The studio behind the Ghostrunner series is venturing into an unexpected territory with Valor Mortis, a first-person Soulslike set against the backdrop of Napoleonic Europe. This unique concept, while initially surprising, unfolds into a remarkably compelling game. Set in an alternate 19th century where the Napoleonic army gained access to a substance that prevents soldiers from dying, the narrative takes a dark turn as this “cure” also unleashes a relentless plague that reanimates the dead across Europe.
Despite the peculiar premise, Valor Mortis quickly captivates. The experience begins as you awaken as William, a soldier of the Eternal Guard, on a battlefield strewn with fallen comrades. The unsettling reality quickly sets in: the dead are not staying dead.
The game plunges you into action almost immediately. Shortly after your awakening, you’re tasked with confronting the reanimated, mindless soldiers populating the battlefield. With the voice of Napoleon himself guiding you (voiced by Vincent Cassel), you’ll push forward, engaging in combat with any who stand in your way.
The atmosphere is undeniably grim and bleak, evoking a profound sense of hopelessness. The visual landscape of scattered corpses, mud, and discarded ammunition, devoid of any friendly faces, reinforces this oppressive feeling.
Combat in Valor Mortis leans heavily on Dark Souls and Bloodborne principles rather than typical shooter mechanics. Despite the first-person perspective, every action feels intensely visceral and impactful for your character, contributing to the game’s immersive quality. The combat system is built around a dual-wielding structure, with your sword in one hand and a revolver or magic in the other, forcing strategic choices about your secondary weapon. The core gameplay loop revolves around light and heavy attacks, parrying, and dodging, mirroring the mechanics of third-person Soulslikes.
This approach transforms every encounter into a potential challenge, demanding constant vigilance. Observing enemy attack patterns is crucial, with dodging, blocking, and parrying being key to overcoming both large groups and formidable individual enemies. Successfully landing parries depletes an enemy’s posture, eventually leaving them vulnerable to a devastating critical finisher. While it may seem complex initially, players will find the rhythm of combat relatively easy to grasp.
Unlike many shooters, Valor Mortis prioritizes strategic engagement over sheer firepower. Taking damage isn’t necessarily a death sentence; landing your own attacks can help you recover health, emphasizing a proactive approach to combat rather than a reactive one. This dynamic makes each battle incredibly exhilarating.
The drive to land that final parry or strike to survive becomes a powerful motivator. While the first-person perspective might require some adjustment, it effectively immerses you in the dark world and conveys the character’s perilous journey.
Beyond its visceral combat, Valor Mortis adopts a structure familiar to Soulslike fans. “Lanterns” serve as the equivalent of bonfires, allowing players to rest, replenish healing vials and Nephtoglobin (the resource for magic), but also respawning all enemies. This classic risk-reward mechanic, central to the genre’s appeal, is effectively implemented here. Lantern placements are fair, offering sufficient challenge without becoming tedious, and the benefits of resource replenishment often outweigh the necessity of re-engaging with respawned foes.
Similar to other Soulslikes, players can utilize upgrade currency at lanterns. These upgrades range from enhancing core stats like health and stamina efficiency to improving posture damage on parries. There are also high-risk, high-reward options that fundamentally alter gameplay. The demo featured generous checkpoint placement, including a lantern positioned directly before a boss, which mitigates the common frustration of repetitive traversal in the genre.
Crucially, for any Soulslike enthusiast, death results in dropping your accumulated experience at the point of defeat. You have a single opportunity to recover it, a tense race against time that is as challenging and rewarding as expected from this type of game.
Despite the limited enemy variety in the roughly 30-minute demo, the game’s creative reimagining of the human form into grotesque entities is striking. The developer has devised diabolical variations of Napoleonic soldiers, and the journey has just begun. Enemy attack patterns are visually telegraphed, allowing players to parry, dodge, or evade effectively. Provided you remain observant, Valor Mortis ensures that each fight feels reasonably fair.
While much of the game remains to be explored, Valor Mortis presents a wealth of strong concepts and an exceptionally unique setting. It is a brutal, grotesque, and challenging experience, but also deeply rewarding and enjoyable. Set to launch on PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and Steam on October 13, 2026, the anticipation is high to uncover the mysteries of its unique setting and godforsaken battlefield. Who would have thought Napoleonic Europe would be the ideal setting for a Soulslike? Valor Mortis has proven that idea wrong. October cannot come soon enough.
English Translation:
The studio behind the Ghostrunner series is venturing into unexpected territory with Valor Mortis, a first-person Soulslike set against the backdrop of Napoleonic Europe. This unique concept, while initially surprising, unfolds into a remarkably compelling game. Set in an alternate 19th century where the Napoleonic army gained access to a substance that prevents soldiers from dying, the narrative takes a dark turn as this “cure” also unleashes a relentless plague that reanimates the dead across Europe.
Despite the peculiar premise, Valor Mortis quickly captivates. The experience begins as you awaken as William, a soldier of the Eternal Guard, on a battlefield strewn with fallen comrades. The unsettling reality quickly sets in: the dead are not staying dead.
The game plunges you into action almost immediately. Shortly after your awakening, you’re tasked with confronting the reanimated, mindless soldiers populating the battlefield. With the voice of Napoleon himself guiding you (voiced by Vincent Cassel), you’ll push forward, engaging in combat with any who stand in your way.
The atmosphere is undeniably grim and bleak, evoking a profound sense of hopelessness. The visual landscape of scattered corpses, mud, and discarded ammunition, devoid of any friendly faces, reinforces this oppressive feeling.
Combat in Valor Mortis leans heavily on Dark Souls and Bloodborne principles rather than typical shooter mechanics. Despite the first-person perspective, every action feels intensely visceral and impactful for your character, contributing to the game’s immersive quality. The combat system is built around a dual-wielding structure, with your sword in one hand and a revolver or magic in the other, forcing strategic choices about your secondary weapon. The core gameplay loop revolves around light and heavy attacks, parrying, and dodging, mirroring the mechanics of third-person Soulslikes.
This approach transforms every encounter into a potential challenge, demanding constant vigilance. Observing enemy attack patterns is crucial, with dodging, blocking, and parrying being key to overcoming both large groups and formidable individual enemies. Successfully landing parries depletes an enemy’s posture, eventually leaving them vulnerable to a devastating critical finisher. While it may seem complex initially, players will find the rhythm of combat relatively easy to grasp.
Unlike many shooters, Valor Mortis prioritizes strategic engagement over sheer firepower. Taking damage isn’t necessarily a death sentence; landing your own attacks can help you recover health, emphasizing a proactive approach to combat rather than a reactive one. This dynamic makes each battle incredibly exhilarating.
The drive to land that final parry or strike to survive becomes a powerful motivator. While the first-person perspective might require some adjustment, it effectively immerses you in the dark world and conveys the character’s perilous journey.
Beyond its visceral combat, Valor Mortis adopts a structure familiar to Soulslike fans. “Lanterns” serve as the equivalent of bonfires, allowing players to rest, replenish healing vials and Nephtoglobin (the resource for magic), but also respawning all enemies. This classic risk-reward mechanic, central to the genre’s appeal, is effectively implemented here. Lantern placements are fair, offering sufficient challenge without becoming tedious, and the benefits of resource replenishment often outweigh the necessity of re-engaging with respawned foes.
Similar to other Soulslikes, players can utilize upgrade currency at lanterns. These upgrades range from enhancing core stats like health and stamina efficiency to improving posture damage on parries. There are also high-risk, high-reward options that fundamentally alter gameplay. The demo featured generous checkpoint placement, including a lantern positioned directly before a boss, which mitigates the common frustration of repetitive traversal in the genre.
Crucially, for any Soulslike enthusiast, death results in dropping your accumulated experience at the point of defeat. You have a single opportunity to recover it, a tense race against time that is as challenging and rewarding as expected from this type of game.
Despite the limited enemy variety in the roughly 30-minute demo, the game’s creative reimagining of the human form into grotesque entities is striking. The developer has devised diabolical variations of Napoleonic soldiers, and the journey has just begun. Enemy attack patterns are visually telegraphed, allowing players to parry, dodge, or evade effectively. Provided you remain observant, Valor Mortis ensures that each fight feels reasonably fair.
While much of the game remains to be explored, Valor Mortis presents a wealth of strong concepts and an exceptionally unique setting. It is a brutal, grotesque, and challenging experience, but also deeply rewarding and enjoyable. Set to launch on PS5, XBOX Series X|S, and Steam on October 13, 2026, the anticipation is high to uncover the mysteries of its unique setting and godforsaken battlefield. Who would have thought Napoleonic Europe would be the ideal setting for a Soulslike? Valor Mortis has proven that idea wrong. October cannot come soon enough.