There are many pretenders to the Dark Souls crown, and the average fan would be forgiven for missing out on one or two, especially with the recent news on FromSoftware's newest upcoming title Elden Ring. One of the better ones is last year's Mortal Shell, released for PS4, Xbox One and PC and soon to be receiving some shiny new DLC, according to a brand new trailer.
Kicking off the IGN Expo 2021 was a dark and bloody trailer for the Mortal Shell's new DLC, The Virtuous Cycle. In the brief but powerful clip, the camera pans out through a ruined gothic landscape and a forest of gnarled trees, before honing in on a halberd-wielding warrior. As the grim figure starts to cut down their foes, one seems to try to beg for mercy. It seems that this being is not so concerned with the eponymous cycle, though, as they deliver a powerful blow just as the screen cuts to black.
The trailer certainly isn't giving much away, but if anything that's very in-keeping with its Soulslike sensibilities. The dark and oppressive aesthetics, keeping a tight lid on its lore and story: all of that is heavily reminiscent of the games that inspired Mortal Shell. Fans can no doubt expect to hunt through plenty of item descriptions in order to figure out the significance of the gothic tower in the background or the nature of the various foot soldiers being cleft in two.
Though the trailer is really a cinematic one than a gameplay one, fans of the base game will no doubt find a lot more of Mortal Shell's heavy combat and unsettling enemies in The Virtuous Cycle. The DLC may even include new Shells, the game's unique approach to different classes, potentially providing novel and innovative new ways of playing through the game.
As a stalwart challenger to the Dark Souls throne, Mortal Shell does a good job of recreating the bleak atmosphere of Lordran, and this new DLC looks set to continue that theme. The Virtuous Cycle still has precious little detail to its name, but if it provides the same Soulslike experience of the base game with its interesting twists on the formula, there ought to be plenty to write home about. Though there's no release date given for it, it's certainly one to keep an eye out for in the future.
Mortal Shell is out now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.