Soulbringer
A 3D fantasy RPG with a circular magic system and reincarnation plot.
Soulbringer, a fantasy role-playing game, was created by Gremlin Interactive and released in 2000 through a joint publishing effort by Interplay Entertainment and Infogrames. It later appeared bundled with Interplay's *Planescape: Torment*.
The story begins with a young man traveling to the town of Madrigal to find his uncle Andrus, his only surviving relative after his father's death. Soon after arriving, he becomes entangled in unusual bandit activity, which pulls him into a web of political and supernatural turmoil spreading across the world. As the plot unfolds, the hero learns he is the reincarnation of a powerful being destined to defeat a group of ancient demons called the Revenants. Though forgotten by the world, these demons secretly orchestrate every major conflict and problem the hero encounters. To stop them, he must reawaken his past-life abilities, journey through parallel worlds, and ultimately seal the Revenants inside the mystical Well of Souls. The game offers both a good and an evil ending.
The gameplay uses a 3D environment with a helicopter perspective. In combat, each weapon has a set of possible moves, and more powerful attacks become available as the player invests points in the "combat" skill. The magic system is circular rather than based on opposing categories: air suppresses earth, earth suppresses spirit, spirit suppresses water, water suppresses fire, and fire suppresses air. This requires careful strategy to balance the elements. Spells are learned from spellbooks unlocked by runes, with stronger spells accessible as points are added to the "magic" skill. A spell's power depends on both the magic skill and the strength of the elements composing it. Every move and spell requires a set amount of time to prepare and execute, including drawing a weapon if needed. Motion capture was used to animate these actions for realism. Terrain and positioning matter: for example, spiders on the ground can only be hit by low attacks, while an enemy on a hill can only be struck by high attacks. Players can preset combinations of attacks and spells and assign them to a hot key.
According to the review aggregation site GameRankings, the game received average reviews. Eric Bratcher of NextGen criticized the graphics, gameplay, camera, and looting system, but praised the combat and voice acting.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- Gremlin Interactive
- Publisher
- NA · Interplay Entertainment · PAL · Infogrames
- Composer
- Patrick Phelan
- Released
- NA · July 7, 2000 · PAL · 2000
- Genre
- Fantasy RPG
- Modes
- Single-player
- Platforms
- Windows
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game begins with a young man arriving in the town of Madrigal to find his uncle Andrus, his only remaining family after his father's death. He is soon caught in strange bandit activity and drawn into escalating political and supernatural strife. It is revealed that the hero is a reincarnation of a powerful being whose purpose is to defeat ancient demons called Revenants, who secretly stand behind all major conflicts. The hero must reawaken past-life powers, travel to parallel worlds, and trap the Revenants within the mystical Well of Souls. The game includes both a good and an evil ending.
Combat uses a set of possible moves per weapon, with more powerful moves unlocked by investing points in the combat skill. The magic system is circular rather than reflexively opposing: Air suppresses Earth, Earth suppresses Spirit, Spirit suppresses Water, Water suppresses Fire, and Fire suppresses Air. Spells are obtained from spellbooks unlocked by runes; more powerful spells become accessible as points are put into the magic skill. Spell power depends on magic skill and strength within the spell's constituent elements. Each move and spell requires preparation and execution time, with motion capture used for realism. Terrain and placement matter—spiders on the ground can only be hit by low attacks, while an enemy on a hill requires high attacks. Combinations of attacks and spells can be preset and assigned to a hot key.
Reader's Guide
Soulbringer 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 the combat and voice acting. The game was not a great seller for Interplay Entertainment. Its notable features include a novel circular magic system requiring strategic elemental balance, a reincarnation-based plot with parallel worlds, and a terrain-aware combat system. The game's later bundling with Planescape: Torment suggests an attempt to boost its visibility, but it did not achieve commercial success. Its legacy lies in its unique magic mechanics and the dual-ending narrative, though it remains a relatively obscure title from the early 2000s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Soulbringer?
Soulbringer is a 3D fantasy role-playing game that shipped in 2000, developed by Gremlin Interactive and published through a joint effort between Interplay Entertainment and Infogrames.
How does Soulbringer's elemental magic system work?
The game uses a circular suppression cycle where each element counters the next: Air suppresses Earth, Earth suppresses Spirit, Spirit suppresses Water, Water suppresses Fire, and Fire suppresses Air. Because no element is universally dominant, players must choose spells strategically based on what the enemy is built around.
What is the main story of Soulbringer?
The player follows a young man who arrives in the town of Madrigal to track down his uncle Andrus, his last surviving relative after his father's death. He quickly gets tangled in bandit troubles that spiral into a wider web of political intrigue and supernatural conflict, ultimately revealing a reincarnation-driven narrative.
What camera perspective does Soulbringer use?
The entire game is played from a 3D helicopter (top-down) viewpoint, giving players a broad, elevated view of the battlefield and surrounding terrain.
How did fans commonly get a copy of Soulbringer?
In addition to its original 2000 retail release, the title was later bundled as a bonus with Interplay's Planescape: Torment, which became one of the most common ways new players encountered the game.
More in Role-Playing Games of the 2000s, Part 2 1-23
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