Review of the NS version of the Pascal Contract: Removing the domestic label, still a soul like star

The Soul series has undergone several generations of evolution and transformation, and has now become a brand new game design standard. Players and media always have endless topics around its level design, combat system, and narrative methods.

Numerous game manufacturers have never stopped paying tribute, learning, and improving on the soul. From the original Fallen King to the recent Salt and Sacrifice, a large number of games with a similar style to the soul have jointly built a new game category: soul like games.

Among many similar games, the Pascal Contract can be considered a quite unique existence. When this game was launched two years ago, it was a unique mobile soul like game at the time and had a considerable amount of discussion among enthusiasts.

On the one hand, the excellent gaming quality of Pascal Contract and the conscientious buyout payment system make it like a divine weapon in various F2P cryptocurrency mobile games. On the other hand, the hardcore gaming mechanism and complex operational requirements are naturally mismatched with the "glass cleaning" properties of mobile devices, often requiring an external controller to obtain a relatively normal gaming experience.

After the release of the mobile version, the Pascal Contract also embarked on a cross platform porting journey, landing on the Steam platform a year later, but due to optimization issues, it was not adapted to the local environment. The NS version of this game was officially released on July 14, 2022. The handheld version called "Ultimate Edition", which includes all DLCs since its release, is relatively cost-effective. So what is the actual performance of the game?

The screen and frame rate cannot be achieved simultaneously

As a game developed with specifications higher than those of mobile games at the time, the visuals and visual effects of Pascal Contract can be said to be outstanding even two years later today.

The graphics performance of the game on NS is basically the same as other platforms, whether it is in console mode or handheld mode, it can be experienced on a much larger screen than a mobile phone without shrinking the graphics effect. Although it cannot match the highest 4K resolution of the PC version, it is a perfect match for the NS, at least it doesn't look much different.

However, compared to the visual effects, the frame rate of the NS version can only be described as "terrible". The game is usually maintained at 30 frames, but it is not stable. When encountering large scenes or multiple enemies, the frame rate will decrease significantly.

At such low frame rates, some operations may be affected, and the most obvious one is a counterattack. The counterattack input frames in the Pascal Contract are already relatively short, and whether they can be used after frame drops is basically a matter of confusion. In contrast, the PC version supports unlimited frame rates, and phones with higher configurations can also stabilize at 60 frames. The NS version has a significant gap in this regard, which has a certain impact on the experience of games that require real-time response operations.

However, the NS version did a good job in terms of stability, and I didn't encounter any bugs or crashes throughout the game. In addition, the NS version has brought the game back to a state where players can play anytime, anywhere. For players who don't want to sit in front of a computer, the NS version is a good choice.

In terms of battery life, in handheld mode, I can play continuously for about 5 hours when fully charged. Half of my clearance process this time was spent lying in bed, which was very comfortable.

With handle, not wiping the glass

As a soul game enthusiast, I had been looking forward to the Pascal Contract for a long time, but the reason why I couldn't play it in the first place was precisely because of the operation. The combat operations in the Pascal Contract are quite hardcore, requiring constant attention to defense and evasion. Using combat skills also requires complex commands such as long pressing. The high-intensity input requires a remote stick to achieve a normal gaming experience.

The key position settings of the NS version continue to use the previous mobile version's handle adaptation, with no other changes except for adjustments made to lock enemies. The phenomenon of input delay when porting to the PC version has never occurred again, and the handle vibration feedback is good, ensuring a good combat feel.

However, because the NS version did not make too many adjustments, some pre-existing operational issues still exist.

For example, in the Pascal Contract, there is no running, and the character's movement methods only include brisk walking and light pushing of the joystick, while in the NS version, the adaptation of the left joystick is relatively average, and it is easy to push the head to trigger brisk walking, which requires constant control of the left thumb force during stealth operations.

For example, some operations such as backstabbing are not integrated into the light attack command and require pressing A to trigger, while the defense (Y) and avoidance (B) commands, as well as two light and heavy attacks (R/ZR), are on the right-hand side. For players like me who like to put defense commands on the left-hand side, it is more difficult to handle. However, there is no custom key setting in the game, and it can only be solved through NS key mapping. This is regrettable, and we still hope that the production team can make adjustments in future updates.

Domestic Soul Like Stars

Nowadays, soul like games are flourishing, and in order to stand out in fierce competition, simply imitating game mechanics is far from enough. It is necessary to have its own characteristics. In my opinion, removing the domestic label, Pascal Contract is definitely considered the top tier in Soul Like games.

Pascal Contract has the level design that is closest to the "soul" home in the soul like game. Although the 8 levels of the main storyline and DLC are not connected together, many of them have excellent box courtyards. The nested structure between floors, the bright and dark scenery after opening shortcuts, moderate enemy configuration and malice, and a high purity of soul flavor have left me immersed for a long time.

In terms of combat systems, the Pascal Contract achieved a "mixed but not chaotic" approach. The coexistence of bonus points, talents, and spoils allows for significant numerical growth, and the high degree of freedom combination allows players to practice various ideas.

The 5 protagonists each have their own unique combat style, replacing the weapon system. Different combat strategies have distinct characteristics, and various ACT players can find their favorite types.

The rational system, on the other hand, forms its own unique style, which not only increases difficulty but also affects item drops and hidden endings, forming a closed-loop design that is very interesting. Although there are still some shortcomings in boss design, combat feel, and other aspects of this work, it is still an excellent work of the same genre.

The NS version of "Pascal Contract Ultimate" was officially released on July 14th, featuring the game's main body, additional mode "Deep Black Mist", expansion pack "Wave of Forgetting", special appearances for three characters, and free additional mode "Challenge Mindfulness". The price is HKD 125/USD 19.99/JPY 1980.

If you are also a soul game enthusiast or are hesitant about previous mobile game operations, then this NS version will be a good choice.