Valor Mortis: Ghostrunner's Devs are Cooking Up a Gory, First-Person Soulslike and My Wizard-Sense is Tingling
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
The wizards behind the lightning-fast Ghostrunner are taking a wild, gory pivot with Valor Mortis, a first-person soulslike set in an alt-history Napoleonic era where a mysterious plague-like substance offers power and turns your mates into gruesome monsters.
Right, so Gamescom Opening Night Live dropped a bunch of news, as it always does. But amidst the usual suspects and the 'wait, *another* sequel?' moments, something rather intriguing popped out of the ether. It wasn't a massive triple-A reveal that had been leaked six ways to Sunday, but a quiet, almost mischievous whisper about a new IP from a studio that, frankly, surprised me with their pivot. We're talking about the wizards behind Ghostrunner, One More Level, and their freshly unveiled creation: *Valor Mortis*.
Now, if you’re like me, your brain probably did a little glitch when you heard 'Ghostrunner developer' and 'soulslike' in the same sentence. Ghostrunner, for those who lived under a digital rock, was a glorious, neon-drenched ballet of death. A first-person, one-hit-kill cyberpunk parkour slash-em-up that demanded pixel-perfect precision and reflexes quicker than a caffeinated ninja. It was brutal, it was beautiful, and it made you feel like a demigod even as you died for the hundredth time. So, what happens when a studio known for breakneck speed and tight, acrobatic combat decides to delve into the notoriously deliberate, punishing, and often grim world of soulslikes?
Ah, the soulslike. A genre that promises pain, demands patience, and delivers unparalleled satisfaction when you finally conquer that boss that's been making you question your life choices. Typically, we associate soulslikes with a third-person perspective – you know, so you can admire your character's exquisite armour as they get pancaked by a giant monstrosity. But *Valor Mortis* is taking a first-person approach. And *that's* where my wizard-sense starts tingling. How will that translate? Will it lean into the disorienting, claustrophobic dread of a *P.T.* or *Resident Evil*, or will it feel like a more grounded version of Ghostrunner’s combat, but with more HP bars on the enemies? The thought of facing a grotesque, Napoleonic zombie-thing from a first-person perspective, knowing every swing could be your last, well, that's a whole new flavour of 'bloody hell, I'm gonna die!'
The setting itself sounds like a delightfully twisted history lesson gone wrong. An alt-history Eastern Europe during a fictionalised Napoleon’s invasion. Seriously, someone's been reading too many forbidden tomes. You play as William, a French soldier who bit the dust, only to come back with powers. Not just any powers, mind you, but the ability to wield something called the 'Nephtoglobin.' Sounds like a rare potion from a particularly dark fantasy. This Nephtoglobin isn’t just a fancy word for magic goo; it’s a corrupting, plague-like substance. It’s what’s turned William’s former comrades into gruesome, body-horror-infused zombie things. And if that doesn’t scream 'soulslike boss material,' I don’t know what does.
But here’s the kicker: William doesn't just fight *against* the Nephtoglobin's effects; he *uses* it. It’s the source of his new abilities. Imagine finding more of this vile substance and instead of, I don't know, turning into a sentient turnip, you can suddenly shoot fire from your hands. Talk about a glow-up! This duality – a power that corrupts others but empowers you – is a brilliant narrative device. It adds a layer of moral ambiguity. Are you truly a hero, or just a slightly less corrupted monster fighting bigger monsters? It makes you wonder about the cost of power, doesn't it? Will there be a 'corruption' meter? Will your own character visibly degrade or change as you use more Nephtoglobin? That's the kind of subtle storytelling through mechanics that makes a soulslike sing.
They've promised 'plenty gory and gruesome, with all sorts of body horror.' So, if you're squeamish, maybe bring a bucket. But for the rest of us digital masochists, this sounds like a delightful descent into madness. The idea of these 'increasingly messed up zombie things' emerging from the ranks of Napoleon's army, twisted by this plague-like substance, paints a wonderfully grim picture. It perfectly sets the tone for a soulslike where the world itself feels hostile and broken.
Now, for the practical bits. *Valor Mortis* is currently slated for a 2026 launch across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series consoles. Yeah, 2026. That's a fair old wait, isn't it? Gives One More Level plenty of time to cook this concoction to perfection, I reckon. It also means we're seeing this pretty early in its development cycle, which is both exciting and a tad nerve-wracking. Will the vision hold true? Will the gameplay mechanics mature into something truly special? The good news is, they're planning a closed playtest in the coming weeks, and you can sign up on their official website. If you're keen to get your hands dirty with some nascent Nephtoglobin-infused combat, that's your chance to be an early explorer of this dark, alternate reality.
So, what do we make of *Valor Mortis*? It’s not often you see a studio take such a sharp turn from their established success. From the lightning-fast, cyberpunk precision of Ghostrunner to a first-person historical soulslike riddled with body horror and plague magic. It's an ambitious leap, a bit like trying to teleport across a chasm and not quite knowing if you'll land on solid ground or splat into a pile of arcane dust. But if One More Level can bring that same level of tight combat design and relentless challenge to this new grim setting, then *Valor Mortis* could be something truly special. It has all the ingredients for a compelling soulslike: a mysterious, corrupting power; a bleak, intriguing world; and the promise of brutal, satisfying combat. I'm cautiously optimistic, with a healthy dose of 'show me what you got, you digital wizards!' This is the kind of unexpected reveal that makes Gamescom worth tuning into – a reminder that even in a sea of sequels and remakes, there are still curious minds brewing up genuinely wild new experiences. Keep an eye on this one, mates. It could be a real dark horse.
Tags: Soulslike, First-Person, Indie Game, Gamescom, Horror
Original article: IGN South Africa