Ultros

Release Date: February 13, 2024

Action, science fiction, platformers, 2D, metroidvania, indie games, side-scroll, singleplayer

7.9

OpenCritic

80%

Steam

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An action platformer metroidvania. Ultros tells the story of Ouji traversing a cosmic Sarcophagus, searching for a way out, fighting enemies, learning about the place and its inhabitants.

Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects

Ultros is an action platformer metroidvania developed by independent studio Hadoque.

Plot

Ultros is set in a sci-fi universe. Its main protagonist is Ouji, her ship having crashed on the Sarcophagus - a gigantic cosmic uterus hosting a demonic entity known as Ultros. There, she ends up trapped in a time loop, her psyche put to the test. To escape she must learn more about the Sarcophagus, its inhabitands and understand the role she is to play. The story tackles such topics as mental health, life, death and the cycle of karma.

Mechanics

Ultros is a side-scroller. The player must traverse the Sarcophagus, its interconnected rooms forming an elaborate maze. Along the way we'll face hostile insectoid aliens, which we can fight using melee weapons and combat skills. Each battle requires keeping in constant motion, avoiding enemy blows, countering and chaining attacks into effective combos.

We're granted some respite between encounters by growing plants, each of which has unique traits and effects, providing new abilities and ways to dispatch enemies; plants can also be used to solve environmental puzzles and open new paths.

Since Ouji is stuck in a time loop, the story's key scenes can be played through multiple times; this lets us understand it better, discover the world's secrets, unlock new areas and abilities.

Technical aspects

One distinctive feature of Ultros is its original cartoonish artstyle and vivid, neon-like color palette. The project was supervised by El Huervo, an artist known for his work on the Hotline Miami series. The atmospheric, symphonic soundtrack complements the visuals well.

Videos and Screens

[1:56] Ultros - Nintendo Switch and Xbox Launch Trailer

[1:10] Ultros Ultros - Launch Trailer

7.9

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 79% of Critics. There are 54 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

God is a Geek: 8 / 10 by Mick Fraser

Expect to be confused, bewildered, and visually seduced by Ultros, but don't expect to be too surprised by what simmers beneath the surface.

Full Review

GameSpot: 8 / 10 by Alessandro Barbosa

Ultros' experimentation with elements from both roguelites and metroidvanias creates an enthralling combination accentuated by a captivating setting.

Full Review

Hardcore Gamer: 4.5 / 5 by Kyle LeClair

A psychedelic metroidvania game with hints of time loop and roguelike mechanics, the game sees you seemingly having crash landed on a massive structure known as the Sarcophagus, which houses the ominous being known as Ultros. Making use of alien gardens and biology in order to further one's skills, players have to fight their way through to break the loop, or maybe find hidden pacifist solutions along the way instead.

Full Review

80%