Lost Soul Aside

Thanks to the support of the PlayStation's China Hero Project, Lost Soul Aside has evolved from a solo prototype into a full-fledged action RPG.

Hailing from China, Yang Bing spent a considerable amount of time working on the prototype for Lost Soul Aside, which received positive feedback online. Subsequently, he received financial backing from Sony Interactive Entertainment's Shanghai branch and was recruited into the company's China Hero Project (2017), a programme designed to identify and fund promising Chinese game developers. Bing founded the Ultizero Games studio in Shanghai to develop the prototype into a full-scale action role-playing game, and in 2022, Sony Interactive Entertainment was announced as its publisher.

The game centres on Kaser's journey to rescue his sister, Louisa, from otherworldly enemies. It features a fast-paced, dynamic combat system with spectacular combos, interchangeable weapons and special abilities. Players can improve their abilities via a skill tree and customise weapons. There is plenty to experiment with. They can customise loadouts, chain synergistic combos, and strategise with Arena, Kaser's dragon-like companion. His abilities aren't just supportive; when used wisely, they can turn the tide of tough battles.

Although the game is story-driven and linear, it takes place in large environments that blend fantasy and sci-fi and can be explored freely. According to the development team, inspiration was taken from Final Fantasy, Devil May Cry and Ninja Gaiden, which is evident in the combat style and world design. But Lost Soul Aside does not pay enough attention to the non-combat aspects of the game. Here, the game clearly falls short of its potential.

The PC version of Lost Soul Aside supports the DualSense wireless controller, multi-monitor setups, High Dynamic Range (HDR), as well as ray tracing. All ray tracing features benefit from DLSS 4, FSR and frame generation, ensuring 4K gameplay at 60 FPS. Additionally, players can opt to link the PC version to a PlayStation Network account, synchronising all achievements earned on PC with their PlayStation Network profile.

Players with a PlayStation 5 Pro console will also benefit from a number of technical improvements. These include dynamic 4K resolution and improved ray tracing effects for reflections, shadows and global lighting. The improved GPU is what enables higher texture quality, more detailed particle effects and faster loading times. Players will also enjoy a higher and more stable frame rate for smooth, responsive gameplay. However, it seems that the game still needs to be technically optimised for both the PC and the PlayStation 5. On X, Ultizero Games writes: "We have received your feedback regarding the performance of certain cutscenes in the prologue of Lost Soul Aside. Currently, some of these cutscenes are pre-rendered 4K/30fps videos, which may cause occasional stuttering during playback. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate your understanding. The Lost Soul Aside team is actively working on optimizations, and future updates will address this to deliver a smoother gameplay experience. " Furthermore, even more far-reaching improvements were promised: "Lost Soul Aside fans - thanks for your incredible support! We're listening and working on improved combat sound, better gamepad support, and smoother early-game progression. Updates coming soon, with more optimizations planned. We’re in this adventure together!"