Eldest Souls

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 27

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Eldest Souls is a boss-rush game with Souls-like aesthetics that wears its inspiration on its sleeve. Its punishing difficulty may turn some away, but beautiful pixel-art and creative boss battles make it worth your time.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 27

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 27

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Critic Reviews for Eldest Souls

Critic Reviews

Distribution

27

Reviews

High Score - 90/100

90%

Average Score - 78/100

78%

Low Score - 60/100

60%

8.3/10

Marcus Stewart (Game Informer)

Eldest Souls’ punishing difficulty may turn off some, but this entertaining and rewarding combat system made me look forward to every titanic face-off.

August 5, 2021 |

Full Review

Eldest Souls will punish you with its difficulty, but you’re going to love it thanks to refreshing combat mechanics and ridiculously frantic boss fights. However, you might encounter a few issues due to visual miscues, and replayability is solely dependent on how much you wish to rerun tougher encounters.

July 29, 2021 |

Full Review

8/10

Jason Rodriguez (PC Invasion)

6/10

David Carcasole (PlayStation Universe)

Eldest Souls wears its inspiration on its sleeve, though in the end that counts for very little. The boss fights are often unbalanced and tedious, which only contributes to a frustration that deters you from wanting to pick the controller back up.

July 29, 2021 |

Full Review

Marcus Stewart (Game Informer)

8.3/10 - (Read Review)

Eldest Souls’ punishing difficulty may turn off some, but this entertaining and rewarding combat system made me look forward to every titanic face-off.

Jason Rodriguez (PC Invasion)

8/10 - (Read Review)

David Carcasole (PlayStation Universe)

6/10 - (Read Review)

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Read the Reviews (27 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Bazimag	Sina Golabzade	7 / 10	07-29-2021	Eldest Souls is so hard that most of the times it feels unfair and there are so many passive unlockable choices in the game’s skill tree that don’t really help to ease your pain in an impactful way. It feels like the game wanted to go for fast paced combat but its hero is maybe a little too weak to wield his crazy big sword properly, so if you are OK with getting punished for entertainment, this is absolutely one of the best choices in the market.	Read review
Checkpoint Gaming	Justin White	7 / 10	08-09-2021	I had a great, albeit frustrating time with Eldest Souls and thoroughly enjoyed the short experience. It is a brutally difficult game, but the music, art style, and overall challenge had me coming back for “one last try” each and every time. I will say that if you are not a fan of boss-rush or challenging games, then this will not change that. But if you are after a title with an old-school appeal that does not hold you by the hand and presents a truly captivating time, then I think you will find a lot to enjoy here.	Read review
COGconnected	Mark Steighner	72 / 100	08-09-2021	For the Dark Souls fan who sees every From Software game as a validation of the “git gud” mentality, Eldest Souls will probably scratch a persistent itch. For everyone else, especially those who appreciate Souls-like games for their journeys and not their boss destinations, Eldest Souls may seem too focused on doing one thing, no matter how well it succeeds. Eldest Souls is designed around frustration and challenge, and if that’s your idea of a good time, then this game is for you.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Andrea Sorichetti	7 / 10	07-29-2021	As lovers of the narrative aspect of Hidetaka Miyazaki's work more than the high level of challenge regardless, we struggled to fall in love with Eldest Souls. Because, while somehow attempting to mimic the fragmented writing cleared by From Software, this experiment fails to be evocative in the same way. The debut of Fallen Flag Studio speaks more the language of those who are desperately looking for challenges, but risking to leave out all those who in such a title are looking for something more than such a smugly hardcore approach.	Read review
Game Informer	Marcus Stewart	8.3 / 10	08-05-2021	Eldest Souls' punishing difficulty may turn off some, but this entertaining and rewarding combat system made me look forward to every titanic face-off	Read review
GameMAG	Unknown	7 / 10	09-28-2021	Eldest Souls is a suitable way to test your limits in an engaging boss rush with plenty of foes to deal with, but don't expect anything more than that.	Read review
GameSkinny	John Schutt	8 / 10	07-29-2021	A demanding pixel art Souls-like beautifully rendered and artfully crafted, Eldest Souls is not without issues, but it's worth your time for its bosses, art, and world.	Read review
GameSpew	Richard Seagrave	7 / 10	08-02-2021	Sporting wonderful pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack, Eldest Souls is sure to go down a storm with Soulslike fans who would simply like to get to the nitty-gritty. Of course, the loss of the smaller battles in between means that there’s no opportunity to level your character up if you’re struggling, but the short and sharp nature of the fights on offer, and the ease of which you can respec to try a different approach, makes up for that somewhat. It’s a just a shame that Eldest Souls sometimes feels unfair, with victory being the result of your foes not making use of certain powerful skills.	Read review
GamingTrend	Abdul Saad	70 / 100	08-11-2021	While the overall world-building and customization options leave a lot to be desired, Eldest Souls is still a worthy game for Souls' fanatics despite its blatant flaws.	Read review
Geek Culture	Jake Su	8.6 / 10	07-29-2021	Eldest Souls carves out a niche all its own in the crowded Souls-like genre to great effect!	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Jordan Helm	4.5 / 5 stars	07-31-2021	Without the unique interpretation and translation of combat, Fallen Flag should already take comfort in the knowledge that their crafted series of boss fights are at least visually and mechanically-attractive enough to warrant a punishing trudge through to the credits screen.	Read review
Hey Poor Player	Francis DiPersio	4.5 / 5 stars	07-29-2021	Despite the occasional moments of frustration the game provided, Eldest Souls is an experience no fan of the Soulslike genre will want to miss. From its unforgettable boss battles to its deceptively deep and engaging progression system, it’s the kind of game that will get its hooks deep into you and keep you coming back for more. While the game only features ten boss fights, it’ll easily take players about a dozen hours to make their way through the story. And those who do make their way to the end credits will unlock a New Game + mode, which dials up the already considerable challenge even further.	Read review
IGN	Joseph Knoop	8 / 10	07-30-2021	While it wears its obvious influences on its sleeve, Eldest Souls is an incredibly satisfying boss rush that still manages to set itself apart.	Read review
Nintendo Wire	Ricky Berg	8.5 / 10	07-29-2021	Eldest aims to replicate the Soulsborne experience in its own stripped down way. Don’t mistake “stripped down” to mean it’s light or superficial, though, as Fallen Flag Studio have crafted something all their own through a gush of blood and gorgeous pixels.	Read review
NintendoWorldReport	Alex Orona	7.5 / 10	07-29-2021	Eldest Souls straddles the line between frustratingly difficult and overwhelmingly satisfying. I had to stop playing before bed because I'd have trouble sleeping from the nervous tension it caused. Whether that's appealing or not is up to you, but for me I eventually found my way around to really digging Eldest Souls. I was slow to warm up to it, but now welcome it amongst the others in the genre like Furi or Titan Souls. It builds up gradually but the fun is found in the depth of combat customization, and there's plenty if you're up for the challenge.	Read review
Noisy Pixel	Orpheus Joshua	8.5 / 10	07-29-2021	Eldest Souls suffers only from a limited implementation of world navigation and a not-so-standout design. Still, the combative cycle is compelling and well-implemented through its splendid boss battles, immersive mechanics, and extraordinary audio design. If you’re yearning for a title to demand precision and aggression accompanied by thought-provoking skill progression, this game is worth your time.	Read review
PC Invasion	Jason Rodriguez	8 / 10	07-29-2021	Eldest Souls will punish you with its difficulty, but you're going to love it thanks to refreshing combat mechanics and ridiculously frantic boss fights. However, you might encounter a few issues due to visual miscues, and replayability is solely dependent on how much you wish to rerun tougher encounters.	Read review
PlayStation LifeStyle	Andrew Kiya	7 / 10	07-29-2021	This is why I don’t think it’s really apt to say that Eldest Souls is a Souls-like game (though what defines a souls-like game is really not a debate that I’d like to get into). Rather, I think it’s a boss-rush game with Souls-like aesthetics because, in terms of gameplay, the only real similarity with the Dark Souls franchise is the fact that it’s a difficult game with a stamina bar, boss fights, and a focus on dodge mechanics. Consequently, it’s also why I feel if you’re looking for a game similar to the Soulsborne games, Eldest Souls may not be your cup of tea. But hey, if you’re a fan of boss rush hack-and-slash games, why not give it a try?	Read review
PlayStation Universe	David Carcasole	6 / 10	07-29-2021	Eldest Souls wears its inspiration on its sleeve, though in the end that counts for very little. The boss fights are often unbalanced and tedious, which only contributes to a frustration that deters you from wanting to pick the controller back up.	Read review
Rapid Reviews UK	Joseph Barrood	4.5 / 5 stars	08-26-2021	Eldest Souls is a strenuous boss rush title. I played as a cloaked hero and slashed my obsidian sword through a plethora of voracious opponents. As humanities last hope, I struggled through tenacious opponents and fought for my life. Is this game worth fighting for? Find out in this Rapid Review.	Read review
Screen Rant	Leo Faierman	4 / 5 stars	07-29-2021	There are some problems in Eldest Souls, though, including weird pathing to certain bosses that require trap-dodging, which just feel out of place. Additionally, the lack of a true pause means re-speccing may require a return to a previous checkpoint. These are ultimately small gripes for what is a wonderful experience overall, as Eldest Souls is a challenging but fair boss-rush with great pixel art and some smart New Game+ content. The Souls community is sure to enjoy this, but the build experimentation and shard system add an appealing sense of growth that makes Eldest Souls feel like it has even broader appeal than its niche.	Read review
TechRaptor	Zackerie Fairfax	8 / 10	07-30-2021	Eldest Souls is a challenging boss-rush title set in a beautiful pixel-art world. It may not offer the most dynamic combat or gameplay mechanics, but it makes up for that with intense and creative boss battles.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Aran Suddi	6 / 10	09-20-2021	As a game Eldest Souls does not hide the fact it is a tough game but it is trying to outshine in a genre that has had better examples, and better bosses over the years. Eldest Souls is by no means a bad game but it does rely on players having luck on their side a little bit too much, and that can make it a frustrating experience rather than a fun or engaging one.	Read review
Use a Potion	Unknown	8.5 / 10	07-30-2021	Eldest Souls is a frantic and tough boss-rush experience that features slick combat, entertaining battles, and a beautiful yet desolate world to explore. Basically, it’s everything you’d expect from an indie Dark Souls title, which is exactly what it wants to be. It’d be a discredit to say that Eldest Souls doesn’t find its own ways to innovate though, with the Bloodthirst system and deep upgrade mechanics offering some cleverly implemented ideas that complement the gameplay.	Read review
WayTooManyGames	Jordan Hawes	8.5 / 10	07-29-2021	Eldest Souls will not be a game for everyone. It will smash you and make you question if you’re any good at gaming. However, I never felt it was unfair in anyway and the sense of accomplishment after finally taking down a boss is immense. The combat has a surprising depth to it, and the gameplay flow is nonstop and pushes you to adapt.	Read review
WellPlayed	Nathan Hennessy	9 / 10	08-14-2021	A surprisingly complex and mechanically perfect condensation of the Soulsborne experience into the boss rush genre. Eldest Souls not only joins the ranks of its genre champs Titan Souls and Furi, it defeats them.	Read review
Zoomg	محمد صادق تواضعی	7.5 / 10	09-11-2021	An experience that includes problems such as vague endings, low content, as well as inefficient reinforcements made by NPC's, but generally, it's fun and keeps its users satisfied.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

In the beginning, there were Gods. Long imprisoned and forgotten in the Temples of the Citadel, they have syphoned the life essence from the world in their final act of vengeance. A lone Knight embarks upon a quest to slay the Gods and restore the balance. One warrior. One sword. Against them all.

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