Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Soulless delivers a tight and responsive side-scrolling experience that immediately immerses players in its maze-like, zombie-infested corridors. Controls feel intuitive, allowing you to jump, shoot, and navigate branching paths with precision. Each marine has slightly different stats—firing rate, movement speed, and health pool—so choosing who to deploy can affect your approach to combat and exploration.

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The game’s level structure branches across 21 stages, but you’ll only traverse 10 of them in a single playthrough. This path choice system encourages multiple runs to uncover all the hidden areas and secret survivors. Discovering alternate routes often rewards you with new weapons or strategic vantage points, ensuring each playthrough remains fresh and engaging.

Combat revolves around a mix of careful positioning and quick reflexes. Zombies swarm in unpredictable waves, forcing you to switch between long-range firearms and melee weapons on the fly. The challenge ramps up steadily, introducing tougher variants like armored shamblers and explosive crawlers. Rescuing survivors not only bolsters your squad but also grants unique perks—some enhance ammo capacity, while others boost resilience against heavy attacks.

Graphics

Visually, Soulless embraces a gritty, hand-crafted pixel art style that pays homage to classic action titles. The environments range from dank underground tunnels to eerily lit laboratories, each rendered with painstaking detail. Subtle lighting effects and dynamic shadows heighten the suspense as you navigate the labyrinthine corridors.

Character sprites are well-animated, with fluid running, shooting, and reloading motions that make every encounter feel alive. The zombie designs are particularly memorable—rotting limbs, glowing eyes, and jerky animations that evoke a genuine sense of dread. Background elements, such as flickering overhead lights and crumbling walls, add environmental storytelling that deepens the atmosphere.

Performance remains smooth throughout, even when dozens of enemies swarm the screen. On both high-end and modest hardware, frame rates stay consistent, ensuring no hitch disrupts the adrenaline-fueled action. Occasional visual flourishes—like blood splatters and explosive effects—add polish without sacrificing clarity or readability in the heat of battle.

Story

As the debut title from independent developer Cobra Blade, Soulless weaves a straightforward yet compelling narrative of survival and sacrifice. You begin with three resourceful space marines stranded on a derelict outpost overrun by the undead. Each rescued survivor adds a new layer to the storyline, revealing snippets of backstory through brief radio transmissions and in-game dialogue snippets.

While the main narrative arc is minimalistic, environmental storytelling carries much of the weight. Scrawled notes on the walls, abandoned weapon caches, and bloodstained floors hint at the outpost’s descent into chaos. These details encourage exploration, as uncovering hidden logs and terminals unlocks deeper context about the zombie outbreak and the fate of the original crew.

The branching level paths also mirror the story’s themes of choice and consequence. Opting to rescue particular survivors or tackle a hazardous route can lead to moments of unexpected heroism—or tragic loss. This dynamic structure reinforces the idea that every decision matters, making the story feel personal and emergent.

Overall Experience

Soulless stands out as a polished debut from Cobra Blade, seamlessly blending classic side-scrolling action with modern design sensibilities. The tight controls, varied level layouts, and branching paths create a compelling loop that invites repeated playthroughs. Encountering new zombie types and rescuing additional marines keeps the tension high and the strategies evolving.

The game’s audiovisual presentation elevates the overall experience. From the haunting chiptune soundtrack to the atmospheric lighting and detailed pixel art, Soulless crafts a cohesive horror-action vibe that never feels derivative. Sound effects—clanking doors, distant moans, and echoing gunshots—further immerse you in the foreboding environment.

For fans of retro-inspired shooters and zombie survival thrillers, Soulless offers a robust package at an accessible price point. Its mix of exploration, combat variety, and narrative nuance delivers hours of satisfying gameplay. Whether you’re aiming to collect all nine playable characters or chart every possible path, Cobra Blade’s first title promises a rewarding adventure for both veteran and newcomer alike.

Retro Replay Score

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