PGC NEWS

The indie game scene has exploded in recent years, with thousands of titles released annually. Among these, gems like Hob, One Finger Death Punch, Katana Zero, and Baba Is You have shined brightly. Joining this vibrant landscape is South Korean developer Devespresso Games, who found success with their debut title, The Coma. Does their follow-up, Vambrace: Cold Soul, live up to this legacy, or is it a chilling disappointment? Let’s delve into the frozen heart of Icenaire and find out.

A Feast for the Eyes

Vambrace: Cold Soul immediately captivates with its stunning visuals. From the protagonist to supporting characters, and sweeping landscapes to minute details, the artwork is breathtaking. Every etching on armor, crack on a weapon, and fold in fabric is meticulously rendered, showcasing the artists’ skill and dedication.

Vambrace: Cold Soul Character Art

The game boasts a rich, detailed world, incorporating classic fantasy elements with its diverse races. Humans, dwarves, elves, beastfolk, golems, and wraiths populate Icenaire, each with unique cultures, appearances, magic, and technologies. The tutorial, presented as charming handwritten notes, effectively guides players through the game’s numerous features and intricate character stats, which can be overwhelming at first glance.

Vambrace: Cold Soul Environment

Players experience the lives of those trapped in Icenaire through compelling narratives and choices. While these decisions may not drastically alter the main storyline, they influence rewards and side quests. For example, acquiring Lyric’s special outfit hinges on making the right choices during Charlotte the innkeeper’s quest.

The immersive sound design enhances the atmosphere. The howling wind, the chilling crunch of frozen objects, and the characters’ shivering breaths bring the frigid environment to life. The dungeon design, with its unpredictable monster encounters, keeps players on edge.

Vambrace: Cold Soul Dungeon

Exploring the seemingly small map, uncovering hidden rooms and passageways, and completing numerous side quests offers a surprisingly engaging experience. Just exploring the city alone can easily consume a significant amount of time.

A Frozen Heart

Despite its beautiful exterior, Vambrace: Cold Soul suffers from significant flaws that hinder its potential. The story revolves around the King of Shades, a sorcerer who plunges Icenaire into an eternal winter. As if blizzards weren’t enough, the city is overrun by returned souls, some retaining their sanity, while others become monstrous. Players control Lyric, a mysterious girl searching for answers about her father’s death, who inadvertently lifts the King of Shades’ curse.

Vambrace: Cold Soul Combat

While the premise sounds intriguing, the initial two hours are bogged down by excessive dialogue and tedious map traversal. Touted as a spiritual successor to Darkest Dungeon, with exciting roguelite adventures and innovative gameplay, Vambrace: Cold Soul falls short of these expectations.

Vambrace: Cold Soul Dialogue

The gameplay feels clunky and repetitive. While it borrows elements from Darkest Dungeon, such as the turn-based side-view combat, camping mechanic, and procedurally generated levels, the combat system is severely lacking. Characters have three main skills, but with one slot dedicated to a rechargeable special ability, players are often left with only two basic options: attack or defend.

Vambrace: Cold Soul Gameplay

This limited skillset makes combat feel like a dice roll, with victory often determined by luck rather than strategy. Positioning is largely irrelevant, with the third and fourth positions offering safety from critical hits. Death becomes a tedious chore rather than a challenging setback. The unbalanced enemy difficulty, coupled with the inability to exit a dungeon until a specific meter is filled, makes Vambrace: Cold Soul a grueling experience.

Conclusion

Vambrace: Cold Soul presents a captivating world with stunning visuals and a compelling narrative foundation. However, its flawed and repetitive gameplay ultimately undermines its potential. While future DLC might address these shortcomings, in its current state, the game struggles to live up to the promise of its beautiful facade.