Among the many games out this month is Spiders’ Steelrising, an action RPG with a Souls-like twist. Set during an alternative history version of the French Revolution, players control Aegis, an automaton fighting back against an army of twisted machines.
In a new PlayStation Blog post, gameplay manager Sébastien Di Ruzza described the combat as leaning into the Soulslike formula, “but with the unique heart of a Spiders game.” As such, tackling foes one by one without getting overwhelmed, studying their patterns, and discerning weaknesses are as important as timing and reflexes.
Aegis can access nine types of weapons with over 40 variations, ranging from a mace and dual swords to an alchemical rifle which uses Alchemical Capsules and a large wheel. She also has her signature fans which can act as a shield. Each weapon has a special move, and it’s possible to switch between two weapons at any time for maximum combo potential. Weapons can become stronger with upgrades.
It’s also worth noting Aegis’s cooling system. The more you attack, the more heated she becomes, which can briefly incapacitate her, like the classic Stamina systems in other Souls-like titles. However, she can also use instant cooling to reduce the heat and land some more hits or dodge (not unlike Nioh’s Ki management).
Along with regular enemies, players will face the Titans, the toughest foes in the game. They’re noted as hitting hard, with each blow potentially being fatal. Even though they could take a few tries, Di Ruzza “really wanted every boss fight to be epic and to provide a feeling of achievement when you finally beat them.” Of course, if things get too difficult, there’s an Assist Mode, which the developer implemented “to share our passion with as many players as possible.”
Steelrising is out on September 8th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Its closed beta is live for pre-orders, with two levels available to play.