Stray Souls review (PS5)

Stray Souls, a new horror title published by Versus Evil and developed by Jukai Studio, ventures into the eerie town of Aspen Falls, promising a blend of horror combat and gripping narrative. Set against the backdrop of an inherited, enigmatic home, players step into the shoes of Daniel, a seemingly ordinary teenager thrust into a world filled with malevolent forces, gruesome encounters, and unsolved mysteries. It was one of the most impressive looking titles leading into the Halloween season, but how did it live up to the likes of Alan Wake II? We played the PS5 version to find out.

The premise of Stray Souls teems with potential, drawing inspiration from the Silent Hill series. The initial moments set the stage well in a cinematic fashion, immersing players in a chilling atmosphere filled with unsettling encounters and a sense of foreboding. The abandoned house, creaking with every step, creates an unnerving tension that lingers throughout the rest of the game as well.

However, as the narrative progresses, Stray Souls shifts gears abruptly, veering much more towards an action-heavy gameplay style. This transition, while providing an adrenaline rush when it first happens, dilutes the initial sense of supernatural horror, leaving players with mixed expectations and much less of a sense of dread than the opening moments suggest.

Daniel’s personal journey is a commendable aspect of Stray Souls. His evolution from an ordinary teenager to a determined protagonist facing unimaginable horrors is palpable. The voice acting, though occasionally in terms of sound mixing (sometimes drowning against other noise), adds depth to the characters, further enhancing the immersion.

The game’s puzzles, while not overly challenging, offer a satisfying degree of engagement. However, certain sections could benefit from clearer guidance, preventing players from wandering aimlessly and briefly getting frustrated. The boss encounters provide a welcome challenge, demanding precise dodging and strategic use of limited resources – giving off subtle hints of the Soulslike genre in that sense.

Visually, Stray Souls has great potential, with environments that are stunning to see and rich in detail. The enemy designs, reminiscent of Capcom’s classic horror titles, add a sinister touch to the game’s aesthetic. The Unreal 5 Engine occasionally stumbles though, which is most evident in rough animations and character models – giving a sense that this one could have used more development time.

Unfortunately, the transition to an action-oriented gameplay style mentioned before also introduced players to imprecise controls, which hampers the combat experience. The absence of an inventory system exacerbates this issue, limiting players’ ability to manage resources effectively and having to rely on the clunky controls instead. The enemy AI also falls short compared to other titles, diminishing the intensity of encounters somewhat as this can break the immersion.

The audio design in Stray Souls delivers moments of genuine unease, with eerie sound effects and menacing monster cries – this is definitely one of those games you’ll want to play with the lights off and the sound turned up. The inclusion of guest composer Akira Yamaoka, famous for his work on the Silent Hill franchise, enhances the overall atmosphere.

Stray Souls, despite its promising start, ultimately falls short of its potential in its current form. The abrupt shift in gameplay style, coupled with technical hiccups, hinders the overall experience. The intriguing narrative threads introduced early on fail to fully materialize, leaving players with unanswered questions. With further refinement and polish, however, Stray Souls could have been a standout horror title. We’re hoping this one gets tweaked a bit post-launch, because there’s a ton of promise here that is just waiting to be delivered upon.

Score: 6.0/10