Vlad Circus: Descend into Madness is a wonderfully pixelated game that captures the essence of old-school point-and-click adventures. Alongside this, it tells a horrifically captivating story with interesting characters and a delightful subtlety that’ll make you smile. However, the short playtime and reliance on backtracking gameplay will grind your gears. As such, this title finely balances a sense of love and hate in equal measure.
This horror puzzle experience was developed by Indiesruption and published by Blowfish Studios. Additionally, some survival-lite elements deliver a layer of suspense. Consequently, it helps to break up the back and forth and the occasionally challenging puzzle moments.
Vlad Circus: Descend into Madness is a tale of despair and lost hope.
Vlad Circus is a game that teases you with mild moments of hope. Yet, it is the sense of despair, danger, and failure that drives the story forward. Moreover, the weird characters and fantastic aesthetics will keep you playing this short title.
You control Oliver Mills. This former clown of Vlad Circus had been released from the asylum after a deadly accident 5 years prior. Yet, despite the unsavoury history, the ringmaster has invited you to potentially rejoin the show. However, things soon go awry as Oliver and his circus friends lose contact. This unfortunate turn of events leaves the hero stranded and with plenty of problems to solve.
A twisted approach.
On paper, this is just another atmospheric puzzle adventure. But the excellent storytelling and interesting characters ensure that it stands out from the crowd. Alongside this, there is a sense of despair and madness as every clue is captured in Oliver’s journal. The strange notes and facts highlight his mental state whilst giving you an insight into the problems you face.
As the hero is abandoned, lonely, and vulnerable, it is understandable that stress could cause him to go a little crazy. Instead of a health meter, his mental state is represented by a stress meter! As it fills, his visions of the dead will haunt him mentally and physically. As such, this is where the survival-lite elements come into force. Thankfully, a good old-fashioned bit of praying helps to calm him down and heal his soul. Though this was undeniably simple, it worked exceptionally well with the uncomfortable theme.
Puzzles, puzzles, and more puzzles.
The constant back and forth will not be familiar territory for younger gamers. However, if you’ve enjoyed classic titles such as Broken Sword, Day of the Tentacle, or Grim Fandango, you’ll admire the ridiculously convoluted and often padded-out nature of the gameplay. Moreover, the sassy and unpredictable nature of the story helps to keep you going.
Yet, I can’t overlook the repetitive nature of the core gameplay. Unfortunately, the necessity to grab one item from a room at the opposite end of the mansion was beyond tedious. Additionally, this approach continues throughout and it leaves a lot to be desired.
Vlad Circus: Descend into Madness is grim and oppressive.
Though the relatively small mansion was disappointing, I loved the oppressive and grim aesthetics. The earthy and glum colour palette enhances the sense of doom and despair. Additionally, the pixelated art style complements the old-school approach. What’s more, the excellent lighting adds a sense of mystery to this creepy endeavour.
The audio blends large chunks of silence with atmospheric moments. Moreover, the sound effects were ominous, clichéd, and uncomfortable. As such, the two elements combine to create a horrible and occasionally sinister game.
Simple controls.
The constant back and forth will drive you crazy. However, the simple-to-understand controls alleviate some of the pain. Furthermore, the UI is well-considered, and it is easy to access your journal or any items in your inventory.
Sadly, replay value and longevity are limited. On top of this, the retro approach and dated mechanics are extremely niche. As such, Vlad Circus is likely to be overlooked. This is unfortunate, as it ticks plenty of boxes if you love this genre.
Vlad Circus: Descend into Madness is an interesting indie title.
Vlad Circus takes you on an uncomfortable and strange journey. What’s more, it uses some tried and tested ideas that’ll appeal to older gamers. However, it is this retro approach that will limit its appeal. Furthermore, the reliance on repetitive action and large swathes of nothingness will put off would-be gamers. Yet, I admired its weirdness and the strange storyline. Accordingly, I recommend that you buy it here! No matter the problem, the show must go on. Consequently, you must find your friends, solve the problems, and put the past behind you.
