Summary
ArcheAge Chroniclesis an upcoming online action RPG by the creator ofArcheAge, XL GAMES, which is now being joined by publisher Kakao Games. Originally intended to be a sequel toArcheAge,ArcheAge Chroniclesinstead evolves theMMORPGformula of its predecessor into an online action RPG that has gameplay reminiscent of a Soulslike game. However, whetherArcheAge Chroniclesis a true Soulslike is still in question.
Withthe term “Soulslike” seemingly being thrown aroundthese days — especially anytime a game is simply unforgiving and difficult — it’s worth examining whetherArcheAge Chroniclestruly is a Soulslike. At this point, it has been called as much, though not by the developer (and there’s a reason for that). Nevertheless, there’s a chance it might lean into the defining characteristics of a Soulslike game enough to be considered one.
Determining Whether ArcheAge Chronicles Is a Soulslike
The Defining Characteristics of a Soulslike Game
When breaking down thedefining characteristics of a Soulslike game, it’s important first to understand the origins of the genre, as they will ultimately be the deciding factor on whether something can truly be classified as a Soulslike. Although it is entirely possible for a genre to evolve, the Soulslike genre is, in fact, an evolution of the action RPG genre that now exists as a subgenre. As such, in order for a game to be rightly labeled a Soulslike, it must follow the rules established by the model of FromSoftware, the creator of the Soulslike subgenre.
Firstly, every true Soulslike game needs a checkpoint system that restores the world to its natural state, reviving enemies players have killed. Secondly,genuine Soulslikesshould punish players who either get too greedy or aren’t efficient with their resources. Specifically, Soulslike games typically feature progression systems that cause players to permanently lose the experience they’ve gained if they die before retrieving dropped experience from the corpse left in the wake of their first death.
Thirdly,Soulslike gamesalmost always incorporate countless arduous boss fights into their worlds, with combat that relies on stamina management. Finally, while it might not be considered a requirement (FromSoftware would likely disagree), the lore and narrative of Soulslike games need to be cryptic to give the player a feeling of loneliness and insignificance.
This is a major part of the challenge that comes with these games, as it provides context for that difficulty as opposed to simply being challenging.
How ArcheAge Chronicles Fits Into the Soulslike Genre
For starters,ArcheAge Chroniclesis an action RPG, which has the potential to make it a Soulslike. However, based on what has been revealed so far,ArcheAge Chronicles' combat appears to be less Soulslike in nature and more comparable toBlack Myth: Wukong— which is technically not a Soulslike. What this ultimately means is thatArcheAge Chronicles' combat could very well be stamina-based, but it appears to be too forgiving to be considered an official member of the genre.
Secondly,ArcheAge Chroniclesis an online action RPG, which means there is no checkpoint system that will automatically respawn enemies. In fact, it has been deemed “the next evolution of the MMORPG genre” by its developer, suggesting it likely observes traditional MMORPG rules than it wouldSoulslike rules. In other words, enemies may regularly respawn inArcheAge Chronicles, but players are more than likely to be able to retain their experience upon multiple deaths.
All in all, no,ArcheAge Chroniclesis not a Soulslike. It might have elements of the genre, but not enough to outright classify it as a Soulslike. This is made especially evident in the developer’s comments thatArcheAge Chronicleswas built to be an “approachable” experience — a characteristic true Soulslikes rarely exhibit. Nevertheless, it does appear XLGAMES and Kakao are up to something here, combining Soulslike action RPG elements with the traditional MMO model to form a unique hybrid.
