The Indie Informer

Having gotten a first look at another of the developer’s projects, Nekome: Nazi Hunter, I prepared to quickly change gears. Rather than grounded stealth, my next hands-off preview was centered around larger-than-life battles between the forces of heaven and hell, with an enthralling metal score to emphasize the epic vibes.

Crimson Moon is a Soulslike game for those who don’t play Soulslikes.

Crimson Moon seemingly seeks to strike a balance between a lot of elements. The game champions two-player co-op play, though I’m told solo players will also have a good experience. The landscape is stunning, though the action is savage. And the game has a devilishly Doom-like atmosphere with a Soulslike core.

Something I noticed very early on in the demo was chief product officer of ProbablyMonsters, Mark Subotnick, was careful never to mention the Souls genre by name, despite the obvious inspiration. He was open about his difficulties with the typical Souls experience, including the dejection he feels when losing all his progress after losing a fight. Crimson Moon tries to be a little more friendly for players — something that seems very funny to say as I watch the main character spatter blood across the environment.

The game begins in a hub location crowned with soaring architecture and NPCs emanating church-like reverence. Before heading out, it’s the player’s job to select the kind of Nephilim (half-human, half-angel) they want to control. This demo showed off the Aegis archetype, which bears a sword and shield and seems more melee-oriented.

Watching combat unfold, the fighting style feels familiar, with slashing, parrying, dodging, and shielding. Then I notice the special moves, which, rather than being tied to the character’s stats, are connected to the equipment he’s carrying. Rushing forward with an angelic shield bash looks unexpectedly brutal. And if everything goes just right, players can trigger a special finishing move that would seem at home in Mortal Kombat. The one that sticks in my mind is shoving an oversized club through a bulky enemy’s face.

If things don’t look like they’re going well, players can trigger a gloriously wrathful angel form, complete with uniquely powerful attacks and increased defense, for a short fighting frenzy. If, however, that still isn’t enough to win the fight, Crimson Moon has slightly tweaked the Souls formula. Players start with three resurrections, which bring the player back to the fight immediately after dying. If death is still unavoidable, players get to keep some earned XP to help power up between runs.

Crimson Moon is still in development, though it’s aiming to release this year. If you’ve wanted to get a taste of the Souls genre but have so far bounced off, this will be a game to keep an eye on.