Booting up Lost Soul Aside on PS5 feels like jumping into a dream where Final Fantasy meets Devil May Cry. It’s flashy, ambitious, and at times genuinely breathtaking. But the longer you play, the more you realize this is a game full of extremes. The highs are thrilling, while the lows can be frustrating enough to pull you out of the experience.
AT A GLANCE
- Developer: Ultizero Games
- Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Genre: Action RPG / Hack and Slash
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, PC
Story
The premise of Lost Soul Aside has all the right ingredients. You play as Kaser, a young man bonded with a mysterious, parasitic dragon-like creature named Arena. His quest to save his sister’s soul from otherworldly invaders sets the stage for something that should feel epic and personal at the same time.
Unfortunately, the story rarely delivers on that promise. The characters lack depth, the dialogue often feels stiff, and the pacing doesn’t give emotional moments room to breathe. Arena, who could have been a fascinating narrative partner, ends up feeling more like a gameplay gimmick than a real character. There are hints of intrigue here and there, but the plot quickly settles into predictable beats. It works as a backdrop for the action, but it doesn’t stand on its own.
Gameplay
This is where the game shines. The combat is fast, fluid, and genuinely addictive. You can switch between weapons on the fly, juggle enemies in mid-air, and weave Arena’s abilities into your combos. The result is a combat system that feels like a dance—you’re chaining moves, dodging at the last second, and pulling off counters that look straight out of an anime battle.
Boss fights are the highlight. They push you to master spacing, timing, and your full arsenal of skills. Every victory feels earned, and the sheer variety in attack patterns keeps you on edge. Regular encounters aren’t as exciting, since the game tends to throw waves of similar enemies at you, but the bosses more than make up for it.
Outside of combat, exploration is limited. The levels look expansive but are actually quite linear, with very little incentive to stray from the main path. Traversal can feel stiff at times, and the lock-on camera sometimes struggles to keep up. Still, the combat is so enjoyable that it carries the entire experience.
Visuals, Audio, and Technical Performance
Visually, the game is a mixed bag. At its best, it’s gorgeous, with environments that look like paintings come to life and combat effects that make every strike feel impactful. Boss arenas and large-scale set pieces are especially impressive. On the flip side, character models sometimes look waxy, and facial animations can pull you out of dramatic moments.
The soundtrack leans heavily into high-energy orchestral and electronic mixes during combat, which fits the flashy style of the action. Outside of fights, though, the music isn’t very memorable, and the voice acting is uneven. Some performances work fine, but others sound flat, which doesn’t help the already weak writing.
Performance on PS5 is mostly solid during fights, which is crucial for a game this fast-paced. Frame rates stay steady, and load times are quick. The problems show up during exploration, where autosave stutters and clunky camera movement can break immersion. The game isn’t riddled with technical issues, but there’s enough roughness to remind you that polish isn’t its strongest suit.
Final Thoughts
Summary
Lost Soul Aside is a game of contrasts. The combat is excellent its a good mix of stylish, deep, and consistently fun. The visuals often impress, and the sheer ambition behind it is clear. But the story does not hold up, the world feels shallow, and technical hiccups are common enough to notice. If you are here for the action, you will have a great time. If you are looking for a rich story or a fully fleshed-out RPG world, you will probably walk away underwhelmed.
