71
MONSTER
Explore a dark world brimming with hidden mysteries, master a diverse combat system, and inhabit the dual forces of two sisters in a coming-of-age fantasy story with fast-paced action, vicious enemies and breathtaking boss fights.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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71
Soulstice delivers a gripping, emotionally charged narrative anchored by its haunting sibling bond and richly detailed world, but its predictability, repetitive structure, and underdeveloped characters drag it down, leaving a tale that’s more solid than spectacular.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
71
Positive Reviews (80-100)
44%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
52%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
5%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Soulstice delivers a gripping, emotionally charged narrative anchored by its haunting sibling bond and richly detailed world, but its predictability, repetitive structure, and underdeveloped characters drag it down, leaving a tale that’s more solid than spectacular.
Gameplay Mechanics
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75
Soulstice’s combat is a mixed bag of dynamic, combo-driven action inspired by classics like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, praised for its weapon variety, character synergy, and snappy mechanics—but plagued by chaotic controls, a terrible camera, repetitive enemies, and overly complex systems that hinder accessibility.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
75
Positive Reviews (80-100)
52%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
48%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Soulstice’s combat is a mixed bag of dynamic, combo-driven action inspired by classics like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, praised for its weapon variety, character synergy, and snappy mechanics—but plagued by chaotic controls, a terrible camera, repetitive enemies, and overly complex systems that hinder accessibility.
Graphics and Visual Design
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69
Soulstice dazzles with a dark, anime-influenced art style and haunting environments but falters under repetitive design, technical glitches, and a bleak palette that dulls its immersive potential.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
69
Positive Reviews (80-100)
38%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
58%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Soulstice dazzles with a dark, anime-influenced art style and haunting environments but falters under repetitive design, technical glitches, and a bleak palette that dulls its immersive potential.
Music and Sound Design
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73
Soulstice’s sound design and music blend atmospheric depth with energetic combat tracks, praised for dynamic contrasts and Stefanie Joosten’s emotive voice acting, yet criticized for repetitive, generic compositions and technical hiccups that undercut its potential.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
73
Positive Reviews (80-100)
53%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
42%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
6%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Soulstice’s sound design and music blend atmospheric depth with energetic combat tracks, praised for dynamic contrasts and Stefanie Joosten’s emotive voice acting, yet criticized for repetitive, generic compositions and technical hiccups that undercut its potential.
Voice Acting
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73
Praise for Stefanie Joosten's stellar performance in Soulstice contrasts with criticisms of uneven delivery, awkward lines, and emotional flatness, creating a mixed but ultimately competent voice acting experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
73
Positive Reviews (80-100)
44%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
53%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
3%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Praise for Stefanie Joosten's stellar performance in Soulstice contrasts with criticisms of uneven delivery, awkward lines, and emotional flatness, creating a mixed but ultimately competent voice acting experience.
Technical Performance
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63
Soulstice’s tech performance is a mixed bag: PS5 and Xbox shine with stable frames but suffer from clunky camera controls and optimization hiccups, while PC offers flexibility but faces Steam Deck struggles and inconsistent combat performance. A playable experience, but design flaws and bugs hold it back.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
63
Positive Reviews (80-100)
21%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
70%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
9%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Soulstice’s tech performance is a mixed bag: PS5 and Xbox shine with stable frames but suffer from clunky camera controls and optimization hiccups, while PC offers flexibility but faces Steam Deck struggles and inconsistent combat performance. A playable experience, but design flaws and bugs hold it back.
Replay Value
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68
Soulstice delivers strong replayability through structured challenges, difficulty scaling, and skill-tree progression, appealing to speedrunners and RPG fans with high-score chasing, hidden rewards, and post-credits content. However, its repetitive design, linear structure, and lack of narrative depth hinder long-term engagement, making it a mixed bag that prioritizes combat over exploration or variety.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
68
Positive Reviews (80-100)
13%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
87%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Soulstice delivers strong replayability through structured challenges, difficulty scaling, and skill-tree progression, appealing to speedrunners and RPG fans with high-score chasing, hidden rewards, and post-credits content. However, its repetitive design, linear structure, and lack of narrative depth hinder long-term engagement, making it a mixed bag that prioritizes combat over exploration or variety.
Overall Verdict
71
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
71
Positive Reviews (80-100)
26%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
72%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
2%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
Soulstice delivers stylish, fast-paced combat and nostalgic flair for action fans but suffers from repetitive gameplay, technical flaws, and unoriginality, landing as a flawed yet worthwhile ride for genre enthusiasts despite its uneven execution.
71
MONSTER
Reviews
108 reviews found90
Screen Rant
Sep 20, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Soulstice is a challenging, beautiful, and engrossing game that shouldn't be passed over.
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90
IGN Italia
Sep 20, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Soulstice is a strong contender in the hack 'n' slash genre, with a well-crafted story, engaging gameplay, and a unique setting. It shows potential for sequels and stands out among its peers.
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85
XboxEra
Sep 19, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Soulstice is a fantastic game with brilliant combat, an intriguing plot, great music, and occasionally gorgeous graphics. It is a must-play title.
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85
GameGrin
Sep 20, 2022
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Soulstice is a great action game with subpar graphics and voice acting. The interesting mechanics and top-notch combat make it a fun title recommended for fans of the genre.
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85
GamingTrend
Sep 20, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Soulstice is a fantastic game with a lot of content in both combat and story. The combat is satisfying and the detective-style story is enjoyable. The game could benefit from more content outside of combat and a ramped-up difficulty.
82
XboxAddict
Oct 5, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Soulstice is a great homage to games like Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, with a soul and heart. It may not reach the same level as its inspirations, but it's enjoyable for fans of the genre.
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82
RPG Fan
Oct 14, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The review overall finds Soulstice to be a good first step, praising its story, graphics, and enjoyable combat. It expresses interest in a sequel to further explore the Holy Kingdom of Keidas.
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80
Noisy Pixel
Sep 20, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Soulstice is an awesome ode to classic action-adventure games, expertly wearing its inspirations while telling an impactful story and featuring a unique and fast action system. The game has a beautiful gothic landscape and memorable boss battles.
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80
Eurogamer Italy
Sep 20, 2022
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Soulstice is a promising game that combines elements from various successful franchises while offering its own unique experience. It demonstrates Italy's ability to create something that can rival industry veterans.
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80
Checkpoint Gaming
Sep 20, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Soulstice is a truly great action game, which despite taking many cues from stylish action titles of the past, carves out enough of an identity to stand out on its own. If you’re a fan of challenging action games and can forgive a slightly annoying camera, Soulstice is definitely worth checking out.
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