Geek Review: Young Souls

In the world of role-playing games, the general setup usually pits a small band of heroes against the overwhelming forces of evil. However, for The Arcade Crew and 1P2P’s Young Souls, there is just something about the orphaned twins Jenn and Tristan and the game’s excellent combat, flexible customisation, and entertaining writing that helps the game stand tall on its own.

With the twins being the hot-blooded teens that they are, the only person capable of stopping their troublemaking is the Professor, their adoptive father who, not surprisingly, gets kidnapped. Determined to rescue him, the twins discovered a portal to an underground realm full of goblins waiting to invade. With the fate of the world and their father at stake, the pair turn their attention to beating up every hostile goblin that stands in their way.

Needless to say, combat is a key aspect of Young Souls, and the system works quite magnificently. The combat is smooth and flowing, while every blow feels like it actually hurts a ton. With a huge arsenal of swords, hammers, axes, and more, both Jenn and Tristan are well equipped to thin the goblin hordes.

The controls are tight as well, allowing for combos, special moves, and even parries to blend into a whirlwind of enjoyable combat. Add in sub-weapons that provide complexity and even more strategic depth, and Young Souls definitely puts the spotlight on the action smartly. 

What makes Young Souls even better is the inclusion of co-op play, albeit limited to local co-op. With a partner in tow, you can transition seamlessly from combo to combo, ensuring that the enemy has no room to breathe. Dividing the goblins’ attention is always a good idea, and even if one player is not as good as the other, playing together is a good way to learn and master the combat system in the game.

For those playing solo, the utility of having a partner is not lost as well. The tag team system within the game allows for quick swaps between the siblings, which still allows you to pull off that satisfying combo moves as you move around the battlefield. Each sibling has their own life bar and revives as well, so you are not exactly stuck even with one person down. 

However, that is not to say that the goblins are just going to roll over and surrender, with the enemy providing a level of challenge that dissuades players from button mashing. These foes are smart enough to block, evade, and even parry just like the player, and with several types of goblins to contend with, like sword-wielding and spearmen variants, you must always assess the situation before diving straight in. 

To even the odds against overwhelming numbers, both Jenn and Tristan can be outfitted in different ways to change up their playstyles. As weapons and armour function differently based on weight and type, you can essentially create classes for either of the heroes. Having a tank to deal with mobs is great, but so is having someone who can come in with the high damage to deal the killing blow. Handing players such freedom within an excellent combat system is definitely a pleasant surprise. 

Outside of the fisticuffs, Young Souls provides a world that perhaps can do with a fresh coat of paint every once in a while. Gameplay takes players through different rooms like a dungeon crawler, with rewards, resources, and unlocks to go through. While there can be occasional surprises, such as a boss rush challenge or enemies that can only be defeated in certain ways, the rest of the game feels a little too similar. The combat does help to paper over the cracks, but having a more varied level design would have helped Young Souls shine even more.

At the very least, the game makes it easier for those chasing that 100% completion, with fast travel a breeze to use, as well as a forgiving checkpoint system that can get you back into the fight much faster.

The outside world is also quite a joy to explore, having the twins ride around on their moped and buying the latest in equipment. There are even mini-games available at the nearby gym that can boost your stats, which makes it worth the effort to complete.

All of these is wrapped up in some exceptional writing, helping to flesh out an already likeable cast while mixing in ebbs and flows to the story that colours the world. Nothing is quite black and white when it comes to the conflict between the goblins and our world, and the inevitable growth of the twins is wonderful to experience and a heartwarming tale.

Young Souls is already well worth a look based on its sharp visuals alone, but combined with the rest of the package, it creates a roleplaying experience that not only looks good, but also plays quite well in combat. Some wonky level designs aside, this is a brawler that will kick butt whether you are playing it alone or with a partner.

Young Souls is available on the US PSN Store for US$24.99.