Not sure if what I’m looking for exists, but thought I’d ask.
I like the boss fights of games like sekiro and and dark souls but I always end up getting bored of them before getting particularly far for one reason or another
I’m not a huge fan of the grungey art style most souls likes seem to adopt, and I often find myself wandering around not really knowing where I’m going, what I’m doing, or why I’m doing it
Really loved the Nier series. The combat in that makes you feel like a badass, whereas souls likes tend to make your character look like a regular guy with a sword (which I get is the point but not what I tend to look for)
Also like the visual style of black desert, the combat feels pretty good and looks very cool though I’m not a fan of all the micro transactions and pay to win (more or less the same goes for Warframe, at least when I played it years ago)
Does anyone know of any games that might scratch that itch, don’t necessarily have to be souls likes as long as they look good and have challenging boss fights
Check out Furi.
It’s a flashy boss rush style game. A bit bullet hell a bit brawler. Might scratch that itch for you.
You could also try Sifu, it’s got really slick skill based combat and interesting bosses.
Furi looks like exactly my kind of game. I will have to to give it a go, thank you for the suggestion
This was my first thought as well! Good call.
Not sure if it counts but Monster Hunter? That’s pretty much a boss rush game, especially Rise.
The only soulslike that’s reasonably flashy yet simple enough that comes to mind is Code Vein
It’s slightly more cartoony than black desert, but has a high degree of character customization.
Story’s fine, but not required.
Combat was cool. I found it fine even on a bluetooth controller. Didn’t get massively frustrated with input lag.
Character builds can vary quite a lot, and are mostly viable. I played a glass cannon and my friend played a tank. They worked just fine alone or together. On that note, the coop is serviceable.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/678960/CODE_VEIN/
Probably wait for a discount.
I’ve got code vein, got a fair way through it before my co op buddy bailed and then I didn’t pick it back up again
It is a little on the cartooney side as you say but it is cool looking
You might like Remnant or Remnant 2, I think.
Not sure it fits as it’s souls with guns, so missing the spectacle fighter element, but it’s definitely worth a look. They are both excellent games. I love the core loop they’ve got, the shooting feels excellent.
Not sure exactly how much this fits the bill for you but Kena: Bridge of Spirits may be what you’re looking for. I personally describe it as a Pixar game with Souls-ish combat.
I have tried out kena, it never really hooked me for some reason. Cool looking game, I like the art style
I think part of it was it felt very soft and family friendly, as you say it’s a lot like a Pixar movie
What about its combat is souls-ish?
I mean I love Kena, but it’s more a game comparable to other classical action-adventures such as the Zelda games, not Dark Souls as it places very little focus on accurate dodging and judging when not to dodge, plus it has no gameplay loop built around repeated death.
Not out yet, but coming very soon, Another Crab’s Treasure (Check the release date trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEaLBYS6YMw ).
Of course, since it’s not out, we can’t say if it’ll be a good game or not, but it looks good, and is a colourful looking soulslike. (Which I am looking forward to myself)
you want nioh and nioh 2.
They look a lot like regular dark souls to me. The combat looks good but I think part of what I think of when I say flashy is abilities other than just hitting things with a weapon, movement abilities, magic that isn’t just standing back and pelting something, dodges that teleport you behind the enemy etc
I mean, nioh 2 has a whole tree of magic abilities and a whole tree of ninja abilities. All the weapon types have abilities you can unlock that force enemy movement, parry, make you move etc.
It’s about as far into character action that a souls like game can get before it becomes something else. It kinda already feels like something else with all the mechanics and numbers and stuff pushed out in your face.
Are you looking for something more like bayonetta or god hand?
Sorry, not a soulslike, but Returnal might work for you. Challenging roguelite third-person shooter with awesome boss fights.
That does look pretty cool, doesn’t necessarily need to be a souls like
Kinda reminds me of risk of rain visually
Nioh, though it’s not simple
