Calturin is not a game I’d heard of, and I’d have missed it if it wasn’t for this review. However, now I’ve experienced it, I’m much more stressed and exasperated as a consequence! Its brutal gameplay, lack of hand-holding, and grim undertones aren’t for the faint of heart. Yet, once you get into it, you’ll enjoy a moreish, albeit easy-to-understand game.
Developed by Lasse Zacho Malver and published by Samustai LTD, this is a bullet hell endeavour. What’s more, it is creepy, sinister, and has a rogue-lite approach. As such, death is a worry, and failure is all but assured. Alongside this, the cruel nature of the gameplay is testing, and your patience will be pushed to the limits. On top of this, I cursed more than I’d liked to as I repeatedly died in this magical fantasy world.
Calturin tells a cruel and morbid tale.
The action may be cruel, but the story is harsher, still. You are the titular hero who specialises as a mage. This once powerful man was struck down in his prime. However, a necromancer revived him and now holds him prisoner. Yet, there is light at the end of the tunnel, as your freedom is promised for a small price. Consequently, if you complete every trial you encounter, you will be set free. But unfortunately, this is easier said than done.
The plot sets a morbid and uncomfortable tone that forms the backbone of the gameplay. Furthermore, the necromancer holds an uncomfortable power over anyone he revives. As such, you must complete his quests no matter how difficult they are. With puzzles, combat, and bosses to defeat, the action is challenging. Thankfully, though, the degree of difficulty ensures that success is rewarding. Moreover, each arena-based ordeal is addictive, hellish, and mind-blowingly hectic.
A test of your memory.
Though each arena focuses on the bullet hell mechanics, your memory is tested as well. With familiar patterns to memorise and repetitive attacks utilised, you must study each room and enemy to overcome them. Whether you are sprinting past traps and ghouls, or you are avoiding fireballs, projectiles, or claws, it is unbelievably fast. However, once you understand the fundamentals of each encounter, the game becomes much easier.
Calturin helps to balance out the difficulty curve with a fair and simple upgrade system. Accordingly, you can increase your speed and health, or decrease the cooldown of your abilities. Whatever you choose, it’ll give you a tactical advantage as you advance. Yet, you may only upgrade upon completing an arena, so you must choose wisely.
The developers also enhance the difficulty setting with an array of additional arenas. Each area is accessed by using a portal. The standard levels are green, the advanced stages are red, and black is reserved for the hardiest of fighters. Thankfully, you don’t have to take on the harder levels, but if you do, you’ll tackle tougher versions of already defeated bosses. As such, you’ll have to restudy their new attacks and rely on your wits and skills to succeed.
Calturin looks brilliantly dated.
A world full of monsters and sombre tones isn’t that attractive. Yet, Calturin looks brilliantly dated. Thanks to its pixelated graphics, earthy colour palette, and isometric viewpoint, it’s great to look at. However, I was disappointed with the déjà vu nature of each stage. For unknown reasons, the developers insisted on using a familiar setup for most combat encounters. The only exceptions were the puzzling moments. During these ordeals, the dungeons were more expansive, and this made for an interesting change of pace. Subsequently, I wish this approach had been taken throughout.
Though the visuals drew some complaints, the audio fared much better. With a folksy and airy soundtrack, the music delivered the fantasy theme. Alongside this, the sound effects worked perfectly, and the necromancer had a creepy, husky voice. Altogether, the audio delivered an atmospheric package that enhanced the experience.
Simple controls.
Calturin is a simple mage with limited abilities. Accordingly, he is easy to control. Furthermore, the responsive nature of the inputs and the excellent tutorial ensure this is easy to pick up. With fireballs to shoot, a teleportation spell to use, a shield to protect you, and 3 healing scrolls, it is easy to play. Yet, its brutality, rogue-lite mechanics, and tough bosses make it hard to master.
When a game is this tough, it is full of longevity and replay value. Furthermore, the red and black portals up the ante while the standard green path tests you throughout. On top of this, a challenging achievement list will keep completionists busy as well.
Calturin will be missed by many.
Whenever I find a hidden gem, it makes me smile. Unfortunately, though, I also realise that it’s likely to be missed by many. Consequently, this is disappointing as this indie game is fantastic. Yes, it kicked my ass, but that’s what makes it so fantastic. Accordingly, I loved its evil ways and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you earn your freedom? I doubt it! Yet, don’t let that put you off. Instead, fight every monster, dodge every projectile, and solve every problem in this grim and cruel game.
