PlayX4 this year featured a vast array of games welcoming visitors. Among them, the title that personally caught my eye was NovaFlare's extraction Soulslike, 'Project Rabbit.' I have always been a fan of the Soulslike genre, but this time, I was particularly intrigued by the 'extraction' element. The meeting of extraction and Soulslike—two genres that might seem like an awkward fit at first glance—left me curious about how the developers would pull it off.

Fortunately, the chance to answer that question came sooner than expected. I was able to play a demo of 'Project Rabbit' right on the PlayX4 show floor. The game is still a long way from completion; according to the developers, there is still quite some time before it hits Early Access. While there is much to polish, the demo was sufficient to confirm the game's core direction and fundamental systems. How exactly does 'Project Rabbit' combine extraction with the Soulslike formula.

In short, 'Project Rabbit' is a game that layers Soulslike combat mechanics onto an extraction-based gameplay loop. The basic flow is not much different from typical extraction games: you manage your gear in the lobby, accept quests, enter a session to farm, and then escape to secure your loot.

The lobby system also faithfully follows the conventions of the extraction genre. You can organize your inventory, set up your gear, purchase consumables from merchants, and accept quests. The demo build featured a variety of weapons—including sword and shield, dual blades, greatsword, axe, katana, bow, and three types of staves—with a structure that allows you to equip two at a time. Character appearance was also customizable to a certain extent.

Once prepared, it is time to enter a session. Players choose a region or boss from the lobby, and from there, the core extraction loop of farming begins. What is interesting is that this process strictly follows Soulslike combat rules. You explore the map to gather quest items like herbs or secure loot by defeating various enemies.

Each session has a 30-minute time limit, which means playstyles can vary depending on the player. You can explore every corner of the map to maximize rewards, or conversely, focus on completing your objectives quickly and escaping.

The presence of boss monsters, in particular, presents players with a clear choice. Defeating a powerful boss yields great rewards, but failure carries the risk of losing everything you have farmed so far. It is up to the player to decide whether to chase high-risk, high-reward opportunities or play it safe by focusing on minor enemies and quests for steady gains.

The combat itself is quite close to a traditional Soulslike. Most actions, such as attacking, dodging, and guarding, consume stamina, and it is possible to perform a 'backstab' by exploiting an enemy's opening. I also observed a system where you can deplete an enemy's poise to induce a groggy state, allowing for a powerful follow-up strike.

The fact that each weapon has unique skills was also notable. Skills are tied to the weapon rather than the character, which helps differentiate combat styles. It is not just about blocking and hitting; reading the gaps in an enemy's attack patterns and landing powerful skills is crucial. Of course, mastering boss patterns is essential for this.

The boss 'Karun,' which left a strong impression in the trailer, was a prime example. It might look simple at first, but there are several clever trap patterns hidden in the fight. Even though I consider myself experienced with Soulslikes, I had to die and retry over ten times. However, once I became familiar with the patterns through repeated attempts, I was naturally able to reach the second phase, and I clearly felt that unique joy of learning through death that defines the genre. This left me excited to see what kind of strategic fun the upcoming bosses will offer.

Meanwhile, there was an element rarely seen in typical Soulslikes: an inventory weight system. True to the extraction genre, you farm various items by defeating enemies and bosses, but if you get greedy and carry too much, your movement becomes sluggish due to the weight. This is a fatal drawback in a Soulslike, where dodging and stamina management are key. Naturally, players are forced to think about efficient farming—selecting valuable gear and swapping items based on the situation rather than just grabbing everything in sight.

Once you have achieved your goals and finished farming, you enter the extraction phase. After a certain amount of time, extraction points activate, allowing you to return to the lobby. However, you cannot let your guard down until the very last moment. Extraction takes about 5 seconds, and during this not-so-short window, you are vulnerable to ambushes by other players. During the demo, the developers present even joked, half-seriously, by encouraging each other to "hit them now."

If you successfully escape, you can store your acquired gear in your stash or sell unwanted items through NPCs or the marketplace—a familiar flow for the extraction genre.

Through this demo, it was relatively clear how 'Project Rabbit' combines extraction and Soulslike elements. At the very least, the game's direction is evident. However, my questions have not been fully answered. In an interview, the developers explained that 'Project Rabbit' is not just an online-based extraction game but also features a single-player-focused main story. This leaves me wondering how they will weave that story into a session-based structure.

Nevertheless, this demo was a meaningful experience because it allowed me to see the direction 'Project Rabbit' is pursuing. While it is still in its early stages, the potential is clearly visible. I look forward to seeing how this title grows.