Mankind is dead. Blood is fuel. Hell is full. Find a weapon. That is the only story one gets from Ultrakill as they are dropped into the corridor leading to Hell itself. Welcome to ULTRAKILL made by New Blood and Hakita, a crazy trip of a game that combines fast-paced action, comedy, and a whole lotta blood!
GAMEPLAY:
ULTRAKILL is a fast-paced first-person shooter, in a style comparable to Quake and DOOM Eternal, often colloquially referred to as Boomer Shooters. Unlike the most recent iterations of DOOM, which tones down difficulty to appeal to a wider audience, ULTRAKILL does not pull any punches, as every mechanic in the game is based purely on the skill of the player. Whilst this does make learning frustrating, it is so much more satisfying to succeed and pull off impressive maneuvers knowing that there were no training wheels to help you. From punching shotgun shells to propel them forward, to shooting rail cannons into coins to devastate foes, the arsenal of only 5 weapons is shockingly deep and complex purely due to how they interact with one another. They even offer them to you at specific intervals that allow for mastery of your current weapon set before introducing a new item to the fray. Though with the complex nature of these combos, do not expect any reprieve to learn all of these easily, as the demons, husks, and angels you face will not hold back, forcing you to react quickly to the situation you are presented with. In many cases, creatures kill you very quickly, but this lends wonderfully to the healing mechanic, as killing enemies nearby, as the intro suggested, fuels you with their blood, healing you just as fast as you are injured. This mechanic forces players to play in the way the designers intended, discouraging cowardly play, and keeping them squarely in the Fun Zone, where no moment feels dull.
STYLIZATION:
ULTRAKILL has an incredibly unique stylization to it, choosing to prioritize recognition to games like Quake by giving it the same low-poly graphics as the original Unreal Tournament-esque games of a bygone era. In this modern day, where games are either hyper-detailed and verging on actual footage, or pixelated RPG’s, a mid-ground to these extremes is very refreshing, and despite its usage of a limited art style, Hakita absolutely makes the most out of the little he gave himself to work with. From the ornate, clean, and heavenly objects of angelic origin to the melding of flesh, bone, and machine for the tortured husks of hell, each creature, no matter how small, has a purpose that is easily recognizable from a quick glance. This fact is incredibly important, as the game moves past you a mile a minute, so a moment is all you are given to determine your surroundings and act to not die.
RATING/SUMMARY:
The game’s uniquely retro look and complex mechanics separate it from many other games that people would consider its predecessors. Additionally, its constant support, updates, and committed development puts it safely above them. From the crazy weapon combinations to be found, to the incredible look, and even more I could not get to in this review like the incredible OST, hilarious hidden levels, and hidden story, ULTRAKILL has established itself as one of the greats even before its full release. For anyone who enjoys shooters and has a wish for a strong single-player game, I will always recommend ULTRAKILL. I would have to agree with Guyoninterweb’s Steam review stating “This game literally isn’t finished and it’s still one of the greatest games of all time.” Very concise, and well phrased by this reviewer.
5/5 stars, an amazing game that does what it sets out to do exceptionally well and does not compromise its vision to appeal to a broader audience. One of the greatest games I have ever played.
Written by Wyatt Desserre, Lethbridge College
