Soul Axiom

Last updated
Soul Axiom
SoulAxiom LargeCapsule.png
Developer(s) Wales Interactive
Publisher(s) Wales Interactive
Engine Unity
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows, OS X, Linux
February 29, 2016
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
June 7, 2016
Wii U
September 29, 2016
Nintendo Switch
February 27, 2020
Genre(s) Adventure, puzzle
Mode(s) Single-player

Soul Axiom is a first-person adventure-puzzle video game developed and published by Wales Interactive. The game is set inside a "Digital Soul Provider" called Elysia, and combines exploration with puzzle solving elements to unlock the mystery of your character's digital afterlife. [1] [2] It follows a similar visual style from its predecessor, Master Reboot, and while it is not a direct sequel, it is set in the same world but with new characters, a new story and new set of game mechanics. [3] The game was released on February 29, 2016. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One ports were released in June 2016. [4] [5] [6] The Wii U version launched on September 29, 2016. [7] The game was released on February 27, 2020, for Nintendo Switch as Soul Axiom Rebooted. [8]

Contents

Gameplay

In Soul Axiom, the player plays an unknown protagonist, utilizing a first person camera as they wander through strange landscapes of unknown memories. The player will experience traditional adventure/puzzle gameplay, by interacting with physical puzzles, making psychological decisions and exploring the environment to find the right information to unlock the story of your character. The player is slowly granted abilities in the form of a hand power system which enables them manipulate the objects and environments around them, which will allow them to navigate through the world of Elysia. These abilities also further complicate the puzzles that the player is given. [9]

The narrative is told through collectible items which take the form of a small symbol monkey. They are known as a PEMO (Personal Message Object) and act as messages from the outside world, usually in the form of news articles, emails, letters etc. Sometimes they are easy to find and other times you will have to explore the environment to find them. To support the PEMO's, you will unlock memories after each level you complete to piece together the story, these memories come in the form of a 3D animated cutscene. A gameplay trailer was released on January 20, 2015. [10]

Development

Soul Axiom was initially released on Steam Early Access on November 23, 2014, which included Chapter 1 and parts of Chapter 2. Since then, the developers have been releasing frequent updates which often contain new content in the form of more levels to play as well as bug fixes and general improvements that the community have suggested. [11] The Early Access development was delayed due to a major engine upgrade from Unity 4 to Unity 5. [12] [13] It wasn't until February 29, 2016, when Soul Axiom left Early Access. [14] [15]

Releasing first for PC, Mac and Linux, Soul Axiom was announced to be launched on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Wii U in 2016. [16] [17] Throughout the development, the game has been supported by the likes of Microsoft and Nintendo. Microsoft has taken the title to be exhibited on several of their gaming stands at events such as GDC San Francisco (2015) and EGX Rezzed (2015 & 2016). [18] [19] Microsoft also financially supported the game towards the end of development, accepting the game onto their Greenshoots programme. [20] [21] Similarly, Nintendo also exhibited the game on their stand at EGX (2015) and Gamescom Cologne (2015). [22] Arguably, Wales Interactive's most successful promotion came from Nintendo's E3 Nindies@Home program, where an early demo of the game was free to download on Wii U with a launch day discount offer for anyone who downloaded the demo. [23] [24] [25]

Reception

After the game left Early Access, it has received mixed reviews collated on Metacritic for PC, receiving a total score of 56/100. [26]

Soul Axiom was a finalist for "Use of Narrative" at the Develop Awards in 2015, [27] and was nominated for a BAFTA Cymru Games Award for "Best Game". [28]

Ben Barrett from Rock, Paper, Shotgun wrote: "It really is beautiful, nailing a Tron-like neon cyberspace feel...In the thirty minutes I gave the game this was never exploited to its full potential, but the odd bit of interaction was enough to keep me exploring the environments" [29] [30]

Ken Talbot from Push Square said: "The puzzle mechanics themselves are the game's key failing. Given abilities that control the environment around him, our silent protagonist is never allowed to use them in inventive or even organic ways." He gave the game a score of 50/100. [31]

Reviewing the Early Access version, Mike Cosimano from Destructoid said: "Soul Axiom is an unsettling and compelling techno/cyber-thriller, with a killer visual style that matches its high-concept premise. Whether it actually delivers on its many promises is another thing entirely, but there’s a lot to be excited about so far." [32] However, Joe Parlock reviewed the final version for Destructoid and gave the game its worst Metacritic score to date, 25/100. [33]

Borja 'VodKaVK' Martos from GameGrin wrote: "The treatment of the soul and the afterlife is not disappointing, but the context in which these ideas are brought up are. It is a shame that puzzles feel so plastic and repetitive, because the multitude of scenarios and the ideas brought up in them tend to have a lasting effect on the player." [34]

Staff from Attack Of The Fanboy wrote: "I would probably put it up there as one of, if not, the most pretty looking indie games I’ve ever played...While it wasn’t advertised as a horror game, it sure can do plenty to scare you with just the general ambience." [35]

PC Gamer wrote about the game several times during development and eventually gave a score of 55/100 in their review by James Davenport. Davenport wrote "Soul Axiom wants to be a huge, cerebral puzzle game. I admire the scope and variety of its modular environments, each with completely different aesthetics and puzzle mechanics ... Soul Axiom nearly gets by on intrigue. For the first two hours, however inconsistent, I was curious to explore the varied environments and play around with the shallow puzzles." [36]

Jordan Helm from Hardcore Gamer compared the game to Tron, Bioshock and The Talos Principle and wrote: "Simplistic and often jarring its intended design may seem, Soul Axiom is a game that requires, as much cunningly desires, the player’s warranted need to look beyond the surface that’s initially presented. Whether that be in its puzzle design or the ample conflict of environments, Wales Interactive do just enough with the overarching themes of simulation and replication to make its superficial locales feel that extra bit suspicious." The review ended with a score of 3.5/5. [37]

Pavel Valek from games.cz gave the game a 40/100: "If you expect a fun puzzle game, you have to look elsewhere. Soul Axiom offers plenty of easy levels and dull puzzles that will resolve themselves." [38]

Peter Parrish from PC Invasion gave the game 7/10: "As a consequence of action sequences being a bit clunky, Soul Axiom's final encounter is a bit of a let down," and concluded with, "Soul Axiom consistently finds new and engaging ways for the player to use the same set of powers to overcome obstacles, and does an able job weaving its (justifiably) fragmented story throughout the game’s hub structure." [39]

Related Research Articles

<i>Oddworld: Strangers Wrath</i> 2005 video game

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath is an action-adventure video game developed by Oddworld Inhabitants and published by Electronic Arts for the Xbox. It is the fourth overall entry of the Oddworld series. It was released on January 25, 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monopoly in video games</span> Video game series

There have been numerous Monopoly video games based on the core game mechanics of Parker Brothers and Hasbro's board game Monopoly. They have been developed by numerous teams and released on multiple platforms over 35+ years.

<i>Tomb Raider: Anniversary</i> 2007 video game

Tomb Raider: Anniversary is an action-adventure video game developed by Crystal Dynamics and Buzz Monkey Software and published by Eidos Interactive in 2007 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable, Wii and mobile phones. It was later ported to OS X in 2008 and PlayStation 3 in 2011. The eighth overall entry in the Tomb Raider series and second in the Legend trilogy, Anniversary is a remake of the first Tomb Raider game, originally released in 1996.

<i>Brain Challenge</i> 2007 video game

Brain Challenge is a mental exercise video game, featuring "brain exercise puzzles". The game was developed by Gameloft Beijing for mobile phone and iPod and released on September 5, 2007. In 2008 was followed by a Nintendo DS version on January 8, an Xbox Live Arcade release on March 12, and a PlayStation 3 launch on November 27. The N-Gage 2.0 version was released on the day of the service's launch, April 3, 2008. A version for WiiWare was released in autumn 2008 on all three regions. The Wii version also uses Miis for the players profile. OnLive also had launched their new streaming game platform with Brain Challenge on July 27, 2010. The game was released for Mac OS X in January 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Cell</span> Video game company

5th Cell is an independently owned American video game developer founded in 2003 as 5th Cell Media, LLC. led by Jeremiah Slaczka and Marius Falhbusch. The company is most well known for creating the Drawn to Life and Scribblenauts series.

<i>Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars</i> 2011 video game

Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars is a Lego-themed action-adventure video game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by LucasArts in March 2011 for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows and a launch title for the Nintendo 3DS. The game features missions and characters from the 2008 animated film Star Wars: The Clone Wars and its follow-up television series, as well as fan-favorites from the original Star Wars saga, in both single-player and multiplayer gameplay modes. The Mac OS X version of the game was released by Feral Interactive.

The 2010s was the fifth decade in the industry's history. The decade was notable for producing the first truly "3D" games and consoles, introducing cloud gaming and virtual reality to consumers, and the rising influence of tablet-based and mobile casual games, including a boom in freemium titles. The industry remained heavily dominated by the actions of Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. The eighth generation of video game consoles was released, including the Wii U, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo 3DS. Notable games released in the decade included Minecraft, Fortnite, Grand Theft Auto V, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Red Dead Redemption and its sequel, Dark Souls and God of War.

<i>Darksiders II</i> 2012 video game

Darksiders II is an action role-playing hack and slash video game developed by Vigil Games and published by THQ. It is the sequel to Darksiders and was released in August 2012 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and as a launch title for Wii U upon the console's North American and PAL regions release in November 2012. The story follows the efforts of player character Death to clear the name of his brother, War, who stands accused of wiping out humanity. On a total budget of $50 million, it was one of the most expensive video games to develop of all time.

<i>Axiom Verge</i> 2015 video game

Axiom Verge is a metroidvania video game by American indie developer Thomas Happ. The game was originally released in March 2015 in North America and April 2015 in Europe and Australia for PlayStation 4. It was released in May 2015 for Linux, OS X, and Windows. A PlayStation Vita version was released in April 2016. The Wii U and Xbox One versions were released in North America and Europe in September 2016. A Nintendo Switch version was released in October 2017.

<i>Rayman Legends</i> 2013 video game

Rayman Legends is a platform video game developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft. It is the fifth main title in the Rayman series and the direct sequel to the 2011 game Rayman Origins. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and PlayStation Vita platforms in August and September 2013. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released in February 2014, with a Stadia version released in November 2021. A Nintendo Switch port, titled Rayman Legends Definitive Edition, was released in North America, Europe and Australia on September 12, 2017.

<i>The Bridge</i> (video game) 2013 video game

The Bridge is a 2013 video game designed by American developer Ty Taylor for Microsoft Windows, Linux, OS X, Amazon Fire TV, Android, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Ouya, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch. It was developed by The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild. The player controls an Escher-like character and the rotation of the 2D environment, which affects gravity based on the changing orientation of the landscape.

Teslagrad is a 2013 side-scrolling puzzle-platform game developed and published by Rain Games.

<i>Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones</i> 2014 video game

Stealth Inc 2: A Game of Clones is a 2D puzzle platform video game which was developed and published by Curve Digital. The game is a sequel to Stealth Bastard Deluxe, featuring different mechanics which involve puzzle sections. The game was released for the Wii U on October 23, 2014. The PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows versions of the game were also released in April 2015.

<i>Jotun</i> (video game) 2015 video game

Jøtun is an action-adventure video game developed by Canadian studio Thunder Lotus Games. It was released for Windows, macOS, and Linux on September 29, 2015. The Wii U version was released on September 8, 2016, while the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released on September 9, 2016. The Nintendo Switch version was released on April 27, 2018. The Stadia version was released on May 26, 2020.

<i>Adventure Time: Finn & Jake Investigations</i> 2015 video game

Adventure Time: Finn & Jake Investigations is a 2015 action adventure video game developed by Vicious Cycle Software under license from Cartoon Network Interactive. It was published by Little Orbit for Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. This is the fourth game based on the animated television series Adventure Time following The Secret of the Nameless Kingdom, and the first action-adventure title in the series presented in full 3D graphics. The game was first announced on April 21, 2015, and released on October 20, 2015, in North America, and on November 6 in Europe.

<i>Yooka-Laylee</i> 2017 video game

Yooka-Laylee is a platform game published by Team17 in 2017 for Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, followed by a version for Amazon Luna in October 2020. Developed by Playtonic Games, a group of former key personnel from Rare, Yooka-Laylee is a spiritual successor to the Banjo-Kazooie series released for the Nintendo 64 nearly 20 years prior. After years of planning to develop a new game, Playtonic Games initiated a Kickstarter campaign that attracted significant media coverage and raised a record-breaking sum of over £2 million. The game follows chameleon Yooka and bat Laylee on their quest to retrieve a magical book from an evil corporation.

<i>Typoman</i> 2015 video game

Typoman is an independent video game developed by German indie studio Brainseed Factory for Nintendo Switch, Wii U, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC, and mobile. The game follows a hero named HERO who crafts words to alter the environment around him.

<i>Bayonetta</i> Video game series

Bayonetta is a series of action-adventure games created by Hideki Kamiya, developed by PlatinumGames, and owned by Sega. The franchise was introduced in 2009 with Bayonetta. Two sequels were released, Bayonetta 2 (2014) and Bayonetta 3 (2022), as well as a spinoff, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon (2023). In the games, players control a witch nicknamed Bayonetta as she wields dual pistols, shooters in her high heels, and long, magically transforming hair which becomes a deadly weapon.

<i>Phogs!</i> 2020 video game

Phogs! is a puzzle-platform video game developed by Bit Loom Games and published by Coatsink. The game was released for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia on December 3, 2020, and for Amazon Luna on November 18, 2021. In Phogs!, players control a two-headed dog called Red and Blue. Phogs! received generally favorable reviews from critics.

References

  1. ↑ "Soul Axiom – Explore A Futuristic Digital Afterlife Today - Siliconera". www.siliconera.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  2. ↑ "Wales Interactive Video Games Developer & Publisher". Archived from the original on 2016-02-15. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  3. ↑ "Interview: Wales Interactive on Soul Axiom, Unity and working with Nintendo". 6 October 2015. Archived from the original on 11 February 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  4. ↑ "Soul Axiom Finally Gets Release Date - Hardcore Gamer". Archived from the original on 2016-02-07. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  5. ↑ "3D-Printed Wheelchairs And A New Musical Instrument". news.sky.com. Archived from the original on 2016-06-11.
  6. ↑ "Soul Axiom is Now Available for Xbox One". 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Nintendo - Official Site - Video Game Consoles, Games - Nintendo - Official Site". Archived from the original on 2016-06-27. Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  8. ↑ "Soul Axiom Rebooted for Nintendo Switch". Archived from the original on 2021-10-28.
  9. ↑ "Soul Axiom: A First-Person Puzzler that Rides the Lightning - IGN". November 2021. Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  10. ↑ Savage, Phil (21 January 2015). "Soul Axiom trailer shows sci-fi adventure, spatial puzzling". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "Steam Community :: Soul Axiom". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  12. ↑ "Soul Axiom is "content complete" and poised for full release". 22 January 2016. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "Steam :: Soul Axiom :: Unity 5 Update, Gamescom, Story Trailer". 23 July 2015. Archived from the original on 28 July 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  14. ↑ Morrison, Angus (4 February 2016). "Soul Axiom escapes Early Access this month". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "Soul Axiom is out February 29, here's a launch trailer". 23 February 2016. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "Sci-fi puzzle adventure Soul Axiom announced for PS4". 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "ID@Xbox Spotlight: Soul Axiom Merges Tron's Aesthetic with Myst's Challenge". 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  18. ↑ "Xbox to bring 22 playable indie games to EGX Rezzed". Archived from the original on 2016-04-06. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  19. ↑ "New ID@Xbox Games Storm GDC". 3 March 2015. Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  20. ↑ "Announcements". 27 June 2023. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  21. ↑ "£55k Christmas present for games developers". 22 December 2015. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  22. ↑ "Nintendo reveals key launch dates and editions as gamescom 2015 kicks off in Cologne". Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  23. ↑ "Nindies@Home lets players test-drive 9 indie games during E3". Archived from the original on 2023-07-22. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  24. ↑ "Nintendo's Nindies@Home promo offers 9 free Wii U demos". Eurogamer . 15 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  25. ↑ "Nintendo offers nine free Wii U indie demos during E3". Polygon . 15 June 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  26. ↑ "Soul Axiom". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2016-04-07.
  27. ↑ "Soul Axiom Nominated For Develop Award 2015 | games industry | MCV". www.mcvuk.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-01.
  28. ↑ "Nominations Announced: British Academy Cymru Games Award & Commendations". 10 May 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  29. ↑ "Long Dark Teatime of the: Soul Axiom in Early Access". Rock Paper Shotgun . 10 March 2015. Archived from the original on 19 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  30. ↑ "Wales Interactive Video Games Developer & Publisher". Archived from the original on 2016-06-11. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  31. ↑ "Review: Soul Axiom (PS4)". 6 June 2016. Archived from the original on 8 June 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  32. ↑ "Soul Axiom is a cross between Journey and Tron". 6 March 2015. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  33. ↑ "Review: Soul Axiom". 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.
  34. ↑ "Soul Axiom Review". 22 March 2016. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  35. ↑ "Soul Axiom Hands-On Preview". 29 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2 March 2016. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  36. ↑ "Soul Axiom review". PC Gamer . 8 March 2016. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  37. ↑ "Review: Soul Axiom - Hardcore Gamer". 29 February 2016. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  38. ↑ "Soul Axiom - recenze | GAMES.CZ". Archived from the original on 2016-04-24. Retrieved 2016-04-21.
  39. ↑ "Soul Axiom Review". 4 March 2016. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.