Umbrella Parries and Rubber Duck Mayhem? Memoria Wake Turns Soulslike on Its Head (Literally)
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Memoria Wake is a new isometric action-RPG Soulslike where you play a cat parrying enemies with an umbrella in a dollhouse-like dreamscape, and it's as delightfully weird as it sounds. It's a Soulslike but with rubber ducks and less angst, what's not to love?
Right, so you reckon you've seen everything in the Soulslike genre, eh? Dragons, demons, brooding knights... all a bit predictable, innit? Well, buckle up, mate, because *Memoria Wake* just dropped a demo on Steam, and it's about as far from the usual grimdark fare as you can get without accidentally stumbling into a Teletubbies convention.
According to Rock Paper Shotgun, who brought this gem to my attention, *Memoria Wake* is pitching itself as an isometric action-RPG where you play as Nilo, a ridiculously adorable kitty in a raincoat, wandering through a shattered dreamscape. Forget gothic castles, we're talking dollhouses, wind-up toys, and enough jigsaw pieces to give you a headache. But don't let the cutesy aesthetic fool you – this is still a Soulslike, meaning you *will* die. A lot.
The real kicker? The parry mechanic. Forget shields and swords; Nilo defends himself with an umbrella. Yes, you read that right. An umbrella. Imagine deflecting a giant, shadowy cat with a bit of flimsy fabric and metal. Fair dinkum, it sounds both hilarious and satisfyingly strategic.
The whole thing has a *Death's Door* vibe with a dash of *Tunic*, but with its own unique, slightly unsettling charm. The environments are stunningly detailed, like tiny dioramas brought to life (or, well, *unlife*, considering the whole 'broken dream' thing). The Steam page promises you'll be "uncovering long buried truths" and facing "twisted memories." Sounds intriguing, doesn't it?
Now, I'm always a bit skeptical when a game promises to be "revolutionary," but *Memoria Wake* genuinely seems to be doing something different. It's taking the core mechanics of the Soulslike genre – challenging combat, intricate level design, cryptic storytelling – and wrapping them in a world that's both whimsical and deeply unsettling. It's like someone accidentally mixed *Dark Souls* with a children's toy box, and honestly, I'm here for it.
Of course, the big question is: does it actually *work*? Is the combat genuinely engaging, or just a novelty act? Does the story hold up, or does it collapse under the weight of its own cuteness? We'll have to wait for the full release to find out. The devs at Team Crescendo are playing coy, but you can at least get hands-on with the demo. But if the demo's anything to go by, *Memoria Wake* might just be the most delightfully bizarre Soulslike you play all year. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to practice my umbrella parrying skills... just in case.
Tags: Soulslike, Indie Games, Action RPG, Demo, Memoria Wake
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun