IGN (7/10)
“Valor Mortis is what you’d get if a truck filled with used copies of BioShock crashed into a GameStop warehouse filled with used copies of Dark Souls. The result is something that’s refreshingly unique despite taking clear cues from both, though it doesn’t always nail the execution. When everything’s working correctly, this first-person take on the soulslike genre with a sword in one hand and a fistful of fire in the other is pretty much exactly as cool as it sounds, and taking down big, ugly monsters with a cutlass is a ton of fun more often than not. But not everything Valor Mortis tries goes smoothly, with loads of bugs and technical issues that need patching fast and a story that’s more vibes than substance. Even so, there’s a lot to like about this offbeat soulslike, and I’m still happy to have spent 20+ hours in its bleak, curious world.”
“I definitely died more than 100 times from start to finish. I wish a good portion of those deaths were fairer – I would have liked to learn from them rather than feel my annoyance mount higher. When Valor Mortis’ various systems coalesce into a French army-uniformed package in the second half, however, it becomes a game that demands a lot from you and returns your efforts in kind with satisfying rewards, or at the very least, the lantern to rest at you’ve been begging to see. One More Level’s first go at the Soulslike falls short of its premise, but it’s a confident step into the genre that leans on the studio’s prior expertise to deliver something tense and novel.”
“While a solid bang for your buck, Valor Mortis ends up done in by an overly lengthy campaign in a genre that already isn’t known for respecting your time. It looks great, has a decent story, and some solid acting.”
“Valor Mortis betrays the heights it reaches in its second half. Its first-person combat is snappy and satisfying, but the limited enemy pool, underutilized weapons and abilities, and lack of consistent challenge ultimately prevent it from shining. And while this historical period is novel to explore with a dark, supernatural twist, it doesn’t play host to a wider, captivating story, and is only salvaged by smaller, emotionally charged vignettes that effectively convey the consequences of a war that its protagonist so naively comes to terms with. There are the bones of a great game here–one that would benefit from a tighter focus on its engaging first-person combat and a trimming of the superfluous mechanics that detract from the ones that work. Instead, it’s an uneven experience that delights as much as it disappoints.”
“A Soulslike with parry-focused combat has to do far more than shift the camera to first person to stand out from such an overcrowded pack. Valor Morris is relatively well-executed and has moments of real character and charm, but the gameplay’s more familiar than my own shadow.”
At the time of writing, Valor Mortis has a Metacritic score of 77 for PC, 83 for PS5, and not a single Xbox Series review. Overall, the game holds onto a 77 rating which is pretty decent – the ‘mixed’ sentiment stems from some critics awarding nines, whilst others Uno-reverse it to a score of six.
If you are planning on giving Valor Mortis a go when it arrives on Xbox Game Pass tomorrow (October 13), I wouldn’t be disheartened by the mid-seventies score. Some of the best XGP titles review within the 70-80 region.
Listen, whilst it may not be for some, it could still be your favourite game this month.
