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The Souls-like genre, inspired by From Software’s iconic Dark Souls series, has seen a surge in popularity. Games like Lords of the Fallen, Titan Souls, The Surge, and Nioh have all attempted to capture the magic of challenging gameplay and atmospheric world-building, with varying degrees of success. Immortal Planet, developed by the solo developer TeedoubleuGAMES, is another entry in this competitive field. Does it manage to stand out, or is it simply another imitator lost in the shadows of its predecessors? Let’s delve into the icy world of Immortal Planet and find out.

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Immortal Planet immediately establishes its Souls-like inspiration with a hauntingly familiar soundtrack and minimalist menu. The game transports players to a desolate, ice-covered planet in the distant future, where they awaken as an Awakewalker with no memory of their past. Tasked with uncovering the secrets of this forgotten world, players embark on a perilous journey filled with challenging combat and cryptic lore.

Gameplay: Echoes of Souls

The core gameplay loop of Immortal Planet will feel instantly recognizable to Souls veterans. Combat is deliberate and punishing, requiring careful timing and resource management. Similar to Bloodborne, players rely on a quick dash to evade attacks rather than the traditional rolls of Dark Souls. Stamina management is crucial, as every attack and dodge depletes the limited resource. Engagements, especially against multiple foes, demand a cautious approach, prioritizing well-timed strikes and strategic retreats.

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The weapon selection, while limited, offers some variety with transformable states akin to Bloodborne’s trick weapons. These transformations alter attack range and damage output, but at the cost of increased stamina consumption. Each weapon also boasts a unique “ultimate” ability, adding a layer of depth to combat. While stats play a role, skillful play and understanding enemy behavior are paramount to survival.

Much like bonfires in Dark Souls, Immortal Planet features save points scattered throughout its levels. These serve as hubs for upgrading stats, changing skills, and swapping equipment. Returning to a save point restores health but also respawns all enemies in the area. This creates a risk-reward system, as any collected items are lost upon death. The game also incorporates environmental traps, preying on player greed and further emphasizing the need for caution.

Boss Battles: A Test of Skill

Boss battles are a hallmark of the Souls-like genre, and Immortal Planet delivers on this front. While not overwhelming in number, the bosses offer a formidable challenge, boasting unpredictable attack patterns and punishing damage. The stakes are raised by the fact that lost experience points remain on the boss arena floor, requiring players to retrieve them upon death. This adds a layer of tension to each encounter, discouraging reckless abandon.

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Further amplifying the difficulty is the limited healing system. Players start with a single healing item, and while the capacity can be increased to ten, these must be found throughout the game world. The scarcity of healing resources adds another layer of strategy to both exploration and combat. The soundtrack shines during boss battles, with dramatic orchestral arrangements blended with electronic elements, creating a tense and memorable experience.

Shortcomings: A Lack of Innovation

While Immortal Planet successfully captures the essence of Souls-like combat and atmosphere, it falls short in terms of innovation. The game feels derivative, lacking unique mechanics or systems to set it apart. The limited weapon selection and simplistic transformation system feel underdeveloped, and the absence of signature Souls-like features, such as backstabs and parries, further diminishes the combat experience.

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The lack of a map and labyrinthine level design, while reminiscent of Dark Souls, fails to capture the same sense of exploration and discovery. With only four areas to explore and a playtime of around five hours, the game feels somewhat constrained.

Conclusion: A Familiar, Yet Fleeting Journey

Immortal Planet provides a competent, albeit derivative, Souls-like experience. While it captures the core elements of challenging combat and atmospheric world-building, it lacks the innovation and depth to truly stand out. The short playtime and limited content may leave players wanting more. For fans craving a familiar challenge, Immortal Planet offers a brief but engaging journey into a frozen world.