Soulbringer
{{Short description|2000 video game}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = Soulbringer Coverart.png
| developer = Gremlin Interactive
| publisher = {{vgrelease|NA|Interplay Entertainment|PAL|Infogrames}}
| composer = Patrick Phelan
| engine =
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|July 7, 2000{{cite web |last=Gentry |first=Perry |date=July 7, 2000 |url=http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-4433,00.html |title=This Week's New Releases |website=Gamecenter |publisher=CNET |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817093619/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/0,3,0-4433,00.html |archivedate=August 17, 2000 |accessdate=January 20, 2022}}|PAL|2000}}
| genre = Fantasy RPG
| modes = Single-player
| platforms = Windows
}}
Soulbringer is a fantasy RPG developed by Gremlin Interactive and published by Interplay Entertainment and Infogrames in 2000. It was later packed and shipped in combination with Interplay's Planescape: Torment.{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/advanced-dungeons-dragons-planescape-torment-soulbringer-combo-pack/ |title=Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Planescape Torment & SoulBringer Combo Pack |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |accessdate=February 19, 2014 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921221152/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/advanced-dungeons-dragons-planescape-torment-soulbringer-combo-pack/ |url-status=live }}
Plot
The game starts off with the story of a young man arriving in a town called Madrigal to find his uncle Andrus, who is the man's only remaining family member after his father died. The protagonist is soon caught in the middle of strange bandit activity around town and then drawn into escalating political and supernatural strife across the world. During the game, it is revealed that the hero is a reincarnation of a powerful being whose purpose is to defeat a group of ancient demons known as Revenants. Even though forgotten, the Revenants are secretly standing behind all major conflicts and problems encountered. The hero has to reawaken his past-life powers, travel to parallel worlds and ultimately trap the Revenants within the mystical Well of Souls.
The game includes both a good and an evil ending.
Gameplay
Image:SoulbringerScreenshot.JPG and wins, gaining XP.]]
The game is 3D with a helicopter POV.
For the combat system, each weapon has a set of possible moves, with more powerful moves becoming available as points are put into the "combat" skill.
The game includes a novel magic system. Rather than having reflexively opposing categories of magic, Soulbringer{{'}}s magic system is circular: Air suppresses earth, which suppresses spirit which suppresses water, which suppresses fire, which suppresses air. Considerable strategy is thus needed to achieve a desired balance within the elements.
Spells are obtained from spellbooks that are unlocked by runes; more powerful spells become accessible as points are put into the "magic" skill. A spell's power depends on magic skill and on strength within the elements that make up the spell.
Each move and spell requires a certain amount of time to prepare and execute (including drawing the weapon, if necessary). Motion capture was used to display such actions for added realism. Soulbringer also takes terrain and placement into account (e.g. spiders on the ground can only be hit by "low" attacks while an enemy soldier higher up on a hill can only be hit by "high" attacks).
Combinations of attacks and spells can be preset and assigned to a hot key.
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Reception
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 68%{{cite web |title=Soulbringer for PC |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/913680-soulbringer/index.html |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401041521/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/913680-soulbringer/index.html |archive-date=1 April 2009 |url-status=dead}}
| Allgame = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Woods |first=Nick |url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20903&tab=review |title=Soulbringer - PC - Review |website=AllGame |publisher=All Media Network |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116150401/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=20903&tab=review |archivedate=November 16, 2014 |accessdate=October 25, 2020}}
| CGSP = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |last=Hunt |first=David Ryan |date=August 25, 2000 |url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/029/084/soulbringer_review.html |title=Soulbringer |website=Computer Games Strategy Plus |publisher=Strategy Plus, Inc. |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030427234934/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/029/084/soulbringer_review.html |archivedate=April 27, 2003 |accessdate=October 25, 2020}}
| CGW = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Green |first=Jeff |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_196.pdf |title=Soulbringer |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |issue=196 |date=November 2000 |page=168 |accessdate=October 25, 2020 |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_196.pdf |url-status=live }}
| GI = 6.5/10{{cite magazine |title=Soulbringer |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=FuncoLand |issue=90 |date=October 2000}}
| GamePro = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Wright |first=Brian |date=August 14, 2000 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/6369.shtml |title=Soulbringer Review for PC on GamePro.com |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041222000827/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/6369.shtml |archivedate=December 22, 2004 |accessdate=October 25, 2020}}
| GameRev = B−{{cite web |last=Ferris |first=Duke |date=September 2000 |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/33076-soulbringer-review |title=Soulbringer Review |website=GameRevolution |publisher=CraveOnline |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924173617/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/soulbringer |archivedate=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live |accessdate=October 25, 2020}}
| GSpot = 6.6/10{{cite web |last=Park |first=Andrew |date=August 4, 2000 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/soulbringer-review/1900-2611997/ |title=Soulbringer Review |website=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Red Ventures |accessdate=October 25, 2020 |archive-date=March 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322143053/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/soulbringer-review/1900-2611997/ |url-status=live }}
| GSpy = 55%{{cite web |last=McConnaughy |first=Tim |date=July 23, 2000 |url=http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/soulbringer_a.shtm |title=Soulbringer |website=GameSpy |publisher=IGN Entertainment |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020614112902/http://www.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/soulbringer_a.shtm |archivedate=June 14, 2002 |accessdate=October 25, 2020}}
| IGN = 7/10{{cite web |last=Butts |first=Steve |date=July 17, 2000 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/07/18/soulbringer |title=Soulbringer |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |accessdate=October 25, 2020}}
| NGen = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Bratcher |first=Eric |url=https://archive.org/details/NextGen71Nov2000/page/n143/mode/2up |title=Soulbringer |magazine=NextGen |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=71 |date=November 2000 |page=142 |accessdate=October 25, 2020}}
| PCGUS = 72%{{cite magazine |title=Soulbringer |magazine=PC Gamer |publisher=Imagine Media |volume=7 |issue=11 |date=November 2000}}
}}
The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings. Eric Bratcher of NextGen criticized the graphics, gameplay, camera and looting system, but gave positive remarks to game's combat and voice acting.
The game was not a great seller for Interplay Entertainment.{{Citation needed|date=December 2013}}
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References
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