Review: Void Sols

Genres: Indie game, Role-playing game, Action game, Adventure

Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS

Developer: Finite Reflection Studios

Publisher: Modern Wolf

I’ve tried a few Souls-like games in the past, but they’ve always made me nervous and intimidated, not to mention that they don’t work with my natural lack of patience. I have a propensity to get carried away, forgetting that I’m playing a game that requires a patient, systematic approach, rather than a more forgiving, flamboyant actioner like Devil May Cry. Void Sols still causes me worry and intimidation, but I found this Geometry Wars-styled top-down Souls experience highly appealing, not to mention ferociously addictive from the start.

You assume the part of a triangular wedge and are thrown in a bleak but stunningly atmospheric jail scene, starting with only a basic sword and a dash ability. As you patrol the dimly-lit environment, other angular shapes will approach you from the darkness and kill you repeatedly until you master the nuances of combat and evasion, can take a patient and cautious approach, and understand the limitations of your current level and available techniques. As you go through the game, you light torches that not only illuminate your path but also act as a glowing breadcrumb trail to keep track of your progress. You discover treasures, some of which are eerily buried on the convoluted map. There are also the titular Sols to find, which provide valuable experience.

You’ll also find well-placed save places where you may replenish your health and reset the stage, respawning opponents in the process. During the save state, you can also spend any experience points to level up your character, earning gains in speed, stamina, power, and other attributes. Stamina is extremely important in Void Sols because you only have so much of it to execute any of the game’s needed acts. Your main attack has a cooldown time that changes according to the weapon you’re wielding and your current level. Like any good Souls game, progress is rewarded by gradually making life easier as you get more powerful and acquire better gear.

There are relics and artifacts that improve your powers, as well as life-replenishing potions that can be replenished by fighting enemies. You also receive a secondary ability, the first of which is a ranged dagger projectile, effective for taking out weaker foes from a distance, or a shield, which is incredibly beneficial in blocking the attacks of more powerful assailants. Some adversaries demand an entirely different strategy than others, therefore the option to save and switch between pre-loaded loadouts is a fantastic addition.

They may be blazing, angular objects, but the enemies in Void Sols are very menacing. Since the spooky atomic battle nightmare of Missile Command or the eponymous villain in Sinistar, I cannot recall being truly terrified by something that seemed to have been plucked from a 1980s arcade. You’ll be warily approaching each new region, not knowing what might emerge from the darkness to attack you. Combat is surprisingly satisfying, even when you are severely handicapped, because you rapidly learn how to survive. Swinging your sword causes a loud clang, sparks fly, and blades clash, despite the very simple visual style. When you ultimately receive a more powerful tool to smash things with, such as a big ol’ hammer, it feels great to return to a baddie who had caused you so much bother when you only had a little dagger and shatter them to smithereens in one hit. Crunch.

The first time you meet a boss is really memorable. Suddenly, you’re confronted with a frightening, superpowerful beast that stalks you around a series of columns, swinging two massive blades when it catches you in its sights. As you deplete its vitality, assistance arrives in the form of some smaller, swarming insects, while a cacophonous drum and bass rattle fills your ears. Again, you’ll probably die a lot until you figure out the patterns and nuances of this devilishly tricky beast, but it’s so wonderful when everything comes together and you eventually smoosh it with a swing of your melee weapon or a well-aimed aerial shot.

Once you’re free of the murky prison, Void Sols opens up drastically, and you’re in a much broader, but no less terrifying, wider environment with a number of various biomes to explore. There are also interesting additional options, including a harsh Trials scenario. Upon first play, there was concern that the game was extremely simplistic and required a little more oomph to truly establish itself as a viable Souls challenger – but happily, this has been addressed. I was taken away by how brilliant this idea is – distilling down a notion to something basic in execution but with complexity that defies the aggressive geometry patterns and sparse starting level. It held my attention for far longer than any other game of its kind, and it is well suited to the Steam Deck on which I spent my time with it. Great stuff.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 83%

Controls: 81%

Aesthetics: 86%

Content: 82%

Accessibility: 78%

Value: 80%

Overall: 82%

A DARK AND MESMERIZING SPACE ODYSSEY!

Summary:

“Void Sols” is an unsettling and atmospheric trip into the wide depths of space, combining exploration and frightening narration. The gameplay combines mystery-solving and survival, necessitating careful resource management and mental fortitude. The controls, while largely fluid, can be difficult in high-stress situations, heightening the game’s intense atmosphere. Void Sols delivers a truly unpleasant experience that is both gratifying and intense, thanks to haunting visuals and a slowly unfolding tale. Fans of space terror and survival mysteries will not be disappointed.