Check out Furi.
It's a flashy boss rush style game. A bit bullet hell a bit brawler. Might scratch that itch for you.
You could also try Sifu, it's got really slick skill based combat and interesting bosses.
this post was submitted on 27 Mar 2024
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Furi looks like exactly my kind of game. I will have to to give it a go, thank you for the suggestion
This was my first thought as well! Good call.
Not sure if it counts but Monster Hunter? That’s pretty much a boss rush game, especially Rise.
Just to be clear, Monster Hunter is 60% boss rush, 30% resource management and 10% gear progression.
Compared to Souls gameplay, Monster Hunter is more grindy and mission-based and you're always pointed at the next big thing. Beat a monster, collect materials, craft weapons and armour, repeat ad nauseam. And do everything all over again when you hit High Rank.
Don't go into Monster Hunter expecting a Souls game, it's a different experience.
That said, I absolutely love the Monster Hunter series and have probably sunk over 800 hours into different entries combined. Definitely give them a go! And if you do, keep in mind that the newer games have some handholding QoL features not found in older games, so keep that in mind when you decide in which order you might want to experience the games.
Maybe Devil May Cry games, or Bayonetta?
I've tried devil may cry 5 and I think the first one, neither really got me. I should probably try 5 again because I've only played one of the characters though
Just didn't get on with the whole disposable mechanical arm thing, didn't like that my abilities kept changing up on me out of my control
5 is the only one I haven't played yet so cannot really make a comment there, but you can check the older ones like HD collection. It has the first three games.
By the way I didn't mention earlier but Ys series with nightmare difficulty could be a nice action for you. They have a boss-rush mode where you only fight the bosses.
On this sort of line maybe Metal Gear Rising Revengence could be worth a look.
You might like Remnant or Remnant 2, I think.
Not sure it fits as it's souls with guns, so missing the spectacle fighter element, but it's definitely worth a look. They are both excellent games. I love the core loop they've got, the shooting feels excellent.
Not sure exactly how much this fits the bill for you but Kena: Bridge of Spirits may be what you're looking for. I personally describe it as a Pixar game with Souls-ish combat.
What about its combat is souls-ish?
I mean I love Kena, but it's more a game comparable to other classical action-adventures such as the Zelda games, not Dark Souls as it places very little focus on accurate dodging and judging when not to dodge, plus it has no gameplay loop built around repeated death.
I have tried out kena, it never really hooked me for some reason. Cool looking game, I like the art style
I think part of it was it felt very soft and family friendly, as you say it's a lot like a Pixar movie
The only soulslike that's reasonably flashy yet simple enough that comes to mind is Code Vein
It's slightly more cartoony than black desert, but has a high degree of character customization.
Story's fine, but not required.
Combat was cool. I found it fine even on a bluetooth controller. Didn't get massively frustrated with input lag.
Character builds can vary quite a lot, and are mostly viable. I played a glass cannon and my friend played a tank. They worked just fine alone or together. On that note, the coop is serviceable.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/678960/CODE_VEIN/
Probably wait for a discount.
I've got code vein, got a fair way through it before my co op buddy bailed and then I didn't pick it back up again
It is a little on the cartooney side as you say but it is cool looking
It might scratch the itch you're talking about, and it's also one of the greatest games of all time:
Tunic
I was going to mention this! I don't think it meets the criteria completely, but it is quite Souls-like in many aspects.
you want nioh and nioh 2.
They look a lot like regular dark souls to me. The combat looks good but I think part of what I think of when I say flashy is abilities other than just hitting things with a weapon, movement abilities, magic that isn't just standing back and pelting something, dodges that teleport you behind the enemy etc
I mean, nioh 2 has a whole tree of magic abilities and a whole tree of ninja abilities. All the weapon types have abilities you can unlock that force enemy movement, parry, make you move etc.
It’s about as far into character action that a souls like game can get before it becomes something else. It kinda already feels like something else with all the mechanics and numbers and stuff pushed out in your face.
Are you looking for something more like bayonetta or god hand?
Not out yet, but coming very soon, Another Crab's Treasure (Check the release date trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEaLBYS6YMw ).
Of course, since it's not out, we can't say if it'll be a good game or not, but it looks good, and is a colourful looking soulslike. (Which I am looking forward to myself)
Might not fit exactly but check out Titan Souls
Titan souls looks awesome and I may well give that a try, not sure it scratches the same itch as 3d souls likes though
Nioh, though it’s not simple
Sorry, not a soulslike, but Returnal might work for you. Challenging roguelite third-person shooter with awesome boss fights.
That does look pretty cool, doesn't necessarily need to be a souls like
Kinda reminds me of risk of rain visually