Question Bright and Colorful Souls-Like?

[PsychoPsyops]

I like 3D souls-like games. However, I do not like how each and every one is dark and gritty with similar lore and aesthetics.
Are there any bright, colorful and uplifting 3D souls-like games?
Elden Ring and The Surge was close, but were still quite gritty and not all that uplifting.
Also not interested in 2D souls-like games. Looking for games with same movement and combat style as Dark Souls, Elden Ring, The Surge, etc.

Thank you.

 

[Aeacus]

Are there any bright, colorful and uplifting 3D souls-like games?

Essentially all such games are listed here,
link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulslike#History

Just go over those 30-ish games and look if there is anything to your likening. Watching gameplay vids from Youtube would tell how the games are.

 

[PsychoPsyops]

Essentially all such games are listed here,
link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soulslike#History

Just go over those 30-ish games and look if there is anything to your likening. Watching gameplay vids from Youtube would tell how the games are.

So the answer is zero.
Gotcha.

 

[GreyCatz]

Sorry for reopening this thread but I just thought your post was hilarious. In fact, I'm still wondering if you were actually joking or not...

You do realize that everything you don't like about "souls-like" games is EXACTLY what makes them "souls-like"?

If you want to play a game that is "bright, colourful, and uplifting", try Kena: Bridge of Spirits.

 

[PsychoPsyops]

Sorry for reopening this thread but I just thought your post was hilarious. In fact, I'm still wondering if you were actually joking or not...

You do realize that everything you don't like about "souls-like" games is EXACTLY what makes them "souls-like"?

If you want to play a game that is "bright, colourful, and uplifting", try Kena: Bridge of Spirits.

Well no, you're wrong. Although the dark, gritty and hopelessness vibe and tone of souls-like games are part of the genre, it doesn't have to be. You can have the same exact gameplay with the opposite vibe, tone and color palette, just like Oblivion vs. Skyrim, or Pubg vs. Fortnite. Art direction is not confined within a genre and this should be obvious.

 

[GreyCatz]

It may be obvious to you, but it doesn't seem that obvious to all the studios desperately trying to emulate Fromsoftware's iconic game design. Just look at Lies of P - the most recent copy-cat release.

I still find your original post funny mainly because it makes zero sense, at least not to me. I'm not saying straight out that the game you're looking for doesn't exist - how the heck would I know - and I genuinely wish you the best of luck in your quest.

 

[Aeacus]

Although the dark, gritty and hopelessness vibe and tone of souls-like games are part of the genre, it doesn't have to be.

Doesn't have to be - sure, but sadly the dark fantasy setting is one of the core elements of Soluslike games.

Soulslike games are commonly defined by their dark fantasy setting and lack of overt storytelling, as well as their deep worldbuilding, with a captivating world being cited as key to spark players' desire to explore.

Oblivion vs. Skyrim

These two are RPG games. I don't know that dark setting would be staple of RPG gerne.

Pubg vs. Fortnite

Battle royale gerne. Again, dark setting isn't staple of this gerne either.

Looking for games with same movement and combat style as Dark Souls, Elden Ring, The Surge, etc.

Haven't played none of these, so, can't tell what movement/combat is in them. But for more colorful game, while still difficult at times, how about: Ravenbound.

 

[Frag Maniac]

Hard to imagine a game that has non stop melee fights against gruesome bosses to be "uplifting", but one you might consider, if you don't mind mostly guns, with some melee, is Remnant II. It's been called "Souls with Guns". It has a pretty imaginative and colorful world for the most part, but there are also some dank, dark sewer environments in it too.

 

[PsychoPsyops]

It may be obvious to you, but it doesn't seem that obvious to all the studios desperately trying to emulate Fromsoftware's iconic game design. Just look at Lies of P - the most recent copy-cat release.

I still find your original post funny mainly because it makes zero sense, at least not to me. I'm not saying straight out that the game you're looking for doesn't exist - how the heck would I know - and I genuinely wish you the best of luck in your quest.

If you don't know, then the most logical thing to do would be to not reply to the post. Generally, forum posts are for people who can reply with at least some helpful knowledge.

As for the studios trying to emulate fromsoftware's iconic game design, it is a business strategy to copy the vibe, tone and/or artistic style, as taking risks are not in the gaming industry's best interests at the moment.
It does seem what I'm imagining does not yet exist. Perhaps I'll talk to some indie studios and pitch some ideas.

 

[PMWV]

If you don't know, then the most logical thing to do would be to not reply to the post. Generally, forum posts are for people who can reply with at least some helpful knowledge.

As for the studios trying to emulate fromsoftware's iconic game design, it is a business strategy to copy the vibe, tone and/or artistic style, as taking risks are not in the gaming industry's best interests at the moment.
It does seem what I'm imagining does not yet exist. Perhaps I'll talk to some indie studios and pitch some ideas.

Hey, just hopping in this conversation cause I was looking for the same thing actually. I find it totally obvious that a non-depressing souls like is not something imposible. Without going further I think Sekiro is not as bleak as the rest of fromsoft games.

The most obvious answer are the Jedi Games, (Jedi fallen order and Jedi survivor) both have souls-like gameplay, but with a colorful world and a defined campaign story.

"Asterigos" and "Another Crab's Treasure"(this one is not out yet), both have a more cartoon and colorful artstile. I haven't played them tho.

Finally Darksiders III, I would not call it uplifting, but the artstile is very colorfull, like the previous games, but with souls like mechanics.

 

[PsychoPsyops]

Hey, just hopping in this conversation cause I was looking for the same thing actually. I find it totally obvious that a non-depressing souls like is not something imposible. Without going further I think Sekiro is not as bleak as the rest of fromsoft games.

The most obvious answer are the Jedi Games, (Jedi fallen order and Jedi survivor) both have souls-like gameplay, but with a colorful world and a defined campaign story.

"Asterigos" and "Another Crab's Treasure"(this one is not out yet), both have a more cartoon and colorful artstile. I haven't played them tho.

Finally Darksiders III, I would not call it uplifting, but the artstile is very colorfull, like the previous games, but with souls like mechanics.

The Jedi games have you lose your collection after two deaths? I watched a friend play the first one and don't remember that happening at all. Anyway, if it did or didn't, I will admit the Jedi games are at least one instance of what I was describing, although I'm not much of a Star Wars fan at all.

I really thought Stellar Blade was going to be 100% what I was looking for, but it is not doing the souls-like gameplay, but rather an action-rpg type thing. Still looks fun as hell though.

The cartoonish ones' reviews are rough, so I don't think I'll be picking up those. Though, I appreciate the reply. Much more helpful and open minded than previous replies from people who seem to be gatekeepers more or less lol.

 

[Frag Maniac]

Just occurred to me, another one you might want to try is Bright Memory: Infinite.

 

[PsychoPsyops]

Just occurred to me, another one you might want to try is Bright Memory: Infinite.

Ah thanks. I know of this one.
Though the feudal Japan is another souls-like trope I'm burnt out on.

Never mind, seems like we will just have to wait until a publisher or indie dev grows some balls and takes a risk.

 

[Frag Maniac]

...the feudal Japan is another souls-like trope I'm burnt out on.

Yeah I run into that problem sometimes because there's only a select few types of games I like. Seems like creativity is slipping somewhat with writing and overall concepts of games, and this talk of having AI do such things is just making me cringe. They do indeed need to grow some balls before the quality is crushed like it was with music distribution when it became compressed and low bitrate.

 

[PsychoPsyops]

It's the industry's fault too. Games cost way too much time and money to make these days and the AAA companies feel like they have to hit a certain visual standard, which they don't. And they can't afford flops, so less risks are taken. Also no good writers exist anymore. Top that off with the effects of the writers strike that we will see in less than a year now, and things are going to get stupid. Thankfully I can play most of my older games. Most of them....

 

[Frag Maniac]

It's the industry's fault too. Games cost way too much time and money to make these days and the AAA companies feel like they have to hit a certain visual standard, which they don't. And they can't afford flops, so less risks are taken. Also no good writers exist anymore. Top that off with the effects of the writers strike that we will see in less than a year now, and things are going to get stupid. Thankfully I can play most of my older games. Most of them....

On the other hand, a lot of gamers are FAR too quick to preorder, which makes the pubs eager to put unreasonable deadline demands on their dev teams. I've said it before, I'd actually prefer waiting a year or even more after a big console title release for them to make enough off it to put in adequate development time and testing on the PC version.

As far as the strike goes, I think that's going to help in the long run, because the writers with the talent are the ones that wanted and got the settlement, and there's also provisions in it to keep them from being exploited by AI.

It will likely be looked at as a double edged sword by many though, because it takes good writers to write good stories and dialog, but they'll be getting more pay now. It really depends how the big teams assess it, but in the end, I'd rather pay a bit more for a better product, than waste the norm full price of a game for a crap release. What it comes down to is whether the teams have enough faith in those writers to get them more sales, and may eat some or most of the pay increase, or continue driving up prices, engaging in micro trans, or cutting content.