Discover the Breathtaking Wonders of Enotria: A Gorgeous World with Imperfections in Its Combat
Enotria: The Last Song Review – A Visually Stunning Soulslike with Fractured Gameplay
Imagine a world inspired by Italian folklore, where puppets come to life, and the line between reality and fantasy blurs. Welcome to Enotria: The Last Song, a soulslike game that’s as beautiful as it is flawed. Developed by Jyamma Games, this title offers a unique setting, captivating art direction, and an intriguing combat system, but falls short in its execution.
A World of Wonder
Enotria’s art direction is simply sublime. The gorgeously detailed environments are vividly colored, often sun-drenched, creating a pleasant atmosphere that’s uncommon in the soulslike subgenre. The game’s world is full of life, with subtle animations and animations that bring its inhabitants to life. While not quite reaching FromSoftware’s level of intricacy, Enotria presents plenty of winding streets, alleyways, and nooks to discover, encouraging exploration and optional exploration.
A Complex Combat System
Weaving in and out of various masks, which change your character’s appearance and offer unique abilities, is a fascinating concept. With a maximum of three loadouts, you can mix and match different masks to create a playstyle that suits you. However, the game’s technical execution is marred by a convoluted system of equipment, ability categories, and Italian terminology. It’s easy to get lost in the noise, and the lack of clear explanations doesn’t help.
A Fractured Experience
Boss fights are a mixed bag. While some encounters are striking and memorable, like the twisted, monstrous form of Zanni The First Mask, others feel like a letdown, with weak difficulties and little challenge. Even attempting to defeat a powerful boss for the first time, only to clear it in under two minutes on your first attempt, can be anticlimactic.
Accessibility
Enotria offers some welcome accessibility options, including colorblind modes for deuteranopia, tritanopia, and protanopia, as well as subtitle support for 13 languages. However, the options are limited, and more could be done to make the game more accessible.
Should You Play Enotria: The Last Song?
Play Enotria if:
- You’re interested in a unique, visually striking world with a blend of Italian folklore and fantasy elements.
- You’re eager to experiment with a complex combat system that requires strategy and adaptation.
- You’re drawn to a game with a high level of replayability, with multiple loadouts and a branching story.
Don’t play Enotria if:
- You’re seeking a challenging, dark, and brooding soulslike experience, as this game’s combat is relatively easy and lacking in difficulty.
- You prefer a more linear, guided experience, as Enotria’s world is open but can feel overwhelming at times.
- You’re looking for a more polished, bug-free experience, as the game has some technical issues and glitches.
How I Reviewed Enotria: The Last Song
My playthrough of Enotria: The Last Song lasted around 14 hours, and I experienced most of the game’s boss fights and locations with a mix of exploration and item hunting. I also tried out various loadouts using the Mask system, which added depth to my experience. I played the game on PS5 with a DualSense Edge controller and an LG CX OLED TV, and I found the performance to be smooth and stable, even in its 60fps mode.
