Valor Mortis Review: Napoleonic Soulslike Combat Hits Hard, Sometimes for the Wrong Reasons

First-person swordplay makes every decision matter

Valor Mortis borrows the familiar Soulslike structure of checkpoints, experience recovery after death and difficult enemies, then changes how the player experiences combat. The first-person perspective brings weapons dangerously close and makes every successful parry feel immediate. Steel strikes steel with convincing force, and a carefully timed counterattack delivers the kind of satisfaction that keeps demanding combat games appealing.

One More Level has clearly drawn on its experience with Ghostrunner, although the pace here is more deliberate. Attacks must be read rather than simply avoided through constant movement. Once the rhythms become familiar, duels can be excellent.

The perspective also creates unavoidable limitations. Groups are difficult to monitor, enemies can approach outside the camera's view, and high-damage attacks sometimes arrive before players have a reasonable opportunity to react. The early balancing makes these weaknesses particularly noticeable.

Exploration is more inventive than the punishment

The level design alternates between directed combat encounters and broader spaces containing optional paths, minibosses and worthwhile supplies. Exploring thoroughly provides genuine benefits rather than merely increasing a collectible counter.

Some of the strongest sections combine combat with platforming. Traversing broken ships suspended above the sea gives movement an urgency that recalls Ghostrunner while allowing the new weapons and supernatural abilities to participate.

Unfortunately, the game also depends heavily on ambushes. Hidden enemies, collapsing surfaces and other sudden hazards become predictable as design tricks even when their precise locations remain unknown. A mine sequence compounds the problem through cramped corridors and dangerous moving obstacles.

A useful toolkit with limited long-term variety

William gradually acquires blades, firearms and supernatural powers. Fire attacks, temporary enemy immobilization and ranged weapons expand his tactical choices. Character upgrades provide enough flexibility to encourage experimentation.

Nevertheless, the arsenal remains comparatively small, and weapon differences do not always produce substantially different strategies. Enemy repetition and uneven boss encounters become more obvious as the adventure continues.

The second half is generally more rewarding because William finally has enough abilities to respond creatively. Earlier encounters can feel excessively punitive, with some attacks leaving little room to learn.

A confident debut with avoidable frustrations

The setting is an inspired choice. One More Level transforms Napoleonic Europe into a nightmare of corrupted soldiers, grotesque creatures and devastated settlements. Its atmosphere gives a familiar genre structure an immediately recognizable identity.

The best encounters reward observation and improved execution. The worst rely on surprise damage or numerical pressure rather than understandable challenges.

Valor Mortis remains an enjoyable and distinctive action RPG, particularly for players who love mastering parry timing. Its mistakes are frustrating precisely because the underlying combat has such obvious potential.