Jennifer English Joins Valor Mortis as One More Level Expands Its First-Person Soulslike Cast

One More Level's upcoming first-person Soulslike Valor Mortis has added another major name to its cast. Jennifer English, whose recent game performances include roles in Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, will portray a character called The Shrike in the dark fantasy action game.

The announcement fills out more of the key acting lineup for the game, which is currently scheduled to launch on October 13 at a stated price of $40. Valor Mortis had been expected earlier, but One More Level delayed the release to mid-October before a formal release date had been announced. With the new date now in place and its principal cast increasingly clear, the game is positioning itself as a compact but ambitious release from the studio behind Ghostrunner.

English is joined by James Alexander, known for work in Dragon's Dogma 2 and Baldur's Gate 3, as Valor Mortis protagonist William Dowsett. Vincent Cassel will also feature as Napoleon Bonaparte, giving the project an unusual mixture of recognizable historical imagery, supernatural darkness, and an acting ensemble with extensive RPG credentials.

Jennifer English Takes the Role of The Shrike

English's casting is a notable addition for a game that seems designed to put atmosphere, character tension, and narrative mystery alongside demanding action. She has become especially familiar to RPG players through her work on celebrated fantasy games, and her involvement gives Valor Mortis a performer with experience conveying layered, emotionally charged characters in expansive worlds.

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The studio has not yet detailed exactly where The Shrike fits into William Dowsett's journey or whether the character will be an ally, adversary, guide, or something less easily defined. That ambiguity suits the name. "The Shrike" suggests a figure intended to be memorable and possibly unsettling, which aligns naturally with a Soulslike built around grim environments and formidable threats.

For now, the most concrete takeaway is that English is taking on a starring role rather than simply making a brief appearance. That gives players reason to expect The Shrike to matter meaningfully to the game's story. The casting also puts three experienced performers at the center of a project attempting to blend historical material with stylized dark fantasy.

A Cast Built Around William Dowsett and Napoleon

James Alexander's William Dowsett appears to be the player-facing heart of Valor Mortis. As the protagonist, Dowsett will presumably carry much of the game's narrative perspective while players navigate its first-person combat challenges. Alexander has prior connections to large-scale fantasy role-playing games, making him a fitting choice for a lead role in an action game with a dark fantasy premise.

Cassel's role as Napoleon Bonaparte is equally striking. Napoleon is one of history's most recognizable figures, but Valor Mortis is clearly not approaching him as part of a conventional historical drama. The game's Soulslike framework and overall tone point toward a transformed, fictionalized take on the era. Cassel's presence gives the character substantial screen and vocal presence, while the decision to place Napoleon in the cast signals that the historical setting will be central to the game's identity rather than mere background decoration.

With English as The Shrike, Alexander as Dowsett, and Cassel as Napoleon, One More Level has established an ensemble capable of supporting a story-driven action experience. It is also a sensible direction for a studio that has already proven it can create distinctive first-person movement and combat. Valor Mortis now has the opportunity to pair that design pedigree with characters who can make its world feel more personal.

From Ghostrunner's Speed to a First-Person Soulslike

One More Level is best known for Ghostrunner, a fast, first-person action series built around speed, precision, traversal, and punishing encounters. Calling Valor Mortis a first-person Soulslike immediately invites comparisons to that experience, especially in the importance likely placed on timing, player skill, repeat attempts, and learning enemy behavior.

At the same time, the Soulslike label suggests a different rhythm from Ghostrunner's cyberpunk parkour fantasy. Games in the genre are often defined by deliberate risk management, dangerous enemy encounters, imposing bosses, and a sense that every victory must be earned through observation and persistence. A first-person perspective could make those fundamentals feel especially immediate, placing players directly in the space where they must read attacks, manage distance, and react under pressure.

Valor Mortis therefore has a potentially interesting challenge: retaining the responsiveness and kinetic expertise associated with One More Level while adapting it to a darker, more methodical action-RPG structure. The studio's prior work makes it easy to see why it would pursue a combat-heavy first-person game, but the setting and genre terminology indicate that this is not simply Ghostrunner with swords and a new coat of paint.

Much still remains unknown about the exact combat systems, progression structure, level design, and the way its narrative unfolds. The cast reveal does, however, underline that Valor Mortis is aiming for more than a succession of difficult fights. By highlighting its actors and named characters, the developer is signaling that the game's world and story are important parts of the package.

A Growing Reputation for Jennifer English

English's appointment has also drawn attention because of the unusual recent trajectory of projects associated with her. Elden Ring, Baldur's Gate 3, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 each earned major game-of-the-year recognition in their respective moments, leading fans to jokingly describe her as a good-luck charm for awards contenders.

That reputation should not be mistaken for a prediction or a burden that Valor Mortis must meet. Awards are decided by far more than one performer's involvement, and games of every budget and scope face very different creative and commercial circumstances. Still, it speaks to English's increasingly prominent place in modern fantasy games. Her name now carries immediate recognition among players who follow narrative-led RPGs and character performances.

For Valor Mortis, the benefit is straightforward: English brings both proven talent and an audience that may be curious to see her tackle a new role. If The Shrike becomes a central force in Dowsett's story, the character could be one of the game's most closely watched elements when players finally get their hands on it.

Why Valor Mortis Matters for the Mid-Sized Game Space

Valor Mortis also arrives amid broader conversations about the place of mid-sized, or AA, productions in the industry. The game's director has argued that publishers need more successes comparable to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 before they stop treating smaller-scale projects as a major financial risk. It is a sentiment that reflects the difficult position occupied by games that sit between the industry's biggest blockbuster budgets and the smallest independent teams.

AA games can take meaningful creative risks while remaining more focused than enormous open-world productions. They can explore unusual premises, distinctive mechanics, and stronger genre blends without necessarily requiring the scale of a massive franchise release. But they also face intense pressure to stand out in a crowded market, especially when players have limited time and an abundance of high-profile releases competing for attention.

Valor Mortis has several traits that could help it cut through that noise: a recognizable developer, a clear first-person Soulslike hook, a dark historical-fantasy angle, and a cast led by actors with substantial game and film experience. Its $40 price point may also place it in a different conversation from full-price releases, although the game will ultimately be judged on how effectively its combat, atmosphere, and story work together.

The Road to October 13

The delay to mid-October means players will have a little longer to wait, but it also gives One More Level time to prepare the game for its revised launch. Delays can be frustrating, particularly when anticipation has already begun to build, yet a crowded release period makes polish and clarity especially valuable for a game trying to establish a new property.

As October 13 approaches, the biggest remaining questions concern the practical details of Valor Mortis itself. Players will want to see more of William Dowsett's mission, learn what makes Napoleon's role pivotal, and discover the nature of The Shrike's connection to the central conflict. They will also be watching closely for a deeper look at the demanding first-person combat that sits at the core of the game's Soulslike identity.

Jennifer English's casting does not answer all of those questions, but it gives Valor Mortis another compelling reason to follow. The game now has a clearly defined launch date, a stated $40 price, a lead performer in James Alexander, Vincent Cassel as Napoleon, and English in the enigmatic role of The Shrike. For One More Level, the next task is turning that promising combination into a first-person dark fantasy adventure that can stand confidently on its own.