How Lost Soul Aside Lost Its Way

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On another occasion, I find myself delving into the reasons behind a disappointing outcome for a game that seemed destined to be one of the standout titles of 2025. Following the misstep with the game MindsEye, I decided to focus on Lost Soul Aside, an action-adventure title with an intriguing concept and numerous popular games serving as its inspiration for gameplay, combat, and themes.

I’ve got to admit, my anticipation was high for this one due to my fondness for action-packed games featuring intense battles. In fact, I might overlook a weak plot if the fights meet expectations. However, while Kaser and Arena did deliver the excitement I hoped for in Ultizero’s debut, they didn’t quite live up to my expectations overall, leaving me somewhat disappointed.

In our assessment, the game showcased potential for greatness, yet several aspects hindered its realization. These include inconsistent story flow, subpar visuals, and flawed audio that detracted from what would have otherwise been a remarkable adventure. However, these imperfections didn’t suddenly materialize. They are indicators of issues that should have been identified during an extended development phase.

What could be the primary reason for Lost Soul Aside’s underwhelming performance since its launch? Regrettably, the reasons are quite clear to see. Let’s delve into it.

A Lot to Like

Instead of jumping straight into discussing why “Lost Soul Aside” didn’t meet the high expectations of many action-adventure fans, including myself, it would be beneficial first to analyze what makes this game effective. By doing so, we can better understand its potential and later discuss why it failed to deliver as anticipated.

Initially, the foundation of this game is intriguing. It sets Kaser against an oppressive government and a hostile alien species, thereby establishing a reason for its repetitive gameplay mechanics. Moreover, it gives us a protagonist who could convincingly be a tough character, providing both the opportunity and motivation. The high-stakes element of his sister’s soul being at risk adds a personal touch, suggesting that the narrative should have been instrumental in the game’s success.

The second aspect I’d like to highlight is the intense fighting in this game that really packs a punch. It reminds me of games such as “Metal Gear Rising”, “Ninja Gaiden”, and “Final Fantasy”. The developer, Yang Bing, has incorporated elements from these titles into their work. The powerful swings of your weapon, precision dodges, and combined abilities of Kaser and Arena are a joy to use, dealing significant damage to both minor opponents and bosses.

The marketing materials for Lost Soul Aside were exceptionally well-done, likely due to Sony Interactive Entertainment’s involvement as a publisher. This was a major factor in my excitement for this game. Even though it has a linear structure, its gameplay offers enjoyable platforming sequences and numerous fights that Kaser and Arena must navigate through, making the experience quite entertaining overall.

In theory, each of these advantages should combine to create a captivating game that’s enjoyable to play and entertaining overall. However, let’s take a moment to examine the less-discussed aspects of Lost Soul Aside.

Fatal Flaws

Ultizero’s journey played a significant role in shaping innovative concepts from its conception in 2017, which emerged during Bing’s partnership with Sony and Sony China Hero Project. These ideas were already embedded within the game’s core when it was just Bing’s individual project, even as he continued his academic pursuits.

Unfortunately, the collaboration might have contributed to the struggles of Lost Soul Aside. It appears that all of its promising concepts fell victim to imperfect execution, a theme that pervades the game’s shortcomings. Despite receiving Sony’s backing and significant assistance from the Japanese giant, Ultizero’s lack of experience in high-budget productions seems to have prevented their debut title from reaching its intended brilliance.

The inconsistency found in all key aspects of the gameplay suggests that Lost Soul Aside might have been impacted by a development process involving frequent back-and-forth between its creators and Sony’s highly experienced teams. This seems reminiscent of the saying “too many cooks spoil the broth,” and unfortunately, it appears that both the game and its players have borne the brunt of this situation.

Let’s examine the graphics of the game as a point in my claim that Lost Soul Aside suffered from developmental mismanagement due to prioritization issues. Although certain aspects of the game are visually impressive, other parts seem more suitable for older generation systems. Given that the game was developed using Unreal Engine 4, this inconsistency is something that should have been spotted and addressed promptly in the early stages of development.

The game’s performance exhibits significant fluctuations, often struggling to sustain a smooth frame rate, even on the enhanced PS5 Pro in Quality Mode. Unfortunately, this inconsistency negatively impacts the game’s combat, its strongest feature. It appears that Ultizero may have placed an excessive emphasis on action, potentially overlooking other crucial aspects of the intended gaming experience.

Mentioning the error made by newcomers, commonly known as “rookie mistakes,” is understandable. However, what makes this oversight less excusable is that Ultizero had been backed by Sony since its very beginning.

A Lack of Balance

In a straightforward manner, it’s apparent that Kaser’s elegant grace and balance didn’t play a role in shaping his adventure. This is evident in how Lost Soul Aside consistently places him in relentless sequences of battles against common enemies and bosses. The game’s prologue further contributes to this feeling by setting the story on a specific path, only for it to veer sharply in another direction later on.

The invasion by Voidrax should have been delayed, giving Kaser’s battles against the Empire more prominence in the early stages. As it is now, the game’s plot seems to undervalue the potential of its opening chapters, making them somewhat unremarkable once you delve deeper into the main storylines. To my mind, this makes Kaser appear less complex as a character, and the narrative lacks depth because he is suddenly saddled with a more significant adversary even though his personal vendetta against the Empire has been emphasized throughout.

In my opinion, Ultizero might have made wiser decisions regarding the game engine selection. Given that the game Lost Soul Aside has been in development since at least 2017, upgrading to Unreal Engine 5 could have significantly enhanced its visuals, making it a more contemporary title. However, this change may have also resulted in potential performance issues.

In their early stages, some might hesitate to use Ultizero’s relatively novel engine. However, given Sony’s extensive knowledge and experience, it could be strategically advantageous for them to capitalize on this expertise to address any potential issues that may arise. This is particularly pertinent when considering games like “Black Myth: Wukong” and “Wuchang: Fallen Feathers,” which have thrived using UE5 even though they initially started on UE4.

The development periods for those titles were lengthened due to the shift, but they ultimately turned out to be significantly improved experiences. It’s plausible that Lost Soul Aside could follow a similar path, potentially resolving both its visual discrepancies and performance problems in one go.

The Road to Redemption

It’s evident that Lost Soul Aside might have benefited from additional development time, resulting in a more enjoyable final product. Despite this, there’s still potential for Ultizero to make some adjustments and possibly enhance the experience to a certain degree.

It’s encouraging to note that the team behind the studio has taken notice of the feedback given and is taking steps to address the issues with the game currently. Beyond the day one patch, we eagerly await seeing how Lost Soul Aside will evolve over the next few months. However, the question remains whether it can be completely salvaged.

Although my initial response might be negative, I must acknowledge that Sony’s involvement with the game “Lost Soul Aside” could potentially be a significant advantage. If the publisher known for backing some of today’s top-tier gaming titles provides the necessary support to Ultizero, there is a good chance that “Lost Soul Aside” can be polished and improved significantly, given the track record of Sony with its high-quality games.

Despite the challenges ahead, I genuinely hope that “Lost Souls Aside” manages to win over its players, including myself, with its success. When it performs at its best, it offers a wealth of enjoyable experiences and creates moments that are hard to forget.

It remains to be seen whether my wish will materialize. However, I fervently hope that Ultizero has gained valuable insights from this experience, improving their future endeavors to rectify the issue more effectively and potentially excel even further with their upcoming project.

Please take note that the opinions expressed in this piece are solely those of the writer and may not reflect the perspectives or stance of GamingBolt as a whole. The author’s views should not be attributed to or associated with GamingBolt as a company.

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2025-09-05 16:50