Lost Soul Aside review (PS5)

Some games arrive with so much baggage that they’re practically judged before they even land. Lost Soul Aside has had years of buildup, shifting expectations, and plenty of debate around whether Ultizero Games could pull off a big, flashy action RPG under the PlayStation Publishing banner. Now that it’s here on PlayStation 5, the result is… complicated. There’s a lot to admire, but also moments that feel uneven. And yet, when the combat clicks, it really does deliver the kind of fast, stylish spectacle fans have been hoping for.

At the heart of the game is Kaser’s quest to rescue his sister Louisa after a world-shattering event tears everything apart. The setup blends anime drama with a sweeping “save the world” storyline, which can sometimes feel a little muddled in pacing and tone. There are cutscenes that go on for quite a while, and while the emotional drive is clear, the script doesn’t always hit the right notes. Still, when the narrative leans into the sense of loss, camaraderie, and mystery behind the invading Voidrax, it does enough to keep you curious about what comes next.

The big draw here, of course, is combat. This is where Lost Soul Aside goes all-in with high-octane action. Battles are fluid and flashy, letting you chain attacks, swap weapons mid-combo, and unleash devastating skills with the help of your dragon-like companion. At its best, the system rivals some of the most stylish action games out there, rewarding players who experiment with different weapons and abilities. But it isn’t flawless – the lock-on can be unreliable, the camera occasionally struggles to keep up, and not all fights feel equally well-designed. Against towering bosses, the intensity really shines, but in smaller encounters, repetition creeps in.

Outside of combat, the game stumbles a little. Exploration across the various dimensions is visually striking, but often shallow in terms of interaction. Environments look gorgeous – sweeping snowfields, alien ruins, and glowing cityscapes – but they sometimes feel more like backdrops than fully realized worlds. There are some puzzles and side activities sprinkled in, but they rarely elevate the experience beyond “get to the next fight.” It’s a missed opportunity, given how strong the art direction can be when the game wants to wow you.

Presentation, though, is a big part of the appeal. On PS5, Lost Soul Aside runs smoothly, and its flashy particle effects and cinematic boss animations give the game a polished look. The soundtrack leans heavily on dramatic orchestral pieces, which match the action well, though it can veer into overblown territory. Voice acting is serviceable but not particularly memorable, with some uneven performances that don’t quite elevate the emotional stakes. It’s the audiovisual spectacle – rather than the finer narrative beats – that leaves the stronger impression.

In the end, Lost Soul Aside is a hard game to pin down. It’s ambitious, striking, and full of style, but also uneven and sometimes rough around the edges. For action RPG fans, there’s enough depth in the combat and enough spectacle in the boss fights to make the journey worthwhile. For those looking for a tightly told story or richly interactive world, it may leave some gaps unfilled. What Ultizero Games has built here isn’t perfect, but it shows flashes of something special – a game that, while not quite the masterpiece some hoped for, still manages to carve out a space of its own in a crowded genre.

Score: 7.0/10