Valor Mortis Review

Playing games as a Game Pass member isn’t about value for money; it’s about value for time. That is why we’re stepping down from the traditional review model to let you know about a game in around 400 words.

Valor Mortis Summary

Valor Mortis is a dark, first-person action soulslike where you play as William, a resurrected soldier fighting through an alternate 19th-century Eastern Europe during Napoleon's endless campaigns. Combining melee combat, supernatural abilities, and firearms, you must battle horrifying creatures while uncovering a grand conspiracy. It’s developed by One More Level, the Polish studio best known for the fast-paced cyber-slasher Ghostrunner series.

Facts

• ⏱️ Playtime: 14 to 18 hours for the main story. 20+ hours to do everything.
• 💾 File Size: 41.2 GB on Xbox Series X
• 📱 Cloud Ready: Yes
• 🏆 Achievements: Moderate difficulty (5/10). Most of the 39 achievements unlock naturally via story progression and side quests, though a few require specific combat tricks or upgrade material planning.
• 👥 Multiplayer: No multiplayer.
• ⏱️ Time-to-Action: Not easy to get into, hard to master, and definitely not for impatient gamers.

👍 The Pros

• First-person soulslike: The first-person perspective gives classic soulslike mechanics a fresh take. Valor Mortis is surprisingly smooth, and while it stays true to the genre's core loop, it still feels distinctly unique.
• Atmosphere: The premise lives and breathes atmosphere. Set in an alternate-history 19th-century Eastern Europe shattered by Napoleon's war machine, it’s an absolute visual stunner.
• Exploration: True to the genre, exploring the world to upgrade your character is a treat. Your abilities grow naturally as you progress, and the interconnected shortcut system is a great addition.

👎 The Cons

• Lack of enemy variety: After a while, you’ll find yourself fighting the exact same enemy archetypes repeatedly. Their attack patterns aren't very diverse either, which can tempt you into playing on autopilot - only to be severely punished when a hit randomly connects.
• Combat inconsistency: While the first-person view boosts immersion, it makes melee combat feel inconsistent at times. Boss fights occasionally feel like a dice roll where skill takes a backseat - an issue rarely felt in FromSoftware classics.
• Story is a missed opportunity: An intriguing premise coupled with Napoleon voiced by acclaimed French actor Vincent Cassel set expectations sky-high. Unfortunately, the narrative falls flat with an uninspiring protagonist and a plot that never quite lands.

⏱️ Worth your time?

• Worth your time if: You love soulslike games such as Dark Souls or Bloodborne and want to experience a spin on the genre in first-person.
• Not worth your time if: You dislike frequent dying, get impatient with steep learning curves, or are looking for a multiplayer experience.