Darkness creeps in. 5 hours gone. The Hark the Ghoul demo is a masterclass in atmosphere, with its blend of first-person dungeon crawling and Soulslike elements drawing you in with an otherworldly charm that's impossible to shake, and its gothic world, replete with a fascinating bug-themed twist, will undoubtedly leave fans of Lunacid and Bloodborne begging for more.
Quick Facts — Hark the Ghoul
| Platform(s) | PC |
|---|---|
| Release Date | this year |
| Genre | Action RPG, First-person dungeon crawler, Soulslike |
You'll notice the real feel in Hark the Ghoul. It's a Soulslike game. They've got a character creation system that's worth mentioning. Worth noting: the backgrounds you choose affect how NPCs interact with you. For example, the "Militiaman" background makes merchants suspicious of you, which adds depth to the story. It's the little things, like the leg animations during a quick kick, that show the developers' honesty. We've seen similar mechanics in Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, which is a key part of the game's charm. With this crossover of styles, Hark the Ghoul is a bugborne delight that's for fans of the genre.
"that's what I'm talkin' about right there"
Ted
Where the Soulslike Magic Shines
It's a thing. The melee kick is pretty cool. You can kick enemies into pits, which is fun. In Hark the Ghoul, they've got a physics system that makes combat feel the real feel. The rock spell, it's a great example of crossover between magic and physical stuff. You'll be kicking rocks at enemies, which is weirdly satisfying. They've also got a bunch of weapons, like a harpoon, which is for combat and platforming - it's worth mentioning. The spell system is where it's at, with creative abilities that'll keep you hooked, even if the sword fighting is a bit meh.
You get the real feel in Hark the Ghoul. It's key to the experience. We've seen this before, but they've nailed it here. For instance, kicking crates into enemies is a thing. The harpoon is pretty cool too, with you using it to get around or fight, it's all very honest, and that's what makes Hark the Ghoul worth mentioning, a true Bugborne delight.
Framedrops Put a Strain on the Soulsborn Fun
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Desktop Performance | Near-locked 60 fps in starting dungeon |
| Steam Deck Performance | Drops to 20 fps in city area |
It's coming this year. You'll get a feel for it on Steam. The demo is up, which is pretty cool. Hark the Ghoul has the real feel of a game that's been made with honesty, you know, it's not just a crossover of old ideas. We've got unique character backgrounds, for starters, and the combat is actually fun, with physics that make it feel like you're in it. They've done a great job with varied weaponry and spells, too, which is worth mentioning, it's a key part of what makes Hark the Ghoul a Bugborne delight with Soulslike charm.
Hark the Ghoul’s Secret Selling Point
- Hark the Ghoul combines Soulslike elements with first-person dungeon crawling, inspired by Lunacid and Bloodborne.
- Character creation features 9 backgrounds affecting NPC interactions, with unique animations for each.
- Quick melee kick inspired by Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, with physics-based environmental interactions.
- Variety of weapons (e.g., harpoon) and spell system (e.g., rock summoning) for combat diversity.
- Demo available on Steam; full release set for this year on PC, with uncertain Steam Deck support.
The Bad Gamer Take
Developer Bloodborne's influence is evident in Hark the Ghoul, and publisher PC will do exceptionally well with this title because of its unique blend of Soulslike elements and first-person dungeon crawling. Hark the Ghoul will attract a large following among fans of action RPGs because of its immersive atmosphere and engaging gameplay mechanics. WATCH the character creation system in Hark the Ghoul to see how the chosen backgrounds affect NPC interactions and overall story depth.
You'll see the real feel in Hark the Ghoul. It's a key part of what makes this game tick. Worth noting: the demo is pretty short. With a Soulslike vibe, it's got honesty for days. We've seen some tech issues, like on the Steam Deck, they've got a few kinks to work out, for sure. That said, Hark the Ghoul is worth mentioning, it's one to watch, no question, with its unique character system and physics-driven gameplay, it's a Bugborne Delight.
