This past week, the PlayStation Plus game selection for December 2021 leaked, revealing a unique collection of titles. Godfall leads the pack for the three games as a cross-gen title and surprising addition to the PlayStation Plus lineup. Mortal Shell slides in to fill in the indie quota for the month. And LEGO DC Supervillains fits the bill as a family-friendly title with some overall appeal.
While there is going to be a lot of discussion surrounding Godfall’s inclusion because of the $70 price tag at launch, the game itself is worth mentioning because it has some positive qualities. It and Mortal Shell makes a unique one-two-punch for fans of the Souls-like genre looking to find something to tide them over until Elden Ring’s release in February.
Is Godfall Worth Playing?
Godfall combines the elements of a character action game, a looter, and a Souls title in a few different respects. Players step into one of a dozen Valorplates (the iconic armor sets seen in the game’s marketing) and take on missions or open-world adventures with the goal of leveling up and collecting loot. Combat in Godfall is faster-paced than a Souls-like but it does have that considered approach where timely dodges and parries offer a huge advantage.
On top of that, many of the boss fights can be extremely challenging and precise, depending on the difficulty level that players set. It’s not at the level of Dark Souls, mind you, but it evokes a similar feeling at times.
Should You Play Mortal Shell?
Mortal Shell operates more closely to a Souls title; its developers have said that From Software’s series was a direct inspiration. Combat is deliberate, enemy attacks are very punishing, and the boss fights require a lot of patience and pattern recognition. Even with the addition of a new mode and some other content, though, Mortal Shell is smaller than a Souls title, not to mention many might not even have heard of it.
Putting Mortal Shell in PlayStation Plus offers subscribers the opportunity to try the game out and see if it scratches that same itch as Dark Souls. Personally, there were enough similarities to make it compelling, and the unique twists that the game puts on the sub-genre were fun to play around with. But a one-note art style and combat that doesn’t afford a ton of experimentation likely turned some players off.
That’s the beauty of PlayStation Plus and for Souls fans next month could be a big one, if the rumors are true. Godfall reviews were not strong enough to justify a $70 purchase but it will likely surprise some people with no barrier to entry. Combat is arguably its strongest point and it does evoke the Souls titles in some respects.
Mortal Shell, on the other hand, is a more direct Souls-like and is a quality experience. It just didn’t have the big marketing push to grab the attention of everyone it possibly could. Now, PS Plus should give it a big boost and more can see whether or not it scratches at Dark Souls itch.