PlayStation’s Mixed-Reviewed ARPG Game May Actually Be Worth Playing Now

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PlayStation releases a wide variety of games, and while some become beloved classics, others unfortunately fall short. In the past, a poorly received game would usually be forgotten or mocked forever. But today, thanks to post-release updates and major patches, even bad games have a chance to improve. Sometimes, studios choose not to fix a game due to budget issues or because they want to start a new project. However, if a studio successfully addresses the problems and bugs, they can earn a lot of praise and potentially boost sales.

Like all game platforms, PlayStation occasionally releases games with issues that need fixing after launch. Even some of the most anticipated PS5 titles have launched with flaws. One game, Lost Soul Aside, received particularly harsh criticism at first, with players quickly sharing funny videos of its bugs and awkward voice acting. However, the developers have released many updates that have significantly improved the game, addressing most of the problems players complained about. While Lost Soul Aside is now a much better experience, there’s concern that the initial negative impression might prevent people from giving it a chance.

Lost Soul Aside Has Had A Rocky Few Months

I’ll be honest, the difficult launch of Lost Soul Aside really shaped my opinion of it. I went from being mildly interested to mostly finding amusement in its unintentionally funny cutscenes. It’s easy to get caught up in online negativity, especially when funny clips are shared everywhere. However, even though I didn’t buy the game myself, Lost Soul Aside wasn’t just being mocked for those cutscenes – it also received valid criticism.

While Lost Soul Aside received a lot of positive attention for its stunning graphics and fast-paced action, many critics found its story, acting, cutscenes, and technical performance lacking. This led to the game being seen as just another quickly-forgotten action RPG, only worth buying on a significant sale due to its impressive art style and the inspiring story of its creation. Determined to save its passion project, the developer, Ultizero Games, started releasing updates to fix the game’s most pressing issues.

We’ve seen this happen too many times, and I’m not going to defend it. I’d much prefer games were made with players, either by being open about how they work and letting people try them out early with demos, or by using Early Access. But there’s not much I can do about the usual development process now, especially when discussing a PlayStation game that didn’t initially succeed. So, instead, I want to highlight how dedicated the developers have been to Lost Soul Aside, which has turned out to be a much better game than I first expected. The updates have really improved the game, particularly the cutscenes and animations. While I don’t think players were overly critical at launch, the game’s comeback is definitely worth noting. If it doesn’t succeed now, we might not see similar projects in the future.

I Hope Lost Soul Aside’s Redemption Arc Pays Off

As a gamer, it’s awesome to see a game turn things around after a rough start, but I’ve realized it’s not just about the developers wanting to make their dream project great. Of course, that’s a big part of it, but a lot of it comes down to fixing serious issues and really listening to what players are saying. It’s a big risk financially – patching a game costs money, whether it’s a few tweaks or a massive overhaul like we’ve seen with games like Lost Soul Aside and Crimson Desert. Developers have to carefully weigh whether the time and money is worth it, or if a bad first impression can be overcome when they release their next game.

The recent updates to Lost Soul Aside are important for two reasons. First, they help Ultizero Games regain the positive reputation it built before the game launched. Second, they demonstrate the value of PlayStation’s China Hero Project, which aims to support game developers from around the world. Sony invested in Lost Soul Aside specifically because it qualified for this project. This kind of investment is crucial because having diverse voices in game development is essential for the industry’s future and for accurately reflecting global cultures. If we only see games made in the West or Japan, we’ll miss out on new experiences. Frankly, it’s time to move beyond the same types of protagonists we’ve seen for years.

I’m not definitively saying that the success of Lost Soul Aside will determine the future of the China Hero Project, but it was the project’s most visible game for a long time, essentially becoming its flagship title. From an outside view, the game’s fate is connected to how people perceive the value of the China Hero Project. If Lost Soul Aside is seen as a failure, it reflects badly on Sony’s investment, which is unfortunate. It would be a shame if PlayStation stopped supporting smaller studios worldwide simply because of the struggles of this one prominent game.

PlayStation has built a strong reputation for supporting independent games, especially thanks to Shuhei Yoshida’s leadership, so it’s unlikely they’d suddenly stop funding them altogether. However, PlayStation is a business, and will always need to make sure projects are profitable. They’ll likely cut funding to anything consistently losing money. Hopefully, the issues surrounding Lost Soul Aside will serve as a valuable lesson for PlayStation, prompting them to give future projects more time and resources for final polish. As Valve’s Gabe Newell famously said, “Late is just for a little while, suck is forever.”

Now that Lost Soul Aside has been updated, are you planning to give it a try? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-05-05 22:16