CULTIC: Chapter One

 PC
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 23
  3. Negative: 4 out of 23

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  1. criticalgamer
    Mar 27, 2023
    2
    Just another game trying to be 'different' by purposefully copying ancient successful games on a shoestring budget using the 'retro aesthetic' as an excuse for the game to both look and run terribly. Looks just enough like old doom/wolfenstien to get rubes to buy it but just different enough to avoid an IP lawsuit.
  2. Babutto
    Oct 31, 2022
    10
    It's a surprisingly good game.

    Pros.:
    - Old-school.
    - Many secrets.
    - Upgrade weapons.
    - Map design is very nice and neat.
    - Game design.
    - Story and notes.

    Cons.:
    - Sometimes the colors look dull.
  3. Pickle
    Oct 15, 2022
    10
    Amazing game, divided in chapters, right now you got chapter 1 which is about 4hrs, but the content here is incredible, the game is told from the perspective of multiple protagonists, the one that you play as, which is a survivor of the cult, simply trying to find your way out from where you are, and also the one from a detective, you can find his notes around that tell you his entire actAmazing game, divided in chapters, right now you got chapter 1 which is about 4hrs, but the content here is incredible, the game is told from the perspective of multiple protagonists, the one that you play as, which is a survivor of the cult, simply trying to find your way out from where you are, and also the one from a detective, you can find his notes around that tell you his entire act as a private investigator, and then an undercover detective, you also get some notes about the cult itself and some other survivors, there are some cutscenes but the main way the story is presented is through notes, is incredibly well written and paced though.

    The gameplay is fantastic as well, the music kicks in just in the right encounters and everything from the enemy variety to the weapon feedback is simply pristine, the headshots in this game destroy your enemies heads, and the shotgun just melts the freaking enemies apart.

    The game also has a number of distinctive and different weapons and items you can pickup within the enviroment and use against your enemies such as explosive barrels, lanterns, chairs, etc.

    All of this adds variety to the combat and it makes the game's first person shooting feel great, you're also incentivized to get secrets because of the weapon parts you can get which then you can trade for upgrades, is fantastic, the upgrades are quite significant, ranging from damage upgrades to even an alternate firing modes, one gives the regular pistol a burst fire mode for example, effectively turning the gun into a mini machinegun.

    The atmosphere and diversity within the levels is also fantastic as well, you go from a multitude of different areas and the whole things plays out in a seamless way, it just feels like a journey as you go along, it all becomes very natural as you progress.

    Then there's the set pieces and fantastical elements, which I was worried a bit about them at first in case they changed the gameplay too much, but they're implemented in a beautiful way, it actually makes it so the fantastical and ficticious enemies function almost the same as the regular ones, this might seem like a detrament, but it actually keeps the quality and consistency of the gameplay intact.

    There are some minour annoyances here and there, there's a slide mechanic that isn't really used, there's also some enemies that start being used quite a bit after a while, and there's also the fact that one particular enemy can be a bit annoying because it shakes your screen and gets you stuck in place, but frankly, when you consider all of the bonuses here, this is an incredible package that you're getting, the fact that this is made by one person just mades the whole thing worthwhile even further.

    Really recommend it, it also has a multitude of different difficulty options for casual and hardcore players alike, and they're actually well balanced too!    … Expand
  4. random_gamer
    Oct 16, 2022
    9
    This game is amazing. The gunplay feels superb, the level design is first class with very nice secrets and variety and throwing TNT into hoards of enemies until they are only mush never gets old.
    Combine all of this with the fact that this was developed by only one guy really says something. Not only about the skills from this developer, but also how damn bad today "Triple A" games with    This game is amazing. The gunplay feels superb, the level design is first class with very nice secrets and variety and throwing TNT into hoards of enemies until they are only mush never gets old.
    Combine all of this with the fact that this was developed by only one guy really says something. Not only about the skills from this developer, but also how damn bad today "Triple A" games with millions of budget are in comparison.

    I haven't finished the game yet, but others have said it is fairly short. Maybe, but for the price of 10 bucks this is really nothing to complain about. I'm really looking forward to the next chapters.

    If you enjoy singleplayer FPS games do yourself a favor and get this game.    … Expand
  5. KrillerBomb
    Nov 14, 2022
    0
    Just another Doom clone that does not live up to its expectations. Music is good and the sound effects are good, but nothing else.
  6. DreadStorm
    Oct 23, 2022
    10
    Я сразу вспомнил BLOOD! Игра порадовала своей атмосферой и пикслельная графика придала эффекту! Для одного чела - это очень круто!
  7. WackyJaber
    Jan 1, 2023
    9
    Incredibly well done retro shooter. It has similarities to other shooters of its genre, mainly Blood, but it does enough to stand on its own that it doesn't reiterate. Enemies are 2d sprites in a 3d environment much like games like Duke Nukem 3D and Ion Fury, but delves more into a semi-horror atmosphere. If that sounds like something you'd like, I'd highly recommend.
  8. Shenlor
    Aug 18, 2023
    7
    Excellent old-school-boomer-shooter videogame with a great theme, that setting has something really attractive.
  9. piglordofallham
    May 5, 2023
    7
    I'm tired of this trend. People are just making these super ugly versions of older games mixed with whatever they grew up on and slapping their names on it. I don't care if it was made by one guy- Prodeus, Hedon, and a billion other quote boomer shooters unquote, all play the same. They also totally miss the point. Gameplay may be smooth, but the enemies are still hit-scanners. TheI'm tired of this trend. People are just making these super ugly versions of older games mixed with whatever they grew up on and slapping their names on it. I don't care if it was made by one guy- Prodeus, Hedon, and a billion other quote boomer shooters unquote, all play the same. They also totally miss the point. Gameplay may be smooth, but the enemies are still hit-scanners. The enemies are still brainless and literally spawn in farther away from you we're playing Blood circa 1997. The game just isn't particularly fun when it comes to pixel hunting for headshots when the hit-scanner enemies, which they all basically are, can instantly zero-in on you as a target.

    Lets just get something straight, its not the gameplay that isn't solid in most respects. There is a lot here that is definitely progress in the genre, but its the visuals that cause me to slump over in frustration. Like when you actually play Cultic, you'll wonder why it looks so mangled. Its extremely difficult to make out just what is or isn't a thing to interact with in Cultic. I noticed that even in the first area some boxes are breakable, but then certain boxes aren't. Certain walls can be blown up, but then that texture looks remarkably like everything else you're looking at as well. Personally, I think it looks terrible. It doesn't look anything like Blood either, outside of some obvious references. Is this really where all these indie-first-person-shooters are going? Just derivative, story-less, gore-fests for all of us post-millennial morons that keep buying them?

    I don't get it. Doom 2016 and its sequel were literally the last two really great first-person shooters, and they haven't even really been topped by other developers yet. So why are we drudging up the corpses from the past? Don't people remember how boring Quake 2 was outside of multiplayer? I mean come on. This path only leads to more copy-cat behavior.    … Expand
  10. Destructob7
    May 3, 2023
    10
    A retro shooter done right, needs more content. Chapter 1 is decent length. soundtrack is creepily beautiful.
  11. korku
    Nov 15, 2022
    7
    An extraordinary game that takes me back to the early 2000s. I didn't think I would enjoy a game like this during this period. Pretty satisfying.

Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Best PC Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. SECTOR.sk
    Nov 29, 2022
    80
    A great return to classic pixel FPS. Although graphically it may not suit everyone and it does not bring anything new, the gameplay and the atmosphere are definitely excellent.
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  2. LevelUp
    Nov 20, 2022
    85
    CULTIC is a love letter for boomer shooter fans that has the perfect mix between old and new, resulting in a product with the potential to rise above similar games. It's a worthy look back to the roots of the FPS genre, while also forging a path into a new genre.
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  3. Cubed3
    Nov 14, 2022
    80
    One of the finest retraux FPS games available, CULTIC pays homage to titles like Blood, and actually surpasses them. From running, jumping, sliding, and reloading, to chopping heads, firing and reloading weapons, and throwing explosive dynamite or flesh-burning Molotov cocktails at the feet of robed fanatics, everything feels awesome. The levels are large and decently non-linear, and the atmosphere, visuals, as well as the OST, are top notch. Solo-dev Jason Smith has every right to feel proud of this wonderful ode to the era it was inspired from.
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