I loved playing the first chapter of Cultic: Chapter 1 for evaluation. This fast-paced, satisfying, spooky nostalgia fest was a joy to experience. What is even more impressive is that Cultic was developed for 3D Realms by one person, an up-and-coming author; Jason Smith.
In recent years, we have witnessed a glorious resurrection of the somewhat niche subgenre known as Boomer Shooter. I’ve been lucky enough to play a number of fantastic Boomer Shooters recently, but for my money, Cultic maybe just the best of the bunch.
Cultic: Chapter 1 releases October 13, 2022 and is available on Steam.
Cultic: Chapter 1 doesn’t bother trying to tell a detailed narrative. As for the plot, things are kept simple and that’s for the best in a title like this. The game follows the tried and true plot of any retro FPS title; you are alone in a scary place with a variety of enemies trying to kill you and you have to fight your way to survival.
What it does do is use environmental storytelling, world-building, and tone to create an eerily disturbing atmosphere; and he does it extremely well. While it’s a stretch to call the game truly scary, there’s undoubtedly a ominous atmosphere constantly present throughout all levels of the game.
Stylistically, Cultic: Chapter 1 feels a bit like a spiritual successor to the 1997 classic Blood for multiple reasons. First and most obviously, the game opens with the player character waking up in a shallow grave. Then there are the types of enemies in the game; hooded cult members and the strange supernatural evil entity.
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At first glance, the game’s graphics seem somewhat rudimentary and some might even say that the visuals are the only element that was created by a single person. That being said, once you settle into the nostalgic visual style used in the game, there are actually some truly gorgeous visual moments. Clever use of lighting and scale masks the pixelated nature of the game’s textures to create stunning and aesthetically pleasing scenes.
One thing that has always been essential in any great Boomer Shooter is that satisfying gameplay loop of dispatching waves of enemies in brutal and violent ways. Fortunately, Cultic: Chapter 1 has that in spades. The game also gives you access to quite a varied arsenal thanks to its execution and each weapon given to you is tactile and sturdy.
When this satisfying shooter is paired with the game’s frenetically fast motion controls, these are the times when Cultic: Chapter 1 is at its best. Flying through an environment, quickly dispatching waves of cult members and undead creatures never gets old.
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However, my only criticism of the game is the motion controls. As much as I loved the quick and fluid movement of the player-character, there are certain moments in the game that force you to slow down. Whether you’re trying to navigate a tight beam or a steep, thin stairway, there were a few moments where the game’s jittery motion caused a frustrating death. I would advise gamers to change their mouse sensitivity to work around this issue.
Overall I loved my time with this game and I’m glad I got to play Cultic: Chapter 1 for evaluation. It’s rare that I want to immediately go back and replay a game after watching it again, but I can’t wait to experience it Cultic: Chapter 1 for a second time.
As this is the first chapter of an episodic release, I’m very excited to see how the title develops and what the future holds for this awesome game. Some people say “they don’t make them like they used to anymore”, well, I’m here to tell you that Jasozz Games makes them like they used to and it’s a lot of fun to experience.
Cultic was reviewed on PC, with review code provided by 3D Realms.
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