Mortal Shell 2 beta makes a strong case for a Dark Souls shotgun

Cold Symmetry's debut, Mortal Shell, showed style and interesting ideas but was held back by some clunkiness and dull levels. The developer returned with Mortal Shell 2 and dropped an open beta for Steam Next Fest; it's the most popular true-blue Soulslike in the event and, from limited time with it, feels like a solid upgrade.

The shell system still frames character roles, each shell supplying its own abilities and bonuses while weapons and upgrades allow further customization. Combat has a different heft — somewhere between the original Dark Souls and the modern Lords of the Fallen — and there's no stamina bar, so swings land with a satisfying weight.

Parry timing snaps you back into the flow, the starter knight shell carries crunch without the old clunk, and attacks like the greatsword hilt strike feel meaningful. Ranged options are pushed hard too: the first gun is a ballista-like shottie, and third-person shooting and slashing manages to flow naturally alongside petrify spells and finishers.

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