Mortal Shell II [REVIEW] – Brilliantly Breaking Out of Its Shell

When the original Mortal Shell launched back in 2020, it stood out thanks to its clever body-swapping mechanics that helped differentiate it from similar releases under the whole Souls-like umbrella. Sure, it had its flaws, but it was competent and did something that felt genuinely different. Now, six years on, developer Cold Symmetry has returned with Mortal Shell II, an experience that builds and improves upon that original foundation in so many ways. I had high hopes for the game after seeing some of the initial trailers, and believe me, it delivers.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Mortal Shell II puts players in the boots of the Harbinger, a blank and fragile spirit brought back to life in a shattered and corrupted realm. Your main task is fairly straightforward: track down the stolen eggs of a fallen alien god known as the Undermether, all whilst fighting off the twisted cults that took them. Operating from a safe hub called Marrow Keep, you are entirely free to explore the map and tackle areas in whatever order you like. It’s worth noting that even though it is a sequel, the story works as a fresh start – you do not need to know anything about the first game to understand what is happening, meaning newcomers can jump straight into the action without worrying about catching up on the lore.

As mentioned, the core mechanic that helps Mortal Shell II feel unique is the Shell system, though it has been significantly deepened here. Because your actual character is basically a squishy, vulnerable spirit, you survive by possessing the armour of fallen warriors you find scattered around the world, with eight distinct sets of armour to discover each with their own bespoke stats, passive perks, and unique skills. These allow the player to approach gameplay and combat in their own way, whether through quick-paced crowd control, ranged combat where you stay safe from afar, or straight up offence with a hefty health bar to keep you going… you get the picture, and with each Shell offering something familiar for fans of the genre, players have a greater sense of agency and control as to how they want to approach battling. Furthermore, unlocking a Shell’s abilities gradually reveals their personal backstory, turning each discovery into a neat bit of historical world-building.

Where the combat truly shines is in how much freedom it gives you. In a bold departure from traditional genre conventions, the developers have completely ditched the standard stamina bar for running, dodging, and swinging weapons, and instead, defensive play is regulated by a posture meter when blocking. If you soak up too much punishment with your guard raised, your character gets winded or knocked flat on the floor, offering an additional element of risk-versus-reward when keeping yourself protected.

“Mortal Shell II is a fantastic leap forward that offers a Souls-like experience that’s deep, engrossing, and challenging in all of the right ways.”

However, getting your health reduced to zero still ejects you from your Shell, leaving you as a frail, unarmoured target. Rather than sprinting back to touch your corpse, you now have to stay on the front foot and land a series of melee strikes against your attackers to pull yourself back inside the armour. It creates a brilliant sense of urgency, with the tension ramping up as you fight your way back into evening the odds against your foe.

Offensive flow is driven by Resolve, a resource generated through melee attacks that powers Shell skills, weapon buffs, and your equipped sidearm. Whether you choose to blast enemies with a shotgun, pick them off with a crossbow, or launch projectiles with a handheld trebuchet, ranged options feel seamlessly integrated into your standard swordplay. Better yet, weapons are fully interchangeable across all eight Shells, allowing you to tailor your loadout exactly how you see fit. It plays nicely into the freedom offered by the variety of Shells, and again, allows the player to shape their approach in their own way.

It all comes together to make for a fantastic combat system, and one that has other intricacies that ensure it never grows tiring across the game’s entire runtime. Whether chipping away at enemies to unleash ripostes, utilising Tarstones to apply status effects upon foes, or simply using consumables to give yourself the upper hand, there’s a lot going on in Mortal Shell II’s combat to keep it entertaining. Add to that the fact that the enemy design is fantastic and that the bosses offer momentous showdowns that really put your skills to the test, and it’ll be easy to find yourself utterly absorbed in Mortal Shell II’s brilliantly brutal world.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Exploration is equally rewarding, with the game offering a sweeping, interconnected world packed with subterranean dungeons, secret pathways, and puzzle-laden caves… exactly what you’d want from a Souls-like, really. Explorative curiosity is constantly rewarded, giving you genuine reasons to wander off the beaten track, whilst the fast travel system ensures everything is easy to navigate the further you progress. The fact that the sights of the world are stupendous helps too… you know… in that dark, grisly way that leaves you feeling a little uncomfortable at what you’re going to discover next.

I’ve got a lot of love for Mortal Shell II, but there are a couple of issues that did stand out when playing. The camera can become a right nuisance in tight spaces or against oversized bosses, frequently snagging on nearby walls and throwing off your lock-on targeting. It’s never a big deal, but I know for a fact that I had a couple of deaths that could have been avoidable if the camera didn’t swing out of control. The difficulty balance could also do with fine-tuning in the latter parts of the game too – whilst it feels pretty balanced for the most part, those later hours throw combat scenarios your way where the odds feel unfairly stacked against you with enemies that just take a little too long to take down. Or maybe I was just unprepared, who knows? They’re small issues in the grand scheme of things (and they certainly don’t stop Mortal Shell II from being an excellent experience), but they’re still noticeable.

Developer: Cold Symmetry
Publisher: Playstack
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, PC
Website: https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/games/mortal-shell-2/