Montabi Review: A Soulsborne Masterpiece That Redefines Modern Action RPGs

August 7, 2026 — By the ModVC Team

There are games that define eras, and then there’s Montabi. From the moment you step onto its blood-slicked shores, you know this isn’t just another Soulsborne—it’s a statement. A defiant, hammer-swinging statement that says, "The genre can still evolve." Developer FromSoftware’s spiritual successor has been in development for half a decade, and after sinking 50+ hours into its sprawling world, I can confidently say it’s the most ambitious action RPG since Elden Ring first shook the industry.

But can it live up to the hype? Buckle up. This isn’t a review—it’s a declaration of war on mediocrity.

The World: A Haunting Masterpiece of Contrasts

Montabi’s world isn’t just big—it’s breathing. From the mist-shrouded cliffs of the Ashen Expanse to the neon-drenched slums of Neon Hive, every zone feels like a distinct character in a dark fantasy symphony. The art direction is a love letter to Dark Souls’ gothic grandeur, but with a cyberpunk twist that makes Cyberpunk 2077’s Night City look like a child’s crayon scribble.

The Ashen Expanse – A volcanic wasteland where the sky bleeds embers. The heat radiates through your screen, and the enemies? They adjust to your playstyle. Wield a fire sword and watch the landscape respond in kind.
The Neon Hive – A vertical metropolis where gravity itself seems to shift. Platforming here isn’t just about jumps—it’s about dodging traffic drones mid-air while a cybernetic enforcer rains hell down on you.
The Frozen Wastes – A callback to classic Soulsborne aesthetics, but with a twist: the ice isn’t just slippery—it cracks underfoot, drowning the unwary in brisk oblivion.

The level design is insidious. Secrets are buried so deep you’ll swear the game is trolling you—until you stumble upon a hidden shrine that unlocks a new weapon skill, and your jaw hits the floor.

Combat: Where Precision Meets Brutality

If Montabi’s world is a canvas, then its combat system is the brushstroke that brings it to life.

The Engine of War: A Combat System That Demands Mastery

Forget "light, heavy, dodge"—Montabi’s combat is a symphony of motion. The game introduces a Stance System, where your weapon choice dictates not just attack patterns but defensive playstyles.

The Greatsword – A slow, crushing hammer that shatters enemy stances in a single, devastating strike.
The Katana – A lightning-fast blade that rewards precision over brute force. Parry at the right moment, and you’ll rip an enemy’s arm clean off.
The Loggers Axe – A gimmick weapon? Hardly. This lumberjack’s dream tears through crowds in a flurry of saw-toothed carnage, leaving stumps in its wake.

But the real magic happens in Phasing Attacks. Certain weapons (like the Edgeblade) let you teleport short distances mid-combo, turning fights into a dance of death. It’s Nioh’s combat married to Dark Souls’ soul, and the result? Addictive

The Enemy AI: A Living Nightmare

Enemies in Montabi don’t just swing swords—they adapt.

Human Opponents – Bandits will feign retreat, only to whip out a hidden pistol. Archers use cover. Knights call for reinforcements. This isn’t some scripted horror show—it’s a war happening in real-time.
Bosses – Oh, the bosses. Take The Iron Colossus, a Gundam-sized mech that switches between godlike ranged barrages and brutal melee sweeps. Or Lady Vexis, a duelist who teleports across the arena, leaving a trail of illusions in her wake. These fights aren’t just tests of skill—they’re puzzles of pain.

The Biggest Flaw? The Weapon Weight System

While the combat is thrilling, the Weapon Weight System can feel unfair. Some guns and heavy melee weapons have a delay when switching, which can get you killed in a firefight. It’s a nitpick in an otherwise polished system, but one that stings when you’re mid-boss fight and your revolver decides to take a three-second nap.

Story & Lore: A Tapestry Woven in Blood and Steel

Montabi tells the story of The Last Bastion, a dying nation ravaged by war, cybernetic corruption, and a mysterious plague that turns people into hollow, screaming husks. Your journey begins as a nameless mercenary caught in the crossfire, but by the time you reach the game’s climax, you’ll realize—you’re not just fighting to survive. You’re fighting to remember.

The Voice in the Static – An eerie, AI-driven narrator that guides you through the world, its tone shifting from eerie whispers to full-blown existential horror.
The Hollow Men – Townsfolk who’ve been infected by the plague. They don’t beg for help; they beg to be put down.
The Neon Saints – A cult that worships the game’s cybernetic gods, believing that pain is divine.

The writing isn��t just good—it’s haunting. Lines like, "The world doesn’t end with a bang, but with the hum of a defibrillator," linger long after you’ve closed the game.

But here’s the kicker: The story isn’t linear. Miss a key quest? You might never see the full ending. And with five distinct endings to uncover, Montabi becomes a game you’ll return to not once, but dozens of times.

Graphics & Performance: A Visual Feast (With a Few Scraps)

On paper, Montabi’s specs are insane.

| Spec | Details |

|----------|------------|

| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 (Modified) |

| Resolution | 4K @ 60 FPS (PS5/PC) |

| Ray Tracing | Full Global Illumination |

| NPCs | 12,000+ unique models |

| Draw Distance | 5KM |

And in practice? It delivers. The lighting alone is worth the price of admission. Fog rolls through valleys like liquid silver. Neon signs flicker in the distance, casting long shadows. Fire spreads in real-time, licking at your character’s boots.

But… (because there’s always a but)

PC Performance – While the game runs beautifully on mid-to-high-end rigs, lower-end systems (especially with integrated graphics) struggle with 4K. The game does have a Performance Mode (1080p @ 120 FPS), but even that can buckle under heavy load.
Loading Times – The fast-travel system is slow. Like, "go make a sandwich" slow. It’s the one area where Montabi feels like it’s still stuck in the Dark Souls 1 era.

Multiplayer: The Ghosts of Yore and Tomorrow

Co-op and PvP in Montabi aren’t just tacked-on features—they’re essential to the experience.

Phantom Matches – Summon allies to aid you in boss fights, but beware: they can be just as deadly as enemies. Accidentally aggro a Phantom to a miniboss? Congrats, now you’ve got two things trying to murder you.
Bloodbath – The game’s PvP mode isn’t a chaotic brawl—it’s a strategic slaughter. Use the environment, exploit stances, and deceive your opponent. It’s Dark Souls’ arena fights on steroids.
Shared World Events – Certain areas have dynamically spawning invasions, meaning your fight isn’t just against the AI—it’s against other players who might be lurking in the shadows, waiting to ambush you.

The only downside? Matchmaking can be slow if you’re playing outside peak hours. But when you finally get a summoned ally mid-boss fight and they land a perfect parry to stun the enemy? Pure euphoria.

Sound Design: A Symphony of Suffering

The audio in Montabi is next-level.

The Score – Composer Hans Zimmer’s protege, Mikael "Mike" Åström, crafts a haunting soundtrack that shifts between industrial metal, ambient drones, and mournful piano pieces.
Weapon Sounds – Every sword swing, gunshot, and explosion feels weighty. The Edgeblade’s teleportation has a swish so crisp it’s almost ASMR.
Enemy Vocals – The Hollow Men don’t just scream—they whisper their last words in your ear before dying. It’s unsettling in the best way.

Verdict: A New Benchmark for the Genre

Montabi isn’t just a great game—it’s a necessary one.

It takes everything we loved about Dark Souls, Sekiro, and Elden Ring, then torches it, rebuilds it, and polishes it to a mirror shine. The world is vast, the combat is flawless, and the story will gnaw at your brain for weeks after you finish.

Pros & Cons

| Pros | Cons |

|----------|----------|

| Stunning visuals – Unreal Engine 5 at its finest. | Weapon weight delay – Can feel unfair in tense fights. |

| Deep, adaptable combat – Every weapon plays differently. | Slow loading times – Fast travel needs a huge overhaul. |

| Living, breathing world – Secrets everywhere. | Matchmaking issues – Co-op/PvP can be slow outside peak hours. |

| Haunting soundtrack – A masterclass in audio immersion. | Story ambiguity – Not every lore detail is explained. |

| Five distinct endings – Encourages multiple playthroughs. | PC performance drops – Lower-end rigs may struggle at 4K. |

Final Score: 9.8/10 "A Masterpiece of Modern Action RPGs"

Montabi isn’t just the best Soulsborne of 2026—it’s the best action RPG, full stop.

If you’ve been sitting on the fence about whether to dive into this one, here’s the only advice you need: Buy it. Play it. Scream into the void when you get invaded for the 50th time.

Montabi isn’t just a game—it’s an experience. And experiences like this? They don’t come around often.

Want more? Check out these related picks:

10 Best NEW Games To Play In August 2026 – Force Gaming breaks down the hottest titles this month.
The Biggest Game Releases of August 2026 – IGN’s deep dive into what’s dropping.

Did you beat Montabi? What’s your favorite weapon? Sound off in the comments!

ModVC Team is a collective of gaming veterans, industry insiders, and unapologetic nerds. Follow us for more honest takes, deep dives, and the occasional existential crisis over a boss fight that should not have beaten you three times in a row.

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