Salt and Sanctuary was a bit of a hit when it released in 2016, blowing audiences away with a 2D Soulslike that truly lived up to the reputation of the title. Salt and Sanctuary's charmingly dark tone, bleak aesthetic, and original take on the refined gameplay mechanics of Dark Souls were truly commendable, and are largely why the game still appears on "Top 10 Soulslikes" lists all over the internet. So, given its popularity, it's only natural that a sequel is in the works, and it is titled Salt and Sacrifice.
Announced just over a year ago, Salt and Sacrifice is coming PlayStation 4, 5, and PC in just over a week, releasing on May 10, 2022. Through the handful of trailers released so far, Salt and Sacrifice seems to be expanding on its predecessor in just about every way, bringing even more narrative and gameplay mechanics to the table. However, before players dive in, there are a few key things they may want to know first.
Salt and Sacrifice's Story
Salt and Sanctuary's world was dark, grim, and truly engrossing, and while Salt and Sacrifice shifts the action to a new realm and time period, that same unique tone and atmosphere looks to have made the transition. Given the role of a Marked Inquisitor for their prior unknown crimes, the player must hunt down Alterstone's dangerous Mages.
Before setting off on the hunt, players will gear up in the Pardoner's Vale, an otherworldly hub filled with fellow Inquisitors. From here, players will journey to a variety of locations ranging from gothic castles to underground tombs, each filled with lethal foes that are capable of killing in just a few hits.
Salt and Sacrifice's Gameplay
The first and most important thing to know about Salt and Sacrifice is that it's a 2D Soulslike. For those who haven't played one before, this game essentially takes the slow and methodical combat of a Dark Souls game along with its stamina management system and puts a 2D spin on it. This also tends to mean that boss fights are a big focus of the game, and that the difficulty is often a little more challenging than the average side-scroller.
The general gameplay loop of Salt and Sacrifice will see the player head into a dungeon, swamp, or other gloomy area, fight their way through hordes of powerful enemies, slay a boss or two, and then return to the hub world to level up and accrue new gear. Throughout each stage, some unique weapons, armors, and items will appear, each one changing the player's stats or slightly altering the gameplay mechanics.
According to some promotional material, Salt and Sacrifice will feature a character creation screen at the start of the player's journey. From here, the player can choose from eight different classes, ranging from Assassin to Sage. Each of these classes gives the player a unique set of starting equipment, and abilities. However, much like FromSoftware's Dark Souls series, the player can soon mold their character into whatever build they choose, using the XP they gain.
Along with a new world and fresh classes, Salt and Sacrifice is also introducing a few gameplay mechanics. Some of the most intriguing mechanics shown off so far are a grappling hook, a wall jump ability, an emphasis on crafting equipment, and the ability to summon NPCs and other players.
Salt and Sacrifice's Co-Op
One of the big draws for Salt and Sacrifice is its co-op functionality. From the get-go, players will be able to call upon a friend for assistance, either via online or local play. Alternatively, players can use the new summoning feature to bring in a random online player to help them with a particular area or boss fight.
On the other hand, players can also invade one another's worlds to engage in a one-on-one duel. This will reportedly work alongside the game's faction mechanic. This will function similarly to Dark Souls' Covenants, where players will be rewarded for either invading other players or helping them based on what faction they are currently aligned with.
Salt and Sacrifice releases May 10 on PC, PS4, and PS5.