Why is this game considered a "souls-lite/like"?

[DatGameh]

Like many other games, I think this game should abandon it's "souls-like" characteristic as a unique selling point.
There were so many other "souls-like" 2D games from before the 2000s that utilized extreme strictness as its game mechanic.
The only similarity I see in this game with Souls is the addition of a roll and flask mechanic.
If anything, this game has more similarities with early Castlevania titles (when the game was actually difficult) than souls. Maybe rolls weren't existent, but I'm sure sliding was the alternative to rolls back then. Clunky and laggy movement also existed in Castlevania before Souls came to existence.

Since this game difficulty and mechanics more similar to Castlevania than Souls, and exploration like Metroid, I suggest labeling this game as a "Metroidvania" than "Souls-like"

oh wait

[-Golden Armor-]

this game doesnt feel at all like a "souls" game tbh, it feels like a strider/metroidvania hack n slash game, which is ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ awesome btw.

i think they just put the souls-like so it could gather more interest.

[Duck]

There's a trend were anything remotely inspired by Dark Souls becomes a "souls-like". The main inspiration is the supposed application of the permanent and refillable estus flask that you acquire through spending a form of currency. "Souls", "Cells" and such... That might remotely be the closest similarity.

Other games that are called 'Souls-like' tend to have a similar system.

[FDru]

Enemies kill you quickly, often instantly.

Evade and strike are the primary methods of winning just about every encounter.

You "start over" when you die (in souls the enemies respawn instead, but whatever).

What else makes a game like Dark Souls? Like if you were to make a 2D game trying to make it as much like Dark Souls as possible, how would you do it?

[MaximumSquid]

No rolling stamina
Most enemies are very predictable in their attack patterns so very much not like souls
You will feel powerful at times in this game and even unstoppable if combos / stats line up

Downside is your build is random so you can't plan to (1) shot bosses each run

You will never feel trapped in this game as it won't force you to face a challenge over and over again that you aren't prepared for. . . dieing instead is a reset and thus a new chance for better things to happen + your previous unlocks & knowledge giving you the edge

[DatGameh]

Originally posted by MaximumSquid:

No rolling stamina
Most enemies are very predictable in their attack patterns so very much not like souls
You will feel powerful at times in this game and even unstoppable if combos / stats line up

Downside is your build is random so you can't plan to (1) shot bosses each run

You will never feel trapped in this game as it won't force you to face a challenge over and over again that you aren't prepared for. . . dieing instead is a reset and thus a new chance for better things to happen + your previous unlocks & knowledge giving you the edge

To add to that, in Dark Souls, they punish you in death by taking away your humanity. But in here, they restart your progress and experience levels.
Also, how many games have implemented carryable potions?

[ChaosSabre]

It has some of the souls staples. Precide shield parrying, having to learn enemy movements, highly punishing if you mess up, timed rolls, flask system and you lose all your cells on death. Only thing that would make it more souls like is if it had stamina meter. But I'm glad it doesn't.

[DatGameh]

Originally posted by ChaosSabre:

It has some of the souls staples. Precide shield parrying, having to learn enemy movements, highly punishing if you mess up, timed rolls, flask system and you lose all your cells on death. Only thing that would make it more souls like is if it had stamina meter. But I'm glad it doesn't.

CCompared to all the other Souls-like games made, this game is probably the least souls-like.
Many other games take the souls formula, and give it a slightly different twist.
This game may have invincible rolls, a parry system and a flask system, but if anything, the closest thing to souls is the flask system.
I feel that calling this a Souls-like when you look at other Souls-like games is like calling Duke Nukem 3D a Doom-Clone.

[Duck]

Clearly, there's undeniably many similarities that people show. The difficulty may be the fact you struggle you with it being a side scrolling and the rogue-like mechanics

[ChaosSabre]

Originally posted by William A. Zeppeli:

Originally posted by ChaosSabre:

It has some of the souls staples. Precide shield parrying, having to learn enemy movements, highly punishing if you mess up, timed rolls, flask system and you lose all your cells on death. Only thing that would make it more souls like is if it had stamina meter. But I'm glad it doesn't.

CCompared to all the other Souls-like games made, this game is probably the least souls-like.
Many other games take the souls formula, and give it a slightly different twist.
This game may have invincible rolls, a parry system and a flask system, but if anything, the closest thing to souls is the flask system.
I feel that calling this a Souls-like when you look at other Souls-like games is like calling Duke Nukem 3D a Doom-Clone.

Again only thing this is missing compared to souls is the stamina system. But besides that it's very similar. And duke nukem 3d can be considered a doom clone honestly.

[DatGameh]

Originally posted by ChaosSabre:

Again only thing this is missing compared to souls is the stamina system. But besides that it's very similar. And duke nukem 3d can be considered a doom clone honestly.

Try looking at The Surge, Code Vein and Lords of Fallen.
Those are souls-like games.
They have a flask system, camera-lock system, RPG stats system, respawn system, etc.
With that in mind, I don't see enough similarities between Dead Cells and Dark Souls to consider DC a Souls-like game.
Castlevania has pioneered slow-swinging weapons, weapon stamina (look at Order of Eccelsia), leveling, heavy damage from minor enemies, and great weapon variety before DS even existed. The only similarity the game has with DS is the flask system.

By rhe way, Duke Nukem 3D and Doom may be similar, but they are different enough. If you were to call Duke Nukem a Doom clone, then that would make RainbowSix Siege a CS:GO clone

[Duck]

Let's get this straight. Castlevania has many mechanics that inspired Dark Souls and Dark Souls has many mechanics that are like Dead Cells.

Does that make Dark Souls a souls-like by that definition?

By the modern person, Dark Souls is far more known than Castlevania by today's standards. So people coined a genre for the sake of people that wish for similar content. Some people enjoy the idea of highly skill based gameplay, flask system, unique weapons and hard hitting enemies.

Is that wrong? So is a stamina system what defines all of dark souls?

[DatGameh]

Originally posted by Butterscotch:

Let's get this straight. Castlevania has many mechanics that inspired Dark Souls and Dark Souls has many mechanics that are like Dead Cells.

Does that make Dark Souls a souls-like by that definition?

By the modern person, Dark Souls is far more known than Castlevania by today's standards. So people coined a genre for the sake of people that wish for similar content. Some people enjoy the idea of highly skill based gameplay, flask system, unique weapons and hard hitting enemies.

Is that wrong? So is a stamina system what defines all of dark souls?

Dark Souls really is a famous game that is known by many. But giving credit to Dark Souls for majority of the designs that this game inspired from feels wrong.
Doesn't Castlevania deserve more credit than just a second label for what are basically Metroid-like games?

The reason why FPS games during the 90s weren't called Wolfenstein-like games is because Doom was far superior than Wolfenstein ever was and is a better game to compare to.
Dark Souls is more popular than Castlevania, but Castlevania is in no way worse than Dark Souls.
What I'm trying to suggest is:
Dark Souls is Castlevania in 3D
Castlevania is Dark Souls in 2D.
As such, I find that this game fits the Castlevania label (alone) better than Dark Souls.

[Stevi]

Just a reminder the store page refers to the combat as souls-lite, not souls-like. I still don't find it a good descriptor for the game's combat though.

[Darthzz]

Originally posted by Dinodinodude:

Just a reminder the store page refers to the combat as souls-lite, not souls-like. I still don't find it a good descriptor for the game's combat though.

It should just say that the game was INSPIRED by souls games, not just brand it as a "souls-lite".

[Stevi]

Originally posted by miao:

Originally posted by Dinodinodude:

Just a reminder the store page refers to the combat as souls-lite, not souls-like. I still don't find it a good descriptor for the game's combat though.

It should just say that the game was INSPIRED by souls games, not just brand it as a "souls-lite".

Or just describe it how it is?

"Challenging combat rewarding precision and risk-taking."