Call of the Elder Gods

Call of the Elder Gods manages to deliver a consistent experience within its premise: a narrative adventure focused on mystery, atmosphere, and clever puzzles. The character writing, the Lovecraftian setting, and the gradual evolution of the puzzles make the campaign constantly engaging, while the art direction and soundtrack contribute to its identity. There are certain visual technical limitations and some frustrating moments caused by demanding puzzles, but the final result is a confident, mature, and very well-constructed sequel, especially for those who enjoy more contemplative and investigative games.

Call of the Elder Gods delivers a more ambitious and visually stunning sequel that significantly elevates the puzzle-solving experience. It features intricate, rewarding riddles supported by a clever hint system, yet the narrative becomes unnecessarily convoluted. Although the steep difficulty may frustrate some, its vibrant art direction ensures a truly captivating journey.

The Cthulhu Mythos echoes throughout Call of the Elder Gods, which faithfully replicates the gameplay of its predecessor, Call of the Sea, yet offers a more robust structure and an equally intriguing narrative. Some gameplay elements could have been utilized more effectively to lend greater personality to this sequel; nevertheless, it is bound to appeal to fans of the genre—as well as to those who enjoyed the controversial first installment of the saga.

Call of the Elder Gods is a mature and highly rewarding evolution of the foundation laid by Call of the Sea. Out of the Blue Games delivers a vibrant, puzzle-driven adventure that explores Lovecraftian lore through a surprisingly intimate and poetic lens. While the dual-protagonist mechanics feel somewhat underutilized and a few puzzles stumble in execution, the excellent narrative, the satisfying lateral-thinking challenges, and a beautiful handling of themes like grief and the afterlife make it a must-play. A thoroughly captivating journey that smartly closes old chapters while hinting at a promising future.

With equal emphasis on narrative and sequences of puzzles, Call of the Elder Gods makes good use of the Lovecraftian legacy, reinterpreting it with a presentation that dispenses with horror and prefers the mystery of adventure. It's a game that seeks to be enjoyable, without the pressure of fear, time constraints, or overly complex puzzles, being challenging only to the extent that it makes us think a little, even if its tools and talkative characters can be overly didactic.

Call of the Elder Gods pulls from Lovecraftian mythos to create a pulpy adventure game packed with head-scratching puzzles and plenty of intrigue. While it works to build off of 2020’s Call of the Sea, it doesn’t take advantage of its multiple protagonists in interesting ways. Though the complex solutions can clash with the pace, Out of the Blue’s fascinating world ultimately makes for a brisk journey that begs for a concluding chapter that goes all out, answering all the secrets planted throughout the series.

While this might not be my usual type of game, I had a great time with it nonetheless. Elder Gods is crammed with gorgeous set pieces, clever puzzles, and engrossing writing. I got stuck more than I would have liked, which threw off the pacing. Between that and the adventurous tone, this game wasn’t quite what I was expecting. Even so, Call of the Elder Gods was a delightful time. If you’re in the mood for an eerie eldritch adventure, this game would be a great choice.