ULTROS Is Like A Shroomy Hole Knight… With Gardening

I am a sucker for a Metroidvania. Though there’s undoubtedly market saturation nowadays, a few of my all-time favorite video games come from the style. Alongside my adulation for the OG 2D Metroid video games, the likes of Hole Knight, Useless Cells and Steamworld Dig 2 depend amongst my all-time faves.

So, regardless of not figuring out an awesome deal about it, I could not say no once I was supplied the chance to play ULTROS, “a psychedelic Metroidvania the place you get up stranded on a cosmic uterus holding an historic, demonic being,” at Gamescom this 12 months.

Up to date by Peter Hunt Szpytek on August 31, 2023: This preview was up to date to incorporate a video model (featured under.)

And man, the builders actually weren’t underselling it once they referred to as the sport “psychedelic.” In ULTROS, you spend a good bit of time tending to an ecosystem, and the world is constructed with this in thoughts. Luscious environments crammed with flora and hostile alien fauna make up the part of The Sarcophagus that I performed, nevertheless all the things had a really distinctive kaleidoscopic really feel. It jogged my memory of going by way of Hole Knight’s Greenpath space after having taken a few droplets of LSD on my tongue.

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The protagonist Ouji’s neon inexperienced visor, half-melted spacesuit and her shiny purple trainers encapsulate this vibrant vibe completely.

ULTROS’ sound design was additionally wonderful. The builders forwent the standard sci-fi sounds generated by synthesizers and as an alternative opted to orchestrate the sport’s soundtrack with a powerful string instrument presence. Further environmental cues have been recorded in Peru and the Amazon, and that focus to element has actually paid dividends.

The fight of ULTROS is as satisfying as I might hope for in a recreation like this. Whereas not practically as tough, there’s an nearly Soulsy really feel to issues, as you are required to check and study enemy’s assaults, dodge them after which retaliate on the counter, one thing for which you might be rewarded (and which I will contact on later).

Alongside discovering objects designed that will help you entry new areas, the sport has a completely developed ability tree. Whereas half-hour is barely going to scratch the floor, I used to be already unlocking strikes that allow me pull off some cool combos, and dispatch of the boss in a style that impressed the devs, allowed them to stroke my ego.

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Upon defeat, your adversaries drop monster elements, the consumption of which grants you each well being and XP. Because of this consuming them is a fragile balancing act. There are 4 several types of XP to unlock totally different abilities, every with their very own XP bars. If you have to eat meals to heal while any considered one of these bars are full, you will get healed, however will not get the XP increase. Conversely, if you wish to eat meals to achieve XP however your well being is full, then it’s possible you’ll be tempted to attend till some extent the place you lose some well being earlier than noshing down some monster bits.

ULTROS additionally permits you to do one thing that no 2D Metroidvania has ever accomplished earlier than: gardening. Throughout my journey, I discovered mysterious seeds and met a pleasant gardener, who defined to me the advantages of planting these seeds. I planted a seed, and lo and behold a plant sprouted, offering me with one thing edible which gave me a lift to my XP. Apparently you too can use these vegetation to unravel puzzles, and tackle enemies, although I did not handle to experiment with these mechanics in my brief time with the sport.

I additionally crossed paths with a quite untrusting lady, who is sort of undoubtedly going to have an enormous half to play within the recreation. Whereas my interactions along with her have been brief, she helped me perceive The Sarcophagus’ mysteries a bit higher, and in doing so, fleshed out the unusual story taking part in out right here.

With all the things I noticed throughout my brief time with ULTROS, I am excited. The world, the story, the mechanics—each element on present left me believing we have now one thing particular on our fingers. It now joins the esteemed Hole Knight: Silksong as my most anticipated Metroidvania recreation of the foreseeable future.

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