Ultros is a metroidvania with a distinction. That could be a very simple word to throw round, however Ultros truly does stand out. This bold name takes the standard exploration and struggle mechanics that we all know and love and thrusts them right into a psychedelic global.
The very first thing you’ll realize when enjoying Ultros—and even through merely spying the screenshots—are the visuals. This colourful global is definitely placing, with pinks, vegetables, blues, and each different brilliant hue splashed throughout a lavish dream-like panorama. It makes for a trippy global that begs to be explored. The detailed background is once in a while too detailed, making it difficult to tell apart between one thing in entrance of you or at the back of you. Let’s simply say, I attempted (unsuccessfully) attacking the wall a number of occasions, pondering {that a} creature used to be about to interact with me. It used to be, in truth, a creepy mural upon the wall. Oops.
There’s a somewhat abnormal tale to accompany this intense glance. It comes to a heroine trapped in an unfamiliar global. As you move, she meets different trapped entities, all of whom have fading recollections. It seems that the longer you stay on this mysterious position, the extra you lose your self. On this manner, your objective is understated: to find an break out. Oh, and wreck the entirety when you’re at it.
The gameplay, in many ways, feels acquainted. As with all metroidvania price its weight in salt, you progress left, proper, up, and down in a sprawling, maze-like, 2D panorama. Each and every new room provides on your increasing map, and there are hidden pathways, save issues, enemies, and upgrades alongside the best way. The adaptation? Neatly, there are in fact a pair, either one of which might make or destroy the sport for you.
Originally, our heroine (who truly, truly seems like Vega from Boulevard Fighter, through the best way) possesses the facility to devour her enemies as soon as defeated. Sure, “devour” as in consume. This atypical function threw me off to start with, with a easy “Devour” command displayed along my fallen foe. Wait, what? It seems that consuming enemies revives you. It’s additionally the most important foreign money of types, being traded in for upgrades. It’s nonetheless bizarre, although.
Secondly, there’s a easy gardening component at play. As you move, you gather seeds which will also be planted at designated spots. Those turn into higher crops through the years, granting you well being or developing new pathways while you later revisit them. The caveat is that the best seed must be in the best position to correctly have an effect on the tale, and it isn’t simple to grasp the place to put them or consider which is which. A later skill to dig up and transfer seeds is helping, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a chore that may be a significantly better concept in idea than in observe.
The audio is a stand-out facet, that includes subdued tones coupled with some beautiful violin paintings. It supplies a gloomy soundscape that juxtaposes the brilliant visuals, and it’s beautiful to hear.
At the Transfer model, there are some long load occasions that may have an effect on gameplay. It’s now not the worst I’ve observed, nevertheless it’s there. I’m now not one that worries a complete lot about low framerates, however leaping doesn’t really feel as clean as it would, both. In all probability it’s going to run a little bit higher at the Transfer 2.
Total, Ultros is an bold metroidvania that stands proud with starkly contrasting visuals and engaging gameplay components. It’s virtually an excessive amount of for itself with a large number of concepts that don’t all the time paintings. It received’t be for everybody, however for those who’re within the temper for one thing manner off the overwhelmed trail, you’ll to find it right here.
