CULTIC

CULTIC es una carta de amor a todos los shooter clásicos, sobre todo a Blood. Si bien es cierto que no es el primero, ni el único, es un hecho que es el que más me ha enganchado después de HROT alardeando asì de estar entre mi top 5 de los mejores FPS jamás creados el la historia de la humanidad. Si, es mi ranking y puedo ponerlo en el puesto que quiera.
¿Y qué lo hace tan bueno? Si bien no es novedad alguna los gráficos retros, hace uso de una buena paleta de colores y despliega un buen número de texturas y sprites. Pone en juego a jefes con un diseño increíble y nos presenta todo con una banda sonora que, aunque no es de porte retro, amalgama bien con la jugabilidad. El diseño de niveles tiene cierta linealidad lo que a mi parecer se agradece enormemente dado que nos simplifica la búsquedas de llaves y uno puede concentrarse en lo que es verdaderamente importante: aniquilar a todo lo que se mueva. Posee un buen set de armas, pero no fueron lo suficientemente atrevidos y plantearon las clásicas armas de toda la vida… pistolas, escopetas, lanzagranadas, etc.
En términos de gameplay reduce la velocidad de juego a algo más pausado (en relación a otros “boomer shooters”), pero suficientemente dinámico para mantenerte atento a lo que acontece detrás de cada puerta. Posee solo 10 escenarios diversos donde el mecanismo de juego varía obligando a cambiar de armas y estrategias para avanzar, es decir, en algunos escenarios será conveniente combatir a largas distancias con un rifle de francotirador mientras que en otros habrá que usar explosivos para acabar con hordas de enemigos. Es posible hacer uso de los objetos del nivel a favor de nuestro exterminio, por ejemplo, arrojándoles una silla, sus cabezas o incluso un jabón.
CULTIC solo peca de ser demasiado corto y en 4 horas es posible pasarse todos los escenarios y jefe final. Además tiene un modelo de negocios basados en capítulos que irán saliendo con el tiempo. Y si bien esto es algo flojo, creo que es un mal necesario considerando que está desarrollado por un equipo pequeño (avalado por 3D Realms, claro). Afortunadamente su precio es acorde a su contenido y mejor si lo encuentran con su descuento habitual del 25% off.

Chapter 1 Review:
If Blood and Cultic released at the same time, I would almost think Cultic is the better game. On a technical level, it far surpasses the former while fixing many of its flaws. Hitscan cultists are gone and replaced with actual weapon ballistics that can be avoided in a skillful manner. The set of enemies expanded and improved upon. Blood butchers and phantasms are canned for enemies that are actual threats. Axe zombies no longer bring the game to a screeching halt by playing dead and replaced by zombies that are more aggressive and have ranged options. Maybe dudes don’t fly to the moon with dynamite blasts and the satisfying screams of the cultists are gone. But you get this scootin and shootin buttery smooth feeling to combat that makes it literally a John Woo action horror movie. Dodging, jump kicks, and crouch slides give you speed boosts. Enemies have sound and visual indicators when they’re about to attack. Put 2 and 2 together and the results are combat that flows like water down a river.
The conclusion I’m drawing to is that Cultic just has better flowing combat over Blood. You have the John Woo vibes of Shadow Warrior and Blood here without the screeching grinding halts to combat that hitscanners and certain enemies introduce. I guess you can say it’s less tactical and more based on reflex compared to those games. But it is far less aggravating, and more skill based compared to the former to just generally play. It certainly avoids all the worst qualities about those games too. The moments in levels were you just basically die without knowledge from prior hand on specific enemy placements (that ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ elevator with three tommy gun cultists at the bottom in Monster Bait). The levels with specific pathways hidden in some corner. I certainly miss the open ended qualities of those levels, but Cultic always manages to have some good gimmicks to keep you playing. The way it introduces new enemies within a level is just stellar. Some of them being homages to horror movies or other games. I guess the worst thing I can say about Cultic’s level design is that its solid as opposed to great. Relying more on the scripted events of modern games with event triggers as opposed to enemies just being placed on the map via Doom or something. It certainly never stoops a Build engine’s game low points in level design, but certainly doesn’t come close to their highest. The end result is just a game that feels less dynamic to an extent.
Also, the music is just awesome. It certainly has the lone hero facing against many hordes vibe like an action game should have.
It certainly doesn't have the visual aesthetic of Blood or similar level design philosophy. But all I knew upon finishing the first episode, was that I wanted more of it immediately. This is an extremely good first episode and I would assume the next would be even better.

I just finished the chapter 2 and oooooh mamma, what a treat!

This must be one of my favourites shooters of all time, in general. The story is simple and engaging but what it keeps me goin is the sound design and the gameplay.

The sound design is the coolest shit ever, a perfect use of ambient noises and music in the correct spots is difficult to pull of, but CULTIC nails it sooo good! One level im killing and having a great old time and then I enter a house and the music goes null, the lights goes dark, there is only the humming of the tv with white noise comming off and, as you explore the house...

Man, the gameplay is soo kino, the headshoots are soo satisfying to see, hear and taste. The guns are pretty punchy and powerfull and the random slowmo (like killing floor) is a fantastic touch.

I was waiting for the chapter 2 for a looong time, but it was worth it, WORTH IT.

so yeah, play it, i dont care.

Este juego es una obra maestra, nada más que decir, si eres del genero DEBES repito DEBES jugarlo

This game feels like one of those things that only happens once... But wait, there is more!

Más que recomendado, te hace pegar unos lindos cagazos. El nieto de Blood está aquí.

un clasico arcade, con el estilo del viejo doom; me lo pase de maravilla se lo recomiendo a cualquiera que le agrade este tipo de arte y estilo de juego; espero con ansias el capitulo 2 <3