While FromSoftware’s next major release, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, and the buzz around Black Myth: Wukong may be dominating soulslike conversations, a dark horse contender has quietly been generating impressive buzz of its own. Enotria: The Last Song, an Italian folklore-inspired action RPG from developer Jyamma Games, is emerging as one of the surprise hits of Summer Game Fest with its captivating blend of deep soulslike mechanics and a richly atmospheric world dripping with religious symbolism.
In an extended hands-on demo, I had the opportunity to sample three of Enotria’s boss encounters, each one transporting me to distinct, meticulously crafted arenas that immediately showcased the game’s evocative aesthetic inspirations. From a shadowy ritual hall to a shattered church with defaced frescoes and a lavish neoclassical arena surrounded by a moat of wine, Enotria establishes a strong sense of place rooted in Italian cultural history.
While light on direct narrative exposition in true soulslike fashion, Enotria’s world subtly weaves in influences from the 16th century Commedia dell’arte theatre tradition alongside unmistakable religious overtones. The exaggerated masks of Commedia’s iconic character archetypes can be claimed from fallen foes, allowing players to rebuild their playstyles around these distinctive personas. But it’s the lingering presence of Catholicism that adds an intriguing layer, with bosses crying out to religious icons and environments like ornate churches hinting at deeper narrative threads.
Complementing its rich atmosphere is an innovative and remarkably versatile gameplay system that takes soulslike fundamentals in exciting new directions. A streamlined leveling system focuses on broader character archetype improvements rather than granular stat allocation. An intriguing mask system allows for swapping between full “loadout” builds encompassing martial abilities, spells, passive bonuses and more.
During my demo, I was able to experience wildly different playstyles unique to each boss encounter. One fight encouraged an aggressive, parry-heavy Sekiro-like approach to stagger my foe. Another boss’ fragility necessitated the intimate dodge-rolls of a Bloodborne hunter. And the gluttonous final boss punished close-quarters combat, instead rewarding a Souls-esque battle of patience, positioning, and a lifesteal-focused greatsword build.
With an ambitious class system, a unique “charge” mechanic allowing temporary spell buffs, and an enticing “Unraveling” risk/reward gameplay wrinkle, Enotria already demonstrates remarkable depth and flexibility within its familiar soulslike foundation.
Visually, Enotria aims to be a breath of fresh air from the typical dark fantasy aesthetic with its sun-soaked Italian vistas. But beyond the vibrant environments lies a rich well of cultural folklore and unmistakable religious motifs to unravel.
Having strategically rescheduled its launch to sidestep Elden Ring’s massive shadow, Enotria now stands poised to captivate genre fans with its singularly compelling mixture of classic soulslike tenets and innovative new ideas, all wrapped in a distinctly Italian multimedia. For those seeking a worthy follow-up experience after this summer’s new offerings, this dark horse just might be the one to watch come September.
