OverBorder Studio’s debut titleThymesiahas been on the radar of Soulslike fans for some time. However, much of what players have had to go on is short video clips and promises from the developer. Then aThymesiademo launchedas a part of the Going Rogue Steam Festival, finally putting the game in peoples' hands.
From early footage shown off involving the game, manyBloodbornefans have already begun flocking toThymesiain the hopes that it will be able to live up to the PS4 exclusive. However, the potential indie darling might have more in common with a different FromSoftware title when breaking down the combat to its barest mechanics.
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Fans of FromSoftware’s catalog may notice that whileThymesiaaesthetically appeals to the same style asBloodborne, its gameplay may have more in common withSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. This is to say that the fast-paced combat, with a heavy emphasis on deflections, feels more like a series of duels rather than a hunt for beastly enemies. Inspirations from allacross the Soulslike sphereare apparent, and bring together a unique experience that sets itself apart from the rest of the genre.
Thymesia Gives off Strong Bloodborne Vibes
Thecomparisons betweenThymesiaandBloodborneare nothing new, especially looking at the game’s visuals, fast pace, and plague-themed storyline. Yet these similarities don’t necessarily stop at the surface level. Much of the combat gives off a similar tone toBloodborne, with aggression being front and center due to the lack of a reliable shield. There are deviations in some areas of combat, but fans of dodging and countering beasts or celestial abominations will find plenty to love.
Of course,Thymesiadoes deviate in certain aspects, both reinterpreting and improving upon some of the systems that players have become familiar with in comparative titles. One of those changes also pulls back on one ofBloodborne’s best mechanics, the self-heal when inflicting damage, but it may be better that OverBorder doesn’t simply clone the popular title. AsThymesiadeviates from theBloodbornetemplate, it begins to stray closer to the posture-based combat fromSekiro: Shadows Die Twice.
Thymesia’s Combat Leans Closer to Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
This specifically goes into how deflections, health, and stamina work in the demo. Similar toBloodborne, there is no shield to sit behind, forcing players to take a more active stance in combat. However, the deflections and parries behave less like a gun and more like therhythmic katana dueling inSekiro. Then there’s the way killing an enemy doesn’t come from bringing their health to zero, and is instead done through a final strike after breaking their posture.
Thymesia’s gameplayleaning towardSekiroalso stops short of being a complete clone by removing several defensive strategies that helped players survive in FromSoftware’s title. Namely, multiple dodges and maintained guard are missing fromThymesia, leaving the player to master the narrower field of parries and pinpoint evasion. On that same note, stopping enemies from recovering health and posture is also more streamlined, giving this indie title its own twist on combat.
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Thymesia Still Stands out on its Own
Beyond the comparisons that fans have already made, there is a solid identity built within thegameplay ofThymesiathat strikes out to make its own name in the genre. One major deviation from similar games is the utility of both light and heavy attacks, in this case coming down to sword swipes and claw charges. The two attacks not only deal different types of damage, rewarding players with permanent posture damage for taking the risk of a heavy attack, but the claws have a secondary ability.
Charging the claw inThymesia’s demo is a risky move that offers two rewards for the trouble. On one hand, it will do damage that can’t be recovered over time, and then it will also steal a version of the enemy’s weapon, which the player can use to deal even more damage. These temporary weapons are one of the stronger aspects that help itchallenge Soulslike genre conventions, and gain its own identity that will see combat shifting not only as enemies gain new attacks, but the player as well.
Players on the Fence Should Pick Up the Steam Demo
At this point, the Soulslike genre is filled with copycats and knock-offs that never manage to strike close to the brutal, deliberate combat of FromSoftware’s flagship series. However, there are a few stand-out achievements likeThymesiathat showcase a passion for what really makes players flock totitles includingElden RingorDemon’s Souls. For anyone who might have seen footage of the game, but wasn’t sure if it was for them, picking up this demo is the best chance to get a feel for what OverBorder Studio has in store.
Not only doesThymesiaemulate a lot of the best parts of FromSoftware’s recent games, it does so while bringing new ideas to the table. Putting aside comparisons, the game has plenty to offer as a thrilling challenge through a world with some stellar visuals. WithThymesiareleasinglater this year, it comes at a time when the Soulslike genre needs more strong contenders to keep growing alongside the surge brought on byElden Ring. For now, fans can pick up the demo and provide feedback to OverBorder Studio to make sure that the game manages to live up to its predecessors at launch.
Thymesiais set to release on August 9 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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