6souls is a game about a man and his dog on a quest to get inside a castle that is rumored to have treasure inside. It’s 2D pixel retro platformer in the likes of Castlevania and Super Mario. But is it a game worth getting?
2D pixel style games have been a common thing nowadays to provide a nostalgic factor. To reminisce on the good old days and how simple gaming was back then. When you think about a 2D pixel game you immediately think, why would I want to play a game that does not boast incredible graphics. You see but that’s the thing, the gaming industry has been overly saturated with highly incredible graphics that sometimes it’s just too much. Simple 2D graphics also means you don’t really need to spend a hefty amount of cash to really enjoy the game if you’re playing it on PC.
Anyways, I digress, let’s talk about what this game is all about. 6souls has a very simple premise. You control a man and his dog Butch as they journey to this castle. The controls are very simple and if you don’t have any clue what they are the game is ready to provide you with helpful signs. I love the simplicity because that means I don’t have to worry about memorizing a bazillion of controls to enjoy the game.
The platforming part of the game can be simple and tough at the same time. I just find that there are places that seems unreachable and that I find myself falling into the deep abyss more times than I can count on my fingers. This was either part of the design or it’s because of poorly designed levels. But one thing I noticed is that if you push hard enough on the jump button that you will eventually get to that other platform.
Traps and other deathly contraptions can instantly kill you. Getting killed means it will take you to the beginning of the section you are currently in. Each area is subdivided into sections and these sections serve as your checkpoint that you can respawn into whenever you get killed. Each area will also have enemies that you can fight. You have 3 bars of HP that when depleted will also kill you. The good thing is that when you complete a section, your HP gets replenished.
At the beginning you only get to control the man but further down the game, you will be able to control the dog to get to places that the man couldn’t reach. The dog can double jump which can be helpful to get to higher places. The man on the other hand can climb on walls but only to a certain extent otherwise he will start falling.
Each section will have you solving a puzzle to complete the area. For instance, in one of the earlier sections, you will need to find a key to unlock the gate that will let you complete the section.
The sections as I mentioned earlier can be quite interesting but sometimes it just can feel a little bit too repetitive. The only thing that usually breaks the monotony is the boss fights that you encounter at the end of an area. These boss encounters will sometimes give you a soul that will unlock a new way for the man to traverse or use against the enemies in the game.
Overall, the game 6souls can be pretty interesting if you are into puzzle platformers. There are plenty of areas to explore and many abilities to discover. The music is okay but the voices can be a little annoying at one point that I just want to skip over them. The dialogue between Butch and the man is entertaining to read and provides a much needed break from all the platforming. I believe that the game is just right for its price point. So if you’re looking for a platforming game that’s interesting and challenging at times, then 6souls is a game that is definitely for you.