Mortal Shell 2 takes the premise that the original game introduced and perfects it in a way that makes it the ideal way to experience Mortal Shell.
Developer Cold Symmetry showcased its immense talent with the first Mortal Shell. However, the game had a bunch of holes that needed filling. Mortal Shell 2, which is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X, bumps everything to eleven. It’s what the original Mortal Shell should have been in every aspect, whether it’s combat or the series-defining shell mechanic.
Finally a Perfected Shell
Mortal Shell 2 starts with a bang, quickly introducing everything that makes it better than its prequel. The combat is fluid, the shell system has a more detailed build system that offers more flexibility, and the game’s scale is much larger. While its story likely won’t win any awards, the game’s dark atmosphere and addictive combat make it a must-try for ARPG and Soulslike fans alike.
Gameplay
Combat is where Mortal Shell 2 really shines. The basic Soulslike framework is there, with players combining light and heavy attacks with blocking and dodging. But some may not want to call Mortal Shell 2 a genuine Soulslike. This is because the game doesn’t have a traditional stamina bar, letting players sprint, roll, dodge, or swing their weapons however much they like.
All of this doesn’t mean that the game has any animation cancelling. While parrying can be a crucial part of the gameplay loop, that only applies to players who equip the correct seal. Because of this, players can personalize their experience to strengthen the gameplay aspect they prefer, whether it’s dodging, blocking, or parrying attacks. In general, Mortal Shell 2 feels significantly less clunky than its predecessor.
The series-defining shell system returns here, and it’s much better. Instead of being locked into a conventional RPG class, this system now lets players inhabit different warriors. Every shell has different unique abilities, even if the overall basic combat and stats are the same. It isn’t a stretch to say that this mechanic gives Mortal Shell 2 its own identity in an oversaturated Soulslike industry.
Mortal Shell 2’s story isn’t anything to write home about. It works to get players interested in things, but learning about the original owners of the bodies you utilize as shells is arguably more interesting. The main narrative is extremely cryptic, suggesting a clear inspiration from FromSoftware’s way of telling stories. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it would have been nice to see Mortal Shell 2 break away from the generic mystery-focused writing.
Building For Success
Mortal Shell 2 features a surprisingly deep amount of build variety. The game is more than just picking a shell, finding a good weapon, and increasing the player’s stats before running onto the battlefield. Instead, it features mechanics such as shells, weapons, shell abilities, trinkets, equipment combinations, seals, and more.
Experimenting with different builds can help players change how they approach the game, potentially prolonging their overall playtime. Mortal Shell 2 still has the Soulslike identity, which means that players should expect difficult encounters. Having the right build can help players personalize how they play, making up for their shortcomings with seals and shell abilities.
Graphics & Audio
Mortal Shell 2 is a beautiful game. Launching the player from the central hub as a way of fast traveling is a genius idea, letting the developer flex the game’s graphical prowess. Boss designs are slick, and the overall dark fantasy atmosphere is one of the game’s major strengths. The game clearly takes full advantage of Unreal Engine 5’s features, making the world actually feel hostile.
Not to mention, Mortal Shell 2’s audio design is also great. I found myself vibing to the game’s music more than once, which hasn’t happened with too many other Soulslike games. The sound effect after a successful parry is as satisfying as it should be too.
However, Unreal Engine 5 comes with its own handful of issues. From textures loading in late to infrequent FPS drops, Mortal Shell 2 isn’t as optimized as I would have liked. While most of the issues aren’t game-breaking, I did experience getting stuck inside the floor twice, somewhat turning me off from continuing that session.
Longevity
Mortal Shell 2 has a decent amount of side content for players to experience. The hub area itself instantly introduces you to multiple optional missions, whether you’re looking for more shells or following the main story. Gameplay mechanics such as purifying beacons and searching for ways to strengthen your character should keep you busy for a while.
Unfortunately, Mortal Shell 2’s dungeon design leaves a lot to be desired. Navigating the same cryptic tomb-like dungeons while avoiding explosive barrels ultimately got boring quickly. The basic structure is always the same, though it helps that enemy encounters are usually unique, and the rewards make up for the troubles.
Final Thoughts
Mortal Shell 2 is an excellent game that creates its own identity, despite technically qualifying as a Soulslike. Since it doesn’t require any knowledge of the original, it isn’t a stretch to say that jumping directly into Mortal Shell 2 is the way to go for newcomers. The developer’s still releasing updates to tweak the difficulty and fix some graphical issues, but the game is still a blast to play through.
It’s for this reason that I give it the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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