis: Genre and Gameplay Analysis

At Gamescom 2025, One More Level revealed their latest project, Valor Mortis, generating immediate buzz within the gaming community. Despite some weariness surrounding the soulslike genre, the game’s striking French-inspired aesthetic sets it apart, especially amidst the current fascination with chiaroscuro visuals as seen in titles like Expedition 33. Additionally, it echoes the dark fantasy vibe of 2024’s Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, particularly in its thematic approach to flintlock combat.

Recent hands-on impressions from Game Rant highlight the game's compelling visual style and thematic elements. The introductory segment immerses players in a Napoleonic battlefield, where protagonist William finds himself resurrected under mysterious circumstances. The narrative hints at a deeper connection to Napoleon, with the opening sequence featuring stark, minimalist storytelling—William appears disoriented, as do players, but echoes of Napoleon’s voice serve as guiding whispers, creating an intriguing layer of psychological tension. This echoes common tropes of the “ghost inside the head,” a narrative device I personally find overused, though it may be a personal bias.

Gameplay involves navigating war-torn terrains filled with corrupted soldiers—once loyal members of Napoleon's elite guard—now transformed into grotesque monsters by an unknown substance called nephtogloblin. This substance not only mutates enemies but also grants William supernatural abilities; early encounters provide him with a flamethrower, adding a fiery edge to combat. Equipped with a saber in one hand and a pistol or flamethrower in the other, players traverse the battlefield, encountering sparse NPC interactions and resting at lantern-like checkpoints reminiscent of Dark Souls’ bonfires. These serve as sites for upgrading abilities with catalyst points—resources that are at risk of being lost upon death unless recovered in time.

While the game’s aesthetic and setting are captivating, there’s an ambiguity about whether Valor Mortis fully aligns with the soulslike formula. The gameplay feels more like a dynamic action adventure, emphasizing fast-paced combat and exploration over the punishing, methodical challenge typical of soulslikes. Nonetheless, the experience promises engaging combat mechanics and a richly crafted universe, making it an exciting addition to the genre’s evolving landscape.

The combat system in Valor Mortis blends traditional action RPG elements, combining swift and heavy strikes with evasive maneuvers like dodging and blocking. Executing a perfect dodge against an unblockable attack triggers a slow-motion effect, giving players a tactical advantage. Parrying enemies often leaves them vulnerable to powerful counterattacks, creating opportunities for significant damage.

Interestingly, the game offers no difficulty settings in the preview build, leaving players to wonder if this will change in the full release. From my experience, the gameplay felt surprisingly accessible—so much so that it didn’t quite fit the typical “soulslike” challenge expected of the genre. If it were marketed solely as an action game, the ease might be justified; however, I approached it expecting a tough, challenging experience and found myself somewhat puzzled by how effortlessly I progressed.

One notable aspect was the parry mechanic, which seemed overpowered—bordering on broken. With precise timing, a single parry could often lead to an instant kill through a special follow-up move. Facing a boss, I discovered that a couple of well-timed parries combined with minor attacks could quickly break its posture, making subsequent kills straightforward. The parry windows were quite generous, making successful blocks feel almost too easy; I only missed a few times, but overall, the timing was forgiving.

My first boss encounter exemplified the game's approach. The boss was a grotesque, heavily mutated soldier armed with guns and multiple limbs. Defeating its initial form was swift—parrying its strikes and exploiting its weak spots led to a rapid victory. When the boss transitioned to its second phase, it became more aggressive, summoning allies and accelerating its attacks. Yet, even then, I managed to finish it quickly. Unlike many soulslike encounters that gradually become more challenging and tense, this fight felt more like a swift test of skill rather than a grueling ordeal. To my memory, I’ve rarely defeated a true soulslike boss with such ease, which left me both surprised and somewhat skeptical about the intended difficulty level.

Overall, I found the experience highly enjoyable, with engaging combat that, while not overly difficult, kept me entertained throughout. The setting presents a captivating world, though it falls short of the mystery I anticipated. The unique take on Napoleonic warfare immediately caught my interest, blending historical elements with dark fantasy themes that truly drew me in. Despite some marketing labels, I was surprised to see it branded as a soulslike, as it feels more like a traditional action game at its core.

It's important to clarify my perspective on genre classification. The soulslike category is diverse, encompassing titles like Soulsvania, Elden Ring’s expansive open world, or even Valor Mortis experimenting with a first-person perspective. However, genres do have core criteria. I firmly believe that Lies of P ranks among the best soulslike titles available, not just because of its difficulty but due to its adherence to genre conventions. Conversely, I see Black Myth: Wukong as more of a challenging hack-and-slash adventure rather than a true soulslike. In the case of Valor Mortis, what I’ve experienced feels more akin to a fantasy action game, and I wouldn’t even consider discussing it within the soulslike framework if it weren’t for the recent level that seemed to emphasize that label.

Soulslike Principles Overview

A true soulslike game typically adheres to several core principles that define its challenging and immersive experience. First, it emphasizes a sense of vulnerability rather than effortless empowerment. Players should often feel fragile and overwhelmed by formidable foes, with this sense of weakness being integral to the game's atmosphere. The combat mechanics are usually deliberate, requiring strategic timing and positioning, and the game often offers a variety of builds to deepen tactical choices, rather than simply granting players overwhelming power.

Second, the game’s setting and narrative are designed to be expansive and rich in environmental storytelling. While some titles may feature more straightforward storylines, the world itself is crafted to encourage exploration and interaction. The environment acts as a narrative device, revealing lore and story through its design, layout, and details, emphasizing that the universe is vast and often intimidating compared to the player’s character.

Third, death is woven into the fabric of the gameplay. It’s not merely a setback but an experience that can teach players about enemy patterns and game mechanics. Death should feel impactful—sometimes punishing, sometimes a stepping stone—yet it shouldn’t be an insurmountable barrier. Over time, players often learn to conquer death, making it less threatening as they become more skilled and familiar with the game’s systems.

Looking at games like Lies of P or Elden Ring, these principles are clearly evident. Elden Ring, despite its relatively open-world design, maintains a constant feeling of vulnerability—enemies and bosses remain formidable. Combat is deeply customizable, allowing players to adapt their approach through respecs and equipment choices, reinforcing deliberate engagement rather than mindless button-mashing. Its storytelling relies heavily on environmental clues and fragmented lore, encouraging exploration and discovery. Death in Elden Ring is harsh, especially in certain zones, reinforcing the perilous nature of the world.

In contrast, the early hours of Valor Mortis seem to diverge from these core elements. The initial gameplay does not evoke a feeling of weakness or insurmountable odds; instead, it gives an impression of strength and invincibility, aided by mechanics like parries that make combat feel more about timing than strategic depth. The combat system appears quite basic, with limited options beyond dodging and parrying, and the environment offers minimal storytelling—simply a battlefield with red areas indicating danger, lacking subtle clues or lore-rich surroundings. Regarding death, it seems to be more of a gameplay mechanic to test the player's curiosity, as the only way to experience death’s consequences is by choosing to die, rather than facing it naturally within the game’s challenge.

Overall, while Valor Mortis may incorporate some elements of action games, it currently does not fully embody the hallmark features that define a traditional soulslike experience.

Playing Valor Mortis offered an exhilarating experience that truly captured the thrill of wielding unstoppable strength, a classic and memorable power fantasy that resonates deeply within the gaming community. The game's universe promises to expand dynamically, raising curiosity about future developments in both the storyline and combat mechanics as the adventure unfolds. An intriguing aspect is whether the narrative allows for the possibility of confronting and perhaps defeating historical figures like Napoleon, adding a unique layer of intrigue. Notably, the initial segment I explored deviated from traditional soulslike conventions, prompting me to reconsider whether it fits neatly into that genre label. Overall, the early experience left a strong impression, hinting at a rich and evolving gameplay journey.

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