Ultros is the new Metroidvania from El Huervo (Swedish artist Niklas Åkerblad) and Kepler Ghost. El Huervo has already participated in developments such as Hotline Miami and it is characterized by a very particular style, which we will talk about later. Please note that the version we tested is a preview PC version. is approximately 2.5 hours long, so content is subject to change before the official launch on February 12, 2024.
The game places us in an alien spaceship called the Sarcophagus.. There are all kinds of life there, which is the strangest thing. The particularity of the ship is that it is trapped in a time loop which does not allow anyone to escape. We discover that the loop is fueled by the emotions of 7 people who are inside mysterious capsules, our goal is to destroy them and end the loop.
The Ultros art section
The artistic style of Ultros It’s very pretty and eye-catching. It’s full of strong colors and lighting
Character design follows the same structure, beings full of technology but wrapped in an organic layer which sometimes even becomes somewhat grotesque. But I repeat, the whole thing is very striking.
And if that wasn’t enough, psychedelic elements also come into play in the storylines, which fits perfectly. Everything is hand drawn and very well animated. The sounds are equally remarkable, imitating organic sounds. On the other hand, the soundtrack is very ambient and perfectly accompanies what we see on the screen.
The gameplay
The gameplay of Ultros It’s like any metroidvania, we have a map to explore, areas that we cannot access until we have a certain skill and so on. In this case we will focus on the particularities of the game, which are not uncommon.
We’ll start with the enemies which, although not particularly difficult, are They will reward if we play with style. Depending on how we eliminate them, they will drop higher quality items. For example, during parades, they will be of better quality. These objects are essential since we can eat them to gain nutrition. By having a certain amount we will have the possibility to level up, while acquiring skills and improvements.
Emphasize that there are 4 different nutrition meters and each object we eat gives us specific ones. On the other hand, skills also require having a certain number of specific counters to unlock them.
Another particularity of Ultros son seeds. They are found all over the world and can be planted in rich soil, highlighted by a characteristic shine. As it grows, it will give us a living fruit that we can consume to acquire nutrients. Everything we eat also replenishes our health.
Loop cycles
Beyond the artistic, Ultros It is characterized by the loop in which it immerses us. When we reach a certain point it resetseven if we keep the objects. The seeds we planted in the previous cycle grow in the next cycle., which gives us more fruit and allows us to access other areas. Skills are also reset, even if you can repair some of them with an object so as not to lose them between cycles and thus keep them acquired. There will also be various other changes to the map
During the demo we were able to play for 2 cycles and we have already seen some very interesting changes, which forced us to travel another path, in addition to allowing us to access other previously hidden paths. The story also develops with each cycle, but in the two of the demo we didn’t get to see much.
Ultimately, Ultros is…
Ultros aims to be a very picturesque and fun game. In addition, due to his style, he risks attracting your attention very quickly, or on the contrary not calling you at all. Everything will depend on your tastes, especially the question of everything organic and sound.
Without a doubt, it is a metroidvania that seeks to differentiate itself from the others giving us different mechanics, a different style and a different progression, to a certain extent. It is a game that will also greatly appeal to fans of the genre, highly recommended and awaiting its final release in February.
I do things… It’s the neighbor who chooses the meme and it’s the meme who wants the neighbors to be the meme
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