The Relic: First Guardian is a AA Korean Soulslike developed by Project Cloud Games, a new studio. For a debut title, it’s not short of spectacle, scope and over-the-top design, including genuinely impressive world-building and some unique boss designs you wouldn’t have seen in a Soulslike before. However, there is one mechanic included that seemingly goes against the mandate of what a Soulslike should be.
The genre is famous for being a mountain you have to climb, and feeling the sense of accomplishment from beating the hard boss, or finding a new route etc. However, The Relic: First Guardian changes this formula slightly, with a death counter present throughout your playthrough, reminding you of your deaths. During a lengthy chat with Game Director In-Hyeok Park about a multitude of things, I asked him why this mechanic was included, as it felt like a constant reminder of failure. He said:
“I proposed the system. I thought that after finishing the game and looking back, a single number – the player’s death count – could become a lasting reminder of their journey. It is not intended to judge whether someone played well or poorly. It is a record of the path they took through the world and the struggles they faced along the way. Because the system was not intended to punish failure, players do not lose experience or currency when they die.”
After seeing this, it did indeed change my way of viewing the mechanic, but the annoyance of the little red number creeping up every time I made a stupid mistake, got overwhelmed by enemies or just wasn’t good enough was still there, personally.
The Relic: First Guardian releases July 31st on PlayStation 5, and PC, with XBOX Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2 coming later in the year.
What do you make of the presence of a death counter in The Relic: First Guardian? Does it put you off? Will you be buying it when it releases? Let us know in the comments below!
For your next read, check out Park’s comments on a cut mechanic we’re glad didn’t appear, or The Eventide, a new X-Filesesque game coming from some ex-Bioware developers.
Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
