Lost Soul Aside is a game the world has had its eyes on for quite a long time. The game wasn't even initially a game, but rather a world its creator, Yang Bing, could escape to while awaiting the release of Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Eventually, he put together a "movie trailer" using the game he had been working on and released it for everyone to see. This is when the pressure to make Lost Soul Aside into an actual game first came into play, and shortly after, Sony stepped in with its China Hero Project to help make it a reality. The game went from being a solo passion project of a Final Fantasy fan to a full-on indie project with a newly established small team, and then things went silent.
Over the years, Lost Soul Aside underwent many changes. The original trailer showcased a massive open-world RPG with an action combat system, which is what many fans assumed the final product would be. The reality is, the team working on the title was mostly made up of inexperienced developers, and making an open world was simply beyond their means. At some point, the game saw a major restructure, original plans were scrapped, and the game was reborn as a character action game with RPG elements—this is the Lost Soul Aside we have now seen released after a nearly 10-year wait, which ironically follows in the footsteps of the game that originally inspired it.
Final Fantasy Versus XIII itself was rebooted into Final Fantasy XV, and most of its original plans and story concepts were also scrapped, resulting in a completely different game than what fans were waiting for. And just like Versus XIII, Lost Soul Aside will likely be met with a mixed reception from those who have looked forward to playing it for so long.
That being said, preconceptions of Lost Soul Aside can hinder one's enjoyment of it, and that honestly isn't fair to the game. This isn't a massive AAA title, despite receiving some support from Sony, but rather a newly established indie team's first step into the world of game development, and it shows. The game is far from perfect, and there are plenty of ways it can be improved. However, it is also a game that manages to capture the "good old days" of character action titles during the original Xbox and PlayStation 2 era. It is a full-on callback to the likes of Ninja Gaiden Black, Devil May Cry, Shinobi, and Nightshade, and maybe even a little like Bayonetta on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It might not be as refined as these titles, but those who miss this era and style of gaming are the ones who will most likely resonate with Lost Soul Aside's gameplay the most. Unfortunately, Chapter 1 is a bit generic with its slow start, and it may even turn some players away, but things do open up the moment players step into Chapter 2. It is one of the rare cases where the game continues to improve from start to finish, but it requires some perseverance to actually get to that point.
Disclosure:
Before continuing with the review, I do have to disclose some important pieces of information. First of all, I was provided with a free review copy of the deluxe edition of Lost Soul Aside. This included the original costume our protagonist was wearing in the initial trailer and a few other bonuses to give a small boost. I also played through the PlayStation 5 version of the game on a base (non-Pro) PS5.
During my playthrough, the PC version was released with major, game-breaking issues, to the point where the game itself wasn't functioning. While I did not test this version out myself, I have spoken with others and looked into the issues they ran into. I can confirm none of these problems were present in the PS5 release, and the developers have released a statement letting us know the issues will be fixed. For those who are reading this review long after release and are considering getting the PC version, I urge you to double-check the current status of the game.
The Story:
The story of Lost Soul Aside follows a young man named Kazer, a member of a resistance group called GLIMMER. GLIMMER fights against a corrupt government, hoping to one day bring peace back to their world under its control. The game begins with Kazer's return from a mission, where he reunites with his sister, Louisa, who has since become an active member of GLIMMER herself. Of course, Kazer worries about his little sister, but he accepts she is part of the team and quickly goes to work to help pull off a mission to interrupt a parade. Unbeknownst to them, however, they are about to get an otherworldly visit that changes everything.
During their mission, meteors fall from the sky, and the city is set ablaze and filled with chaos. Kazer finds himself underground after falling from missing his sister's reach, and this is where he first comes face to face with alien-like creatures known as the Voidrax. Kazer fights his way through the tunnels as fires burn around him, and eventually, he's saved by an unknown voice that guides him to the exit. This is when he then comes face to face with a massive Voidrax dragon named Arena, the source of the voice, who then fuses with Kazer to lend him his power.
Using this newfound gift, Kazer returns to the surface, fights off the Voidrax, and witnesses his sister's very soul being ripped from her body. It is at this point that Kazer realizes that the empire is the least of his problems, as he now has a comatose sister that only he has the power to save, and even the fate of the world itself now hangs in the balance. From this point on, Arena not only lends Kazer his power, but he guides him on an adventure across the world as he attempts to right everything that has been wronged by the appearance of the Voidrax... But is there really something else going on behind the scenes?
Overall, the story of Lost Soul Aside really isn't anything spectacular. It does its job of giving Kazer a goal to work towards, but for the player, there is really no emotional weight behind anything. The English voice acting is a bit stiff and awkward at times, and some of the more "dramatic" moments are a lot cheesier than they were intended to be. There are some pretty flashy and nice-looking action scenes spread out throughout the entire game, but most of them, along with many of the plot points, feel disjointed and simply aren't consistent.
One moment Kazer is jumping off walls and beating someone's head into the ground with his flashy superhuman moves, while the next, he can't even do something as simple as a pull-up. There are also quite a few statements and one-liners that are clearly meant to be impactful, but they simply fall short and come off as being awkward. This, mixed with nearly everything else in the story, makes it feel like the creator simply wanted to do and say what he thought sounded cool, even if it completely comes out of left field. These very same moments have also been seen and used in countless other games, anime, and manga, and other popular anime-inspired Chinese works (the Dragon Raja novels and MMORPG come to mind).
But none of this truly makes the story bad. It is still entertaining, but it isn't the reason to play the game. The worst parts of Lost Soul Aside are actually the moments you are forced to slowly walk around the hub town slowly talking to NPCs just to progress the game. Even so, at least the flashy cutscenes are fun to watch, and the unintentionally funny moments do not ruin it in the slightest. There is some enjoyment to be had from the story itself, it's just there isn't really anything in this world or story that helps it stand on its own. The most enjoyable aspect of it all actually comes from Kazer and Arena's relationship as it develops throughout the journey, which is seen mostly through dialogue during the gameplay itself. It provides context to your own current on screen actions, and is a much better way to learn about the world rather than listening to constant name drops in cutscenes, or from talking to generic NPCs in the underused hub town.
Even so, none of this changes the fact that this is not a story-focused game in the slightest, and it is clear that many cuts were made to fit the new direction the team ultimately had to take things in. There was something much larger planned here originally, but it didn't come to fruition.
The Gameplay:
With the story out of the way, it is time to finally focus on what Lost Soul Aside is truly about—the gameplay. As a character action game with incorporated RPG elements, this is the bread and butter of the entire experience. Without its gameplay, there would be little to no reason to give this game even a glance. Thankfully, this is where Lost Soul Aside does in fact shine; however, there is no denying that there are multiple issues that hold it back and areas where it could be refined.The Basic Gameplay -
The basics of gameplay in Lost Soul Aside see players taking control of Kazer and navigating him through unique locations while fighting enemies along the way. Most maps are completely linear with ever-changing environments and some side areas to explore to find currency, items, and treasure chests. Some areas are a bit larger and seemingly remnants of the original plans for an open world, but ultimately they are still a straight shot to the goal. Bosses and mini-bosses are spread throughout the game, and there are also side challenge rooms to discover. Completing them will reward you with additional abilities or rare items, and you can always re-challenge them via the shop NPC that follows you through the entire adventure. Not only does she serve as a storefront, but she also allows you to manually save your game, heals you, and restocks your healing items upon speaking to her. She is Kazer's lifeline, and thankfully she is placed after every major section and before major fights.
Besides enemies, many areas feature light puzzle-solving, often requiring you to make use of a new ability you've just obtained, and there are quite a few moments of platforming as well. These parts of the game put Kazer's full range of movement and skills to the test in a new way, with traps sometimes being mixed in as well. Thankfully, Kazer will partly "snap" to the platform he is aiming for, which greatly assists the player in actually landing on them, but they still do require precise timing to progress. Falling simply means restarting at the beginning of the section, so it isn't too much of an issue, but longer sections without checkpoints can set you back a ways.
Along with standard platforming, there are multiple stage specific gimmicks to contest with as well, which provide a break during the standard gameplay loop. Portals that allow Kazer to "fly" to new locations, sections where you must race the clock and ride on your greatsword to reach the goal, and there are even spots where you take control of Arena to navigate your way through areas Kazer himself cannot reach. Although some of these sections feel like they are simply there to slow you down, quite a few of them are fun to play through, and help the main gameplay feel a bit more cinematic with its set pieces.
The final part of the basic gameplay is actually the weakest part of it all, and thankfully something that isn't used too often: the hub town and forced slow moments.
When the game first begins, we are introduced to the game's main city, where there is little to do besides follow the story and talk to NPCs. This location is revisited after every major chapter in the game, and it stays the same for each visit. It removes your ability to jump, and all you can truly do here is access a few shops and pick up extra items that are lying on the ground. These items are replaced with each visit, so despite already checking every nook and cranny the first time you visit, you have to do it over and over again to avoid missing anything.
It is such a small part of the game, however, that it really could have simply been used for cutscenes, and nothing would have been lost. It didn't need to be a hub town past the intro, and even then it is more of a slog that keeps players from the main game. There are also quite a few moments where Kazer must slowly crawl under something or squeeze through cracks, which is very similar to what titles like Final Fantasy VII Remake had us do as well. Of course, there is nothing wrong with having this, but it does get a bit overused early on and further slows things down.
Thankfully, the true gameplay and combat make up for this.
The Combat -
The combat in Lost Soul Aside takes a page out of Ninja Gaiden's book and uses a two-button setup with triggers being used for additional actions or added effects. Square is your normal default hit, triangle is your heavy hit, and using them in different combos while pressing in different directions on the analog stick will perform a different action. Some attacks are also performed by holding either square or triangle longer, and R2 can be thrown in if timed correctly.
Circle is your block button, while L1 serves as a dodge, but both of these actions (and other special attacks) require a bit of stamina to pull off. This stamina bar does not function the same as in Souls-style titles, however, and is simply a way to prevent players from spamming block or dodge without consequences. Thankfully, it does recharge fast if you do spam either, but it still limits you compared to not having the feature at all. Perfect blocking and perfect dodging also allow for counter-hit type attacks, but it also depends on which weapon you are using at the time.
Throughout the game, Kazer will unlock four main weapons, and each one functions differently with its dodge ability, and they have different main effects of their own. The default sword is your faster-hitting one, which is great for taking out smaller enemies, while the greatsword is the heavy hitter that breaks enemies faster and can hit multiple at once. The poleblade allows for ranged attacks with built-up energy, while the scythe creates spinning blades around you and can be used to pull enemies toward you for more combos. Each of these weapons are unique with a wide range of attacks and abilities to make use of, and they are actually designed to be used in combination.
Rather than simply using a single weapon as one sees fit, the game asks that you constantly switch up your attacks and weapons mid-combo to create even crazier combos. One could start out using the sword, combo-hit them until they launch the enemy into the air, then they could take the fight to the air themselves to switch to the greatsword and slam them into the ground, followed by greatsword hits that send enemies flying into the distance, and finally switch to the poleblade to unleash a series of ranged attacks... only to then follow that up with a lightning dash attack to finally finish off the now broken enemy with a special finisher move—a move which is different depending on what your currently active weapon is.
This is where the real fun in Lost Soul Aside comes from, as every encounter is simply there for you to show off your own skills and constantly improve your combos. Kazer is extremely versatile, and not using him to his fullest is a disservice to what this game truly is. Yes, it can be played by mashing the same attack buttons over and over again, but where is the fun in that? Kazer can also build up energy to fuse with Arena for added damage and attack combos, but it only lasts for a limited time and is best saved for when the situation calls for it. It is basically the Devil Trigger from Devil May Cry, with even Kazer's hair turning pure white while having it active. In addition to this, Arena has a set of magical attacks he can use as well, which feels a lot like Ninja Gaiden's magic system, but with each ability being on its own cooldown rather than using an MP bar. Initially, Kazer can only equip one of these attacks at a time, but eventually more slots open up as well.
As for the enemies themselves, the game does feature a decent mix of enemy types, with each new area introducing new enemies. There are some generic monster/animal type enemies in the world, but for the most part, everything you go against is either a Voidrax or one of the empire's minions—or an empire minion infused with Voidrax energy. Some have annoying gimmicks that must be overcome to beat them, but for the most part, fighting comes down to learning their weaknesses while dodging their attack patterns. It is pretty standard for an action game like this, and in general, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with how it all works. The biggest gripe here, however, is the fact that some enemies do feel a bit more at home in an MMORPG, as they sometimes lack impact when getting hit or even when hitting you. One enemy in particular doesn't even react to getting hit until its shield is broken, and until then it freely moves as if it were nothing.
Bosses in the game are also a mixture of action-game style and MMO style. The more humanoid enemies react more realistically to being attacked and are a lot more similar to other games in the genre. The larger enemies, however, are full-on MMORPG fights, with familiar mechanics being used for them as well. DPS checks, destroying the target within a set time limit, getting behind the fallen rock before you instantly die, activating the shield with timing, etc.; these gimmicks are all used in the game, and those not used to this style of boss might find themselves getting frustrated when they simply die out of nowhere—especially after just spending five minutes fighting the thing. Of course, this isn't really an issue per se, but not everyone might enjoy such fights.
Leveling Up, Equipment, Stats and Upgrades -
Although Lost Soul Aside is not an RPG like many first assumed it would be, it does contain some RPG-like mechanics in the form of its equipment and upgrade system.
Instead of gaining experience points and leveling up, the game uses a point system where killing enemies or completing challenges will reward you with a point, which can then be spent to unlock skills on a skill tree attached to each weapon. These skills include new attacks and abilities for the weapons, but they can also include increases to attack power, health, defense, critical hit rate and critical hit damage, or even unlock additional equipment or ability slots for Arena's power. Such passives and unlocks remain on Kazer while using other weapons as well, but attacks are locked to the weapon itself.
With the weapons, multiple versions of each are obtained during the course of the game, with the default weapon of each type being a higher damage-dealing version, while the other variants include elemental properties. These elements include fire, to burn enemies; ice, which causes attacks to do more damage when an enemy is frozen; lightning, an effect that shocks and spreads to other nearby enemies; and the special curse ailment as well. Since weapon switching on the fly is a thing, the game asks you to further use these status effects in combination, allowing for additional damage as you fight your way through the enemy mobs.
In addition to this, each weapon can also be outfitted with accessories to add additional stats or effects to them, and even alter the look if you desire (accessories can be scaled, rotated, moved, and be visually toggled on and off). Of course, each accessory can only be equipped to one weapon at a time, but duplicates can be found or purchased at the shop if you'd like to use one effect on more than one weapon.
When it comes to gear, the game allows for multiple accessories to be equipped to Kazer as well, with most of them being found in side areas. These too provide extra bonuses like increased critical hit rate, or even special effects like blocking a large amount of damage the first time you get hit, but there is also an extra hidden feature that may not be initially clear.
Despite not featuring difficulty options to start (harder modes are unlocked when completing the game), once again Lost Soul Aside follows in Ninja Gaiden's footsteps and gives players an easier option if they continue to die a lot. This comes in the form of accessories that are awarded to the player after a set number of deaths and provide extreme stat increases to both defense and attack power. For example, one accessory cuts damage by 50% and increases Kazer's attack power by 30%. Doing some testing, this made some fights in the game a complete pushover, with no fear of death and enemies that died almost twice as fast. Of course, it isn't the same as a true easy mode, but it for sure helps. The game is smart and only allows one such accessory to be equipped, however, as trying to use your other slots to add the lesser ones will simply replace the other—no stacking the effects allowed.
And with all of this being said, Arena's magical attacks can also be upgraded, but they require the use of rare items unlocked during key story moments and hidden in challenges. These attacks are especially powerful so it makes sense for the game to lock them behind progression, and it can take quite some time to upgrade your own personal favorites.
The Unfortunate Chapter 1 -
Everything described above is exactly how the vast majority of Lost Soul Aside plays out. Again, it is a character action game with a strong focus on the gameplay, and RPG elements are incorporated for customization and stat progression. However, this is the experience players will mainly see beginning with Chapter 2, as the introduction is something else.
In an almost baffling move, the game's introduction begins with slow hub town exploration, forced slow moments, a handful of standard fights, and then it goes right into a boss rush. While the boss rush itself isn't too hard (though the MMORPG mechanics and large health pools may be a bit much for some players), at this point in the game your options are extremely limited. Yes, a second weapon is unlocked during this later part of Chapter 1 to help change things up, but even then you haven't obtained enough skill points to unlock more attacks in general. And instead of giving you more enemies to get used to things and test your moves out, it puts you up against boss after boss after boss. This is the type of game design that you would expect near the end of a title such as this, not the beginning, and the slow progression leading up to this point may be too much for some players as well.
This is where many may actually drop the game altogether, as the general gameplay loop has still yet to show itself, and there isn't a lot going on to truly hook someone. It is the end of Chapter 1 and the entirety of Chapter 2 and beyond that is the true Lost Soul Aside experience, and one can't help but wonder why the game couldn't have simply begun this way? Obviously, you cannot go all out at the beginning, but things could have been done to make this introduction more interesting and give a better idea of what the game would evolve into. Taking out the boss rush and having a bit more interesting level design to begin with would have helped as well, but the later areas do make up for it. The game also continues to drip-feed new features as things naturally progress, so that also helps prevent things from getting stale.
Should you play it?
Lost Soul Aside is not a game for everyone, and there are many ways it could be improved. While the music is nice and the general sound design works, there is no denying that the voice acting leaves much to be desired, and attack sound effects are lacking in impact. The game attempts to make up for this by using the controller's haptics, but not everyone will be using a DualSense or even have haptics enabled. Visually, the game is also pretty mixed, with some locations and models that are very appealing, but then you also have the "lesser" areas where visual tricks were used to distract from how low-quality the models and textures really are. It isn't too surprising for an indie game, nor does it take away from the gameplay, but it can be a bit distracting.
Story-wise, this isn't a game to play for the plot. It gives you more than enough reason to see Kazer through his adventure, and his banter with his partner Arena can be fun at times, but overall it isn't anything too unique or special. Some of the cutscenes and voice acting are funnier than they were intended to be, and there are a lot of name drops and terms that might go over one's head unless they take the time to read the diary entries or unlocked terms. It is easy to tell that the plot had to be scaled back from its original form, and what we are left with is a rushed story that simply throws things at the player and expects them to remember it. It doesn't ruin the game, but no one should be playing Lost Soul Aside if the story is the only thing they care about.
As for the gameplay, Lost Soul Aside is as fun as you want to make it. You can simply mash buttons until enemies die, but that goes against the battle system in its entirety. We are given four main weapons to use, elemental effects can be used, and there is a large combo system that allows you to take down different enemies in unique ways. Mix in the fact that you can swap weapons on the fly, and that allows players to pull off some truly unique attacks. The whole point here is to enter a room filled with enemies and slaughter them in the coolest ways possible, and Lost Soul Aside provides more than enough tools to do just that—but that also requires both personal skill and some practice. Not everyone may be able to get to that level, and that will lessen the enjoyment.
Overall, Lost Soul Aside is not a perfect game. There are rough edges, a slow Chapter 1 that doesn't accurately represent the rest of the game, and a lot of the story feels like moments thrown together the creator thought would be "cool." However, if you can get past the unrefined parts, you will discover a fun action game that is a full-on throwback to days gone by.
While it doesn't do anything too unique, the deep combo system and weapon switching allows you to go all out in every situation the game throws at you, and there are plenty of challenges to overcome. Not using the battle system to its fullest is a disservice to the game and will lessen the game's enjoyment; however, with a little time and practice, players can learn what the battle system is all about and experience the true version of Lost Soul Aside. While it may not be the greatest action game of all time, it is still a lot of fun if you can simply get past the slow start and its minor issues.
That being said, the initial price tag of $60 is a bit high for what we are getting here. The reality is that this game will go on sale at some point, and that might be the best time to jump in.
VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PlayStation 5
Review Copy was Provided
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