Following the success of the very first phase of testing, which saw the participation of over 650,000 users, the Cold Symmetry studio today announced the launch of the Open Beta of the souls-like dark fantasy Mortal Shell II. This trial version represents an excellent opportunity to take a first look at the brutal mechanics of the title, whose release is set for August 20th.

By downloading the Beta (from this page or by searching for it on the Store from the console) we will be able to face the Prologue of the game and take the first steps within its open world. The beginning of our journey as the Harbinger will see us busy recovering lost Eggs and discovering our disciples, while claiming the very first Shells. During the exploration we will have to enter the dungeons, where we will be called to face a series of mini-bosses before getting to measure ourselves against a particularly fearsome opponent. A very interesting detail is that, if we manage to pass the area known as Marrow Keep during this test, we will unlock the possibility of skipping the Prologue altogether once we buy the full game.

Participating in the test will also grant us an exclusive aesthetic reward, the Flayed Harbinger, which we can redeem directly at the launch of the title. However, the developers of Cold Symmetry remind you that it is a build still in development: we could therefore run into bugs, performance problems or graphic smudges, and for this reason they invite you to report any anomaly on the official Discord channel of the community to help them in the work of refinement.

As for the general structure of Mortal Shell II, the development team promises an adventure that can be enjoyed in a totally independent way, without the need to know the events of the first chapter. We will find ourselves exploring an interconnected and handmade world, deliberately compact to respect our time, which will include over sixty dungeons full of secrets. As we delve into the most dangerous paths, we'll be rewarded with power-ups, bizarre weapons, and new story details.

The combat system, the true heart of the experience, promises to be adrenaline-pumping and relentless. We will have to master both melee and ranged fights, but this time we will not have restrictions related to the stamina bar: we will in fact be able to take advantage of multiple tactics freely to break the posture of enemies and inflict critical hits. The fundamental mechanic of the Shells also returns, the dormant remains of ancient warriors scattered throughout this ruined world. Once identified, we can awaken them and possess them to absorb their innate abilities, constantly evolving our fighting style as we try to rebuild their lost memories.

We leave you to the presentation video of the Beta: enjoy!