[A new patch for Mortal Shell 2 aims to refine the gameplay experience.]
The journey of a game developer never truly ends. Even after launch, there’s always work to be done, tweaks to be made, and balance adjustments to implement. This is especially true for games in the challenging Soulslike genre, where even the smallest changes can have a significant impact on player experience. And so, it comes as no surprise that Cold Symmetry has already released the first patch for Mortal Shell 2, aiming to smooth out some of those initial rough edges.
Economy Overhaul and Enemy Adjustments
The most significant change introduced in this patch revolves around the in-game economy. As detailed in a Steam discussion thread, shell map locations now require gloom, but any previously spent glimpses will be refunded at the Shell Keeper’s alcove in Blackmarrow. Furthermore, enemies are dropping “significantly” more gold, with Mammon specifically dispensing double the previous amount (“This brings the gold economy more in line with the weapon crafting item discovery,” the developers explain). Smelting weapons at the Tarforge now costs 75% less gloom, a change that addresses concerns about the initial grind. The developers stated, “Our goal with the smelt capability was to enable switching weapons without the need to spend hours grinding through NG+ runs, but the gloom costs were set exorbitantly high.”
Beyond the Grind: Quality of Life and Bug Fixes
Beyond the economic adjustments, this patch also brings a host of quality-of-life improvements. Enemy and boss HP values in the beta have been reverted to their original levels, with a notable exception for the Caerinid (Spider) in Magdelena’s area, which remains a challenging foe. Several weapons and tarstones have received buffs, guard can now be used while walking, and numerous crash fixes and performance improvements have been implemented.
A Solid Foundation: Jeremy’s Take
While these changes are welcome, it’s important to remember that Mortal Shell 2 was already a strong contender in the Soulslike landscape. As Jeremy noted in his review, “plenty of Soulslikes feature excellent dungeons, but Mortal Shell 2’s feel like they might have been pirated as a ‘top 100 maps’ package back in 1998, which is both a sincere compliment and a massive upgrade from the confusing levels of the first game… And the fact that this game manages to tie retro-feeling maps into an expansive open world that might not be as big as Elden Ring ‘s or Nioh 3 ‘s, but is arguably tighter with more interwoven areas, is astounding.” This first patch simply builds upon that solid foundation, making the game even more accessible and enjoyable for a wider audience.
Source: Rock Paper Shotgun
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