{
  "id": 2348279,
  "title": "Mortal Shell 2 review",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/mortal-shell-2-review",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-21T09:23:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Eurogamer",
    "slug": "eurogamer",
    "url": "https://www.eurogamer.net/mortal-shell-2-review"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The opening minutes of Mortal Shell 2 have been praised for their superb execution in the Soulslike genre. The game captivates players from the very beginning, setting up a mysterious plot that involves being from an unknown world and encountering people who are not like oneself. The gameplay begins in a seemingly normal village festival, but as players listen closely, they realize the atmosphere is more akin to the somber setting of Midsommar. Everyone is talking in hushed tones about looking their best to meet Mether, a central figure in the story.\n\nAs the festival concludes, the player encounters Harros, a returning character from the first game, who introduces the player to new abilities such as grounded, brutal combat, no stamina bar, the Shell ability, forgiving parry timing, and the new Resolve mechanic. These features demonstrate Mortal Shell 2's biggest strengths, showcasing its combat brilliance and overall confidence in the game's design. The prologue's end boldly separates Mortal Shell 2 from its predecessor, Dark Souls 1, emphasizing the game's unique approach to the genre.\n\nThe narrative unfolds through interactions with various factions and the devoted servants of Mether, the game's god-like character. The player takes on the role of Harbos, Harros' child and a Harbinger, born from one of the untainted eggs that Mether carried. The player's goal is to retrieve the stolen Ova, or eggs, from Mether. The gameplay mechanics have been overhauled, with combat now flowing faster and without the need to worry about stamina. This change encourages aggression and fuels the game's Resolve mechanic, which is spent on powerful character abilities and as ammo for ranged sidearms. Overall, Mortal Shell 2 is a highly accomplished sequel that can be considered a great Soulslike, thanks to its improvements and refined design.",
  "summary": "In the increasingly crowded Soulslike genre, a game's opening minutes need to do a lot of work. The good news for Mortal Shell 2 is its opening is superb, starting as well as it continues, and condensing the magic of its next 30-odd hours into a few minutes with aplomb. Read more",
  "key_points": [
    "Mortal Shell 2 praised for superb Soulslike execution",
    "Gameplay begins in somber village festival atmosphere",
    "New combat abilities and Resolve mechanic introduced"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}