Parkside: Decayed Soul Manipulation – Is This The Gritty Immersive Sim We’ve Been Craving?

Hey PakGamers! Ever get that itch for a game that just *gets* it? You know, the kind of game where mechanics are king, freedom of choice is paramount, and the graphics, well, they’re charmingly… retro? We’re talking about those “ugly-cool” immersive sims that prioritize deep gameplay over shiny visuals, harking back to classics like Deus Ex and System Shock. If that sounds like your jam, then get ready because there’s a new contender on the block, and it’s looking mighty promising!

Meet Parkside: Decayed Soul Manipulation, the latest creation from Banana Hardsoft. This title, which sounds like something straight out of a classic cyberpunk novel, is set to drop on July 31st. But here’s the best part: there’s a demo you can play *right now* to get a taste of the action!

So, what’s the lowdown? You step into the shoes of Alexander, a hacker navigating a crumbling world plastered with ominous propaganda like “Do Not Hinder Law Enforcement.” Naturally, you hack a little too deep, and before you know it, heavily armed zealots – think a Catholic Illuminati, but way more intense – are kicking down your door. They strap you into a machine that lets you remotely pilot a combat-ready body, sending you on a mission to eliminate a target. All in service of something called the “Divine Rod.” Mysterious, right?

From the get-go, Parkside keeps its story shrouded in mystery, using symbols and cryptic messages, which really adds to the atmosphere. But who needs all the answers when you have a target to kill and a multitude of ways to do it? This is where the game truly channels its inner Deus Ex. Your combat body is packed with augments – think cloaking, defensive shields, even the ability to possess people, and boosted speed or jump height. You earn experience by exploring every nook and cranny and completing objectives, letting you unlock and upgrade these awesome abilities.

Speaking of freedom, the maps in Parkside are a playground of possibilities. Vents, ledges, hidden paths – they’re everywhere, just begging to be discovered. Our own dive into the demo saw us trying to go full parkour, jacking up speed and jump height to scale the outside of our target’s building. While that specific plan hit a wall (literally, sometimes), we eventually found a dead soldier on a nearby roof with a trusty assault rifle. That quickly solved our target problem, and then the ensuing swarm of 8,000 cops problem, before we finally just hopped into a nearby car to make a swift getaway. Yes, you heard that right – immersive sims now have cars! It’s a brave new world indeed!

Now, a word of caution: Parkside takes a bold approach to saving. There are no traditional save slots. Instead, you’ll find “Divine Elixirs” in limited rooms, which act as one-time-use checkpoints. It’s a design choice that might not be for everyone, especially if you’re a hardcore save-scummer, but for those who appreciate a bit more consequence and challenge, it’s a refreshing change.

This demo has definitely scratched that classic immersive sim itch, giving us major Deus Ex vibes. We’re super excited to see what the full game brings to the table when it launches on July 31st. Maybe next time, we’ll try to avoid wiping out half the police force in the map, but no promises!