Mortal Shell, one of the biggest indie surprises of the summer, is getting closer to its official launch. Wednesday morning developer Cold Symmetry dropped a brand new trailer for the Dark Souls-like action RPG. Not only is it one of the best trailers of 2020, but it also confirmed Mortal Shell’s official release date. Excited fans can look forward to playing Mortal Shell on PC, PS4, and Xbox One starting August 18.
The August 18 release date is especially surprising given that Mortal Shell was only announced several months ago. The game’s first reveal came on April 1, though it really broke into the mainstream in June when gameplay debuted during the PC Gaming Show. Following that, Cold Symmetry released a limited beta version of Mortal Shell in July that also was received very well. It’s the kind of indie game that’s deservedly gaining attention as more of the game is shown.
Even with a substantial amount of pre-launch gameplay footage available, however, Mortal Shell’s launch trailer may be the best representation of the game yet. The first portion of the trailer focuses on mood, story, and setting, establishing Mortal Shell’s dark and disturbing world. The second portion focuses on gameplay, particularly the game’s beautiful combat and animations. It goes from a spooky trailer to an action-packed one in a matter of seconds.
The Dark Souls, and specifically the Demon’s Souls influence is clear in the first portion of the trailer. The dark forests and bandit camps, as well as the female NPC voiceover are eerily familiar. Once the action picks up in the trailer, Mortal Shell stands apart. If anything, it takes on a shinier style more akin to other Souls-like titles like Lords of the Fallen.
While the comparisons to other Souls-like titles may be apt, since Mortal Shell is a highly derivative experience, Mortal Shell will have to prove its quality on its own come launch. That doesn’t mean it has to be strikingly original or anything. It just has to be a polished and high-quality Souls-like. Exciting trailers, sharp visuals, and a familiar genre work great for marketing pre-launch, though.
An August release date also sets up Mortal Shell for success. September is when larger games start to launch, making competition much more heated. Mortal Shell’s launch date gives it the opportunity to stand out against August game releases like Microsoft Flight Simulator, Battletoads, and UFC 4 rather than Marvel’s Avengers and the like. It’s a great chance for Mortal Shell to explode, so long as it delivers a great game.
Mortal Shell releases August 18 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
