It appears you’re encountering some frustrations with Soul Mask, and if those frustrations revolve around server issues, know that you’re definitely not alone. Many players diving into the early access phase of Soul Mask are running into a variety of challenges that can hinder the overall enjoyment of the game. Let’s break down some common pain points players are reporting, which might resonate with your own experience.
The Isolated Underground Palace Experience
One significant hurdle players are facing is the difficulty surrounding the Underground Palace. Imagine venturing deep into this dungeon, only to find that death means a long and arduous trek back. The absence of a teleportation system near the Underground Palace creates a frustratingly isolated experience. Coupled with the limitation of only one mount, players are forced to leave their trusty steeds behind and undertake lengthy return journeys on foot. This design choice significantly disrupts the flow, turning what should be an exciting exploration into a tedious backtracking exercise.
Game Balance Concerns for Solo Players
Balance is another prominent area where Soul Mask seems to be causing headaches, particularly for solo players. Even with adjustments to damage sliders – halving damage taken and doubling damage dealt – the game can still feel punishingly difficult. Encountering Plunderers equipped with even basic gear can prove to be a significant challenge. The boss encounters, with mechanics like bleeding, can feel overwhelming, especially with limited windows to heal using bandages and the scarcity of advanced medical supplies like those requiring Gypsum or sulfur. Furthermore, the open-world biomes introduce new balance issues. Aggressive bird enemies, for example, are reported to relentlessly pursue players, inflicting substantial damage, creating an unbalanced and often unfair feeling, especially when compounded by dangerous aquatic wildlife in water bodies.
Navigating the World and Location Confusion
Finding your way in Soul Mask can also be surprisingly problematic. The intended progression path isn’t always clear, leading to player confusion. For instance, after the canyon biome, the expectation might be to find a swamp to confront the Frog boss. However, players are reporting stumbling upon locations like the Gorilla Pyramid instead, leading to extensive and sometimes fruitless searches in directions that may not align with the intended game progression. This lack of clear directional guidance and biome discoverability can stall progress and lead to considerable frustration as players struggle to locate crucial areas.
Follower System Limitations and Tribe Management
While tribe management and follower systems are highlighted as key features of Soul Mask, the current implementation presents limitations. The restriction of only being able to take one follower at a time creates logistical challenges. Capturing NPCs from villages, for example, becomes a slow and repetitive process. While Lama saddles offer a later-game solution, the early to mid-game experience is hampered by this single follower limit. The fragility of followers, who can easily succumb to enemy encounters, further exacerbates this issue, making tribe management feel more cumbersome than engaging, especially considering the delayed availability of resurrection mechanics.
Soul Mask, being in early access, understandably has areas needing refinement. While the core concepts and crafting/automation aspects show promise, addressing these issues around server experience (in a broader sense of game systems and player experience), balance, navigation, and follower management is crucial for the game to realize its full potential and provide a smoother, more enjoyable experience for players. The developers undoubtedly have work ahead to polish these rough edges and fulfill the high hopes many players hold for Soul Mask’s future.
