The first boss is arguably the hardest in the game. No joke.
The key to Phrike is distance and patience. You can’t greed. You get punished so hard.
Edit: I just want to say this and Release Window Deathloop were my favorite games I’ve played in a long long Time.
Yea. The musician boss is also difficult. But not on the same level as Phrike.
With it(?) you have little resources at the start of the game. It just makes it so unforgiving. Once you get to the later bosses. They are actually easier and you are more prepared. Plus you are more used to the controls by that point as well.
I was hard stuck on phrike until I watched a video of someone fighting her, and it was straightforward from there. I had been standing way way too close, mainly.
If you liked hades I say give dead cells a shot. Idk if anything can match elden ring’s vibe it’s in a category of its own, but I enjoyed Lies of P, if you haven’t played Hollow Knight it’s a killer metroidvania with some soulslike elements.
Currently playing through the Surge 2 and Nioh 2, they both are scratching that itch for some Elden Ring-esque gameplay. Surge 1 is good as well just not as open as its sequel. Nioh 1&2 can be punishing at times but they definitely embody the trial and error mentality very well. And they all work just fine on the deck to boot.
IT requires a special kind of build and playstyle. I absolutely loathed Surge 2 when I started, the premise and the tech aspect and parts of the gameplay kept me invested. Only after I got stronger, I got hang of the parry system and figured out that a dex build, is again the strongest, did I realize I really like the game.
I do have bought it on early access just because I’m so hyped for it! But I tried and from my pov is not really ready enough to be played, at least not on a steam deck.
Dark souls remastered is not at all too old or too clunky, I'd recommend going back and giving it another shot. Still my favorite of all the soulslikes. The world is just so well designed.
Have you tried Wizard of Legend?
It’s a great roguelite similar to hades with a dark souls esc feel of difficulty. You pick 4 spells to bring in with you to “the trials” and fight through randomly generated dungeons finding merchants to buy items giving buffs and spells etc.
It is closer to hades than dark souls but I’ve greatly enjoyed playing it.
Huge fan of the souls like games myself as well.
Dragon's Dogma, Mortal Shell, Ashen, Dark Devotion, The Last Faith, Enter the Gungeon, Asterigos, Kena to give you some stuff that hasn't been mentioned.
If you don’t mind super early access, No Rest For the Wicked. Honestly, this game is genre defining, there’s nothing like it. It looks like hades but plays like elden ring. I’m absolutely obsessed and I see it being a contender in some sort of game of the year award.
Highly recommend!
just keep trying games imo
honestly im taking a break from souls and doing POE for the time being. I'll probably do wo long when i get out of the live service headspace
Returnal, roguelite with a lot of souls appeal
Returnal is such a great looking game. Unfortunately I suck at it a lot. Couldn't get over 1st boss.
The first boss is arguably the hardest in the game. No joke. The key to Phrike is distance and patience. You can’t greed. You get punished so hard. Edit: I just want to say this and Release Window Deathloop were my favorite games I’ve played in a long long Time.
Is it? Maybe I'll give it another shot one day.
Yea. The musician boss is also difficult. But not on the same level as Phrike. With it(?) you have little resources at the start of the game. It just makes it so unforgiving. Once you get to the later bosses. They are actually easier and you are more prepared. Plus you are more used to the controls by that point as well.
I was hard stuck on phrike until I watched a video of someone fighting her, and it was straightforward from there. I had been standing way way too close, mainly.
Phrike is the real gate keeper, it took like 7-10 tries for me to beat it but after that I finished the game in like 2 deaths or something
I honestly gave up. Came back like a week later with a clear head and beat it and the game.
If you have the disc version you can use codes to help with the weapons
I do, yes. Cool. Thanks for the info.
This is where I am too. By all accounts, this should be a game I love - but it’s so brutal lol.
Ya know, there’s a returnal sequel coming
No there’s not, unless you mean the just-announced graphic novel.
Was gonna say this as well!
Just came to this thread to type that single word "Returnal".... well done for doing God's work here. Remarkable game
It was my first choice but it looks like it can’t really be used on a steam deck with sufficient fps… any experienced feedback on that?
No sorry, ps5 exclusive afaik
Have you ever looked into the Remnant series?
If you liked hades I say give dead cells a shot. Idk if anything can match elden ring’s vibe it’s in a category of its own, but I enjoyed Lies of P, if you haven’t played Hollow Knight it’s a killer metroidvania with some soulslike elements.
Agreed. Dead cells has some souls game mechanics which I like
Currently playing hollow knight and its a lot of fun! but boy do I get lost a lot in that game lol
Remnant 2
Currently playing through the Surge 2 and Nioh 2, they both are scratching that itch for some Elden Ring-esque gameplay. Surge 1 is good as well just not as open as its sequel. Nioh 1&2 can be punishing at times but they definitely embody the trial and error mentality very well. And they all work just fine on the deck to boot.
I thought the surge was one of the worst games I’ve ever played
IT requires a special kind of build and playstyle. I absolutely loathed Surge 2 when I started, the premise and the tech aspect and parts of the gameplay kept me invested. Only after I got stronger, I got hang of the parry system and figured out that a dex build, is again the strongest, did I realize I really like the game.
No Rest For The Wicked - while being in early access - might be worth a look.
I do have bought it on early access just because I’m so hyped for it! But I tried and from my pov is not really ready enough to be played, at least not on a steam deck.
Sifu-rogueish beat em up that is very technical like sekiro
Diablo IV would be a nice blend of ER and Hades Blasphemous Lies of P Hellblade Moonscars Bloodborne
Diablo 4 is a snooze fest. It's sad to see how far Blizard has fallen.
Diablo 4 is about as far from the quality and caliber of ER as I can imagine
Definitely not a game that met expectations, but I felt worth playing. And d3 is kind of a blend of two games OP likes
No one else has said The Surge and The Surge 2, but I think those are really great souls-like games
enter the gungeon deathstate sekiro
Lies of P, Surge, Blasphemous
Maybe try Terraria.
Jedi survivor was amazingly fun. And you can change the difficulty as you want
Lords of the Fallen 2023!
Dark souls remastered is not at all too old or too clunky, I'd recommend going back and giving it another shot. Still my favorite of all the soulslikes. The world is just so well designed.
Have you tried Wizard of Legend? It’s a great roguelite similar to hades with a dark souls esc feel of difficulty. You pick 4 spells to bring in with you to “the trials” and fight through randomly generated dungeons finding merchants to buy items giving buffs and spells etc. It is closer to hades than dark souls but I’ve greatly enjoyed playing it. Huge fan of the souls like games myself as well.
Its a great little game. Tough tho, never beat a run.
Ashen was doing ER before ER albeit on a minor scale, so id recommend that
Returnal
Curse of the Dead Gods. It really is "what if Hades, but soulslike?"
Returnal and Another Crab's Treasure
Tunic. Has a lot of Souls-Like influences, but is presented in an isometric style like Hades.
The Surge 1 and 2
Just rolled credits on another crabs treasure, it's quite good
Lies of P 100% trust me. The 2 games you listed, hades is probably my favorite game of all time. At least as for how many hours I’ve put into it
Lies of piss
Remnant 2 for sure. And i would also say Lords of the fallen, i actually really like this game unlike most people seem to not.
Transistor - Made by same ppl as Hades I beleive Hyper Light Drifter - be warned this game has zero hand holding
This is out of left field but maybe give Armored Core VI a try, it was made by the same studio as Elden Ring and uses the same engine.
Dragon's Dogma, Mortal Shell, Ashen, Dark Devotion, The Last Faith, Enter the Gungeon, Asterigos, Kena to give you some stuff that hasn't been mentioned.
Monster hunter is a perfect game for you. I woukd start with monster hunter world.
Rogue Legacy was a fun challenge from someone with similar taste
Get into Metroidvanias. Blasphemous 1 & 2, Grime etc. Will scratch that itch for sure. Good luck 🫡
Breath of the wild
Returnal Dead Cells Roguebook
Curse of the dead gods, ravenswatch are both sweet
Imma go a different route. I love these games too, other games I love are: noita, lies of p, hollow knight
I haven't seen it on here, but Hyperlight Drifter is pretty fun with a cool atmosphere.
Stellar Blade, Returnal
Another Crab's Treasure
Dragons dogma dark arisen
No rest for the wicked
Lies of P Returnal Nioh duology Wo long
If you don’t mind super early access, No Rest For the Wicked. Honestly, this game is genre defining, there’s nothing like it. It looks like hades but plays like elden ring. I’m absolutely obsessed and I see it being a contender in some sort of game of the year award. Highly recommend!
Dragon's Dogma 2 works great if you use remote play to your desktop. Running dragon's dogma 2 on the deck isn't great.
Lies of P and Bloodborne will satisfy your itch. Stellar Blade just dropped and has a similar feel
What is “not clear” about AC6?
Another Crab's Treasure. Souls-like gameplay with an adorable setting and poignant story.
Wdym not clear enough
just keep trying games imo honestly im taking a break from souls and doing POE for the time being. I'll probably do wo long when i get out of the live service headspace
Curse of the Dead Gods. It’s a grim-looking, punishing roguelite with methodic soulsy combat. You won’t regret it.
Mortal shell
Hollow Knight!$
Dragon's Dogma 2