The upcoming Soulslike sequel Mortal Shell 2 is taking an unconventional approach to accessibility and challenge customization. Rather than implementing traditional difficulty settings with labels like “Easy” or “Hard,” developer Cold Symmetry has crafted a system of special in-game items that allow players to fine-tune their experience in creative ways. This innovative design philosophy ensures that players can tailor the punishing action-RPG experience to match their skill level and desired challenge, all while maintaining the atmospheric integrity that defined the original game.
The development team has revealed two particularly intriguing examples of how this system works. Players seeking a more forgiving experience can equip an item that causes successful execution moves to refill their health bar, providing a tangible reward for aggressive, skillful play. On the opposite end of the spectrum, those hungry for additional challenge can activate an item that literally turns off the sun in the game world, plunging environments into perpetual darkness and significantly increasing the difficulty of navigation and combat encounters.
A Growing Trend in Soulslike Accessibility
This approach to difficulty represents a growing trend in the Soulslike genre, which has historically been known for its uncompromising challenge. Since FromSoftware’s Demon’s Souls pioneered the genre in 2009, these games have built their identity around demanding gameplay that requires patience, skill, and a willingness to learn from repeated failure. However, as the genre has matured and expanded its audience, developers have increasingly sought ways to welcome new players without diluting the core experience that veterans cherish.
The original Mortal Shell, released in 2020, earned praise for its unique “shell” mechanic that allowed players to inhabit different fallen warriors, each with distinct abilities and playstyles. The game successfully carved out its own identity in a crowded market dominated by FromSoftware titles. Cold Symmetry, a relatively small independent studio, demonstrated remarkable ambition and technical skill with their debut title, and expectations for the sequel have been building steadily within the gaming community.
Maintaining Challenge While Embracing Accessibility
What makes Cold Symmetry’s approach particularly clever is how it integrates difficulty modifications into the game’s lore and mechanics rather than presenting them as external options in a menu. By tying accessibility features to in-game items, players who choose to use them remain immersed in the game world. The concept of turning off the sun, for instance, adds a layer of environmental storytelling while simultaneously creating gameplay consequences. This design philosophy echoes successful implementations in other titles, such as Hades’ “God Mode” or Celeste’s “Assist Mode,” both of which were widely praised for respecting player agency.
Industry analysts have noted that the debate around difficulty in Soulslike games has evolved significantly over the past decade. While purists argue that the challenge is integral to the artistic vision, accessibility advocates point out that arbitrary difficulty barriers prevent many players from experiencing these acclaimed titles. Cold Symmetry’s solution appears to thread this needle elegantly, offering meaningful choices without compromising the game’s identity or creating a one-size-fits-all easy mode that might feel disconnected from the core design.
Building Anticipation for the Sequel
The sequel promises to expand upon everything that made the original Mortal Shell memorable while introducing new mechanics, environments, and challenges. The shell system is expected to return with new characters to inhabit, and the game’s dark, gothic aesthetic will reportedly be enhanced with improved graphics and more detailed environments. Cold Symmetry has been relatively secretive about specific plot details, but early previews suggest a more ambitious scope than their debut effort.
As the Soulslike genre continues to flourish following the massive success of Elden Ring in 2022, smaller studios face the dual challenge of standing out while meeting elevated player expectations. Mortal Shell 2’s innovative difficulty system could prove to be a differentiating factor that attracts both hardcore enthusiasts and curious newcomers alike. With the gaming industry increasingly recognizing the importance of accessibility options, Cold Symmetry’s approach may well influence how future titles in the genre handle this delicate balance between challenge and inclusivity.
Expert Opinion: Cold Symmetry’s item-based difficulty system represents a sophisticated evolution in Soulslike design philosophy. By embedding accessibility features within the game’s world rather than relegating them to menu options, they preserve player immersion while democratizing access to their content. This approach could establish a new template for the genre, particularly as mainstream audiences continue gravitating toward challenging games that previously seemed impenetrable.
