CTHON
- March 17, 2017
- Gravity Games
- 17h median play time
Get on Steam"Cthon" is a single-player Science Fiction Shooter game set in the 24th century, where you combat evil forces on a moon in the Epsilon Eridani system. With exceptional graphics and stellar music, the game creates a great atmosphere as you utilize advanced alien technology to transform into a cybernetic weapon and defeat the dark entity known as Cthon. Inspired by classic space horror games, "Cthon" offers an immersive and challenging experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- CTHON features impressive visuals and a haunting soundtrack that effectively create a dark and immersive atmosphere.
- The game offers a unique upgrade system where weapon appearances change with upgrades, enhancing the sense of progression.
- Procedurally generated levels provide high replayability, keeping gameplay fresh and engaging despite the game's short length.
- The controls can be awkward, with a confusing weapon switching mechanism that detracts from the overall experience.
- The game suffers from a lack of variety in weapons and enemy design, leading to repetitive gameplay.
- Permadeath and limited inventory management can make progress feel frustratingly dependent on luck rather than skill.
- gameplay28 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of C'thon is characterized by its blend of classic first-person shooter mechanics reminiscent of titles like Wolfenstein and Doom, combined with roguelike elements such as procedural generation and permadeath, which adds tension and replayability. While some players find the slower pace and lack of saving options frustrating, others appreciate the strategic depth offered by class customization and weapon upgrades. Overall, the game successfully merges retro FPS gameplay with RPG mechanics, creating a unique experience that appeals to fans of both genres.
“This is a pretty fun and atmospheric mix of Wolfenstein 3D / Blake Stone-style old-school FPS gameplay with the randomly generated roguelike formula, in a dark sci-fi / Lovecraftian setting.”
“Overall, this game succeeds at fusing Wolfenstein/Doom's FPS gameplay with RPG and roguelike mechanics, elements of Metroid's aesthetic, and the narrative bent of Lovecraft's cosmological outlook.”
“The tension in this regard arises especially from the roguelike gameplay without saving options, where death is permanent and results in a complete restart.”
“The movement is slow, gameplay is boring, and if you die, you must begin from the start.”
“The gameplay is dead simple, and thanks to the procedurally generated levels, there's a lot of time spent exploring corridors to nowhere.”
“Original review: the game crashed when I was fighting the final boss, the permadeath mechanic and lack of saving caused me to lose all my progress and start from the beginning.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of C'thon are a standout feature, blending retro pixel art with modern aesthetics to create a visually striking experience that enhances its cosmic horror atmosphere. Players appreciate the detailed visuals, particularly how weapon upgrades are reflected in the graphics, and the overall design evokes nostalgia while maintaining a fresh appeal. Despite some critiques regarding gameplay mechanics, the game's strong visuals and immersive atmosphere are consistently praised.
“The atmosphere is on point: graphics and audio are perfect for the space-lovecraftian setting.”
“C'thon's main strength is its strong visuals.”
“The graphics are pixel-perfect and gritty.”
“If it wasn't for the soundtrack, this would be a sub-par roguelike, but mixed with the aesthetic of the game, it really drives home a cosmic horror feel as you slowly progress through the labyrinthine levels of a dead research station on top of some forgotten alien civilization.”
“I enjoy the aesthetic of the game, but the lack of weapons, awkward control scheme, slow pace of combat, and utterly random ability to make meaningful progress hurt a game that otherwise has a lot of potential.”
“Don't let the simplistic graphics fool you; this game delivers solid immersion and with it plunges you headfirst into a setting that's somewhere between Lovecraft and Geiger with a smattering echo of certain aspects of System Shock.”
- music22 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a dark, eerie atmosphere that enhances the sense of dread and isolation, effectively complementing the game's visuals and gameplay. Reviewers highlight the hauntingly ambient soundtrack, which shifts between cosmic horror and post-rock influences, as a key element that elevates the overall experience, despite some noting its repetitive nature. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's immersive and tense environment.
“The unique soundtrack adds just the right amount of suspense and lends to the sense of isolation while exploring an abandoned colony.”
“The real impressiveness comes from the soundtrack, which drifts in and out of cosmic horror ambiance to a slow-paced post-rock doom that immediately gives off a 'bell witch' vibe.”
“The game world is dark and unsettling; the simplistic ambient soundtrack creates the vibe of danger and uncertainty while permadeath keeps each playthrough tense.”
“If it wasn't for the soundtrack, this would be a sub-par roguelike, but mixed with the aesthetic of the game, it really drives home a cosmic horror feel as you slowly progress through the labyrinthine levels of a dead research station on top of some forgotten alien civilization.”
“Its slow pace, ominous music, dark and desolate sci-fi setting, and considerable difficulty build up surprisingly good immersion and a fair amount of tension.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its dark, foreboding tone, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and impressive spritework. Reviewers note the effective blend of retro FPS gameplay with Lovecraftian and sci-fi elements, creating a tense and immersive experience filled with claustrophobic settings and unsettling enemies. Overall, the game's atmosphere stands out as its strongest feature, successfully evoking nostalgia while delivering a chilling horror experience.
“The best thing about Cthon is its atmosphere.”
“The slower pace, the gloomy, claustrophobic hallways, and a deliciously spooky soundtrack all conspire to create the kind of tension-fraught, horror-FPS atmosphere that I've longed to experience again since the mid-2000s.”
“The atmosphere is dark and foreboding; the OST complements it well too.”
“The sprite-work is interesting, with decrepit, sickly looking creatures inhabiting the claustrophobic halls, and their deaths being equally as grim as the atmosphere the game gives off.”
“The slower pace, the gloomy, claustrophobic hallways, and a deliciously spooky soundtrack (seriously, these are really creepy tunes) all conspire to create the kind of tension-fraught, horror-FPS atmosphere that I've longed to experience again since the mid-2000s.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Cthon boasts high replayability thanks to its procedurally generated maps and an upgrade system that allows for customizable builds, compensating for its short playtime of one to two hours. The inclusion of permadeath further enhances replay value, as each playthrough offers unique challenges and experiences due to random level layouts and item placements. Overall, players can expect a varied and engaging experience with each session.
“Especially the aspect of procedurally generated maps makes Cthon a gem of high replayability and compensates for the short playtime of one to two hours.”
“It's short, yes, but replayability is guaranteed with procedurally generated levels and an upgrade system that lets you customize your build.”
“There's permadeath, levels and items are randomly generated, which adds some replayability, but also throws difficulty all over the place, as your survival is very dependent on found upgrades and resource management.”
“The procedural generation consistently creates levels with different layouts each time you load them, so there is a high amount of replayability.”
“Further, due to the permadeath aspect of this game, having procedural generation really helps with the replayability.”
- story3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's retro story, conveyed through scrolling text between sections, is effective and well-written, though minimal in depth. While the narrative is solid, players express a desire for more substantial content, such as logs or additional context, to enhance the experience.
“The story was solid, though I wish there was more depth to it with logs or something like that rather than just the segment-end texts it provides you.”
“The simplistic retro story, told in screens of scrolling text in between the three sections of the game, is effective and evocative.”
“Story elements are minimal but well written.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect somewhat tedious, though the sound effects, reminiscent of classic Doom games, add an engaging layer to the experience with their creepy and immersive qualities.
“It gets a bit tedious.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users note that every mod enhances both the performance and visual aesthetics of the guns, indicating a strong focus on optimization in gameplay.
“Every mod not only upgrades the performance but also changes the appearance of the gun.”
“The optimization options allow for a highly customizable experience, letting players tailor their gameplay to their preferences.”
“I love how the game encourages experimentation with different builds, making optimization feel rewarding and engaging.”
