Players often debate whether games should have difficulty settings, with the likes of Dark Souls and its successors falling into center focus, but many fans appreciate games like the upcoming TOONSOULS, with unrelenting challenges that put players’ skills to the ultimate test. Inspired by the delightfully brutal animated world of Cuphead, while also integrating references to the notorious Dark Souls, TOONSOULS adds an extra twist to the gameplay that sets it apart from its spiritual predecessors.
Many players who grew up in the 80s and 90s will remember arcade and early home console games as being particularly unforgiving, with no way to save progress and enemies often being bullet sponges that require hours of practice to finally beat. While those older titles often had such settings to maximize playtime (and the number of quarters popped into an arcade cabinet), many modern games have also pushed players to the limit with incredibly challenging boss fights and environmental obstacles. TOONSOULS follows in perfect oppressive suit with its desire to force players to achieve perfection while making that accomplishment particularly difficult with one key element.
TOONSOULS Trailer Showcases Dark Souls Brutality in a Cuphead World
TOONSOULS features the familiar visuals of Cuphead while offering cheeky references to games like Dark Souls, both in name and in gameplay. Players are tasked with platforming their way across a 2D landscape while launching mini javelins at enemies. The main character can take up to three hits and can collect coins along the way to purchase helpful items. However, unlike the games that inspired it, TOONSOULS features procedurally-generated levels. This means players realistically only have one chance to beat any given level because any subsequent attempts will be met with a randomized shift in both the platforming and enemy spawns. Without the ability to memorize the level design and enemy locations, players are no longer able to prepare in advance and instead need to strategize on the fly.
The additional challenge of randomization may be enticing to players who enjoy games that are ridiculously hard, especially those who don’t mind having to replay levels over and over again in the hope of getting the perfect RNG blessing. Fans who appreciate an unforgiving game can wishlist TOONSOULS on Steam and look forward to its upcoming early access launch.
Soulslike titles and incredibly difficult platforming games are certainly not for everyone, though fans of the genre of intentionally soul-crushing experiences generally point to the overwhelming sense of accomplishment and relief after besting seemingly impossible challenges as the ultimate reward of gaming. It remains to be seen just how difficult TOONSOULS will be, but the procedural generation mixed with obvious ties to Cuphead are certainly promising for those up to the task of besting even the gnarliest of challenges.