Ritual: Crown of Horns
- February 28, 2020
- Draw Distance
Ritual: Crown of Horns is an enjoyable experience, but one that seems determined to frustrate through its unforgiving difficulty and repetitive nature. Its soul is saved, though, by an grimly pretty art style and satisfying, punchy gunplay.
Get on Steam"Ritual: Crown of Horns" is a horde mode game set in a demonic Wild West, where you play as a undead bounty hunter seeking revenge with the help of a witch. The game features fast-paced, 3D top-down action, with a variety of weapons and spells to use against the hordes of enemies. Unlock new tools and items boosting your character as you progress through the Weird West.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Engaging and fast-paced gameplay that combines gunplay and spellcasting, providing a satisfying experience.
- Strong atmosphere with a unique dark western theme, complemented by a haunting soundtrack that enhances the gameplay.
- Variety of weapons and spells allows for adaptable playstyles, making each encounter feel fresh and challenging.
- Clunky aiming mechanics and mandatory auto-aim can hinder gameplay, making it frustrating during intense moments.
- Repetitive level design and objectives can lead to a sense of monotony, as the core gameplay loop remains largely unchanged.
- Performance issues, such as long loading times and unclear enemy visibility, detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay36 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced, strategic action where players defend a witch during a ritual against waves of demonic enemies, utilizing a mix of spells and weapons. While the core mechanics are engaging and the atmosphere is enhanced by a heavy metal soundtrack, some players find the aiming system clunky and the repetitive nature of the horde defense format can lead to boredom. Overall, the game offers solid twin-stick shooter mechanics, though it may benefit from quality-of-life improvements and better feedback on player actions.
“Gameplay consists of defending this woman while she conducts the ritual to remove all the demons from the area of suffering while utilizing spells, guns, the environment, and whatever gear you decided to equip for the level.”
“Summary: while Ritual may be in need of some quality of life improvements in certain areas, its fast-paced, action-packed, and strategic gameplay mixed with a metal soundtrack and varied weapons and abilities create a difficult yet fun and engaging take on the wild west.”
“The gameplay is extremely satisfying.”
“The actual gameplay is, essentially, 'defend the <something> from a horde for <some amount of time>'.”
“Too many of the game mechanics just slow things down unnecessarily.”
“It just always seemed so boring to me with the gameplay being exactly the same over and over, just longer each time.”
- story15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The story revolves around a cowboy on a deceptive mission who ultimately faces betrayal from those he trusted, blending classic Western tropes with a twist of supernatural elements. While the narrative is described as cliché and riddled with plot holes, it provides a compelling backdrop to the gameplay, which prioritizes action over storytelling. Overall, players find the story engaging enough to enhance the experience, despite its shortcomings in delivery and depth.
“The plot is better than I expected, from the writing to the concept to the art.”
“There is no mistaking the plot plays second to the gameplay in Ritual; nevertheless, for those who are looking for a decent story amidst all the carnage, there is an interesting one to be found here.”
“These elements combined with the story, which has a 'weird fiction' vibe, create an intriguing atmosphere.”
“The story is pretty cliché - you are a bounty hunter/wild west legend who is basically a hero of the nation (there are even dime novels published with him as the protagonist), and you are sent by the government (which turns out to be sort of an illuminati bad guys...) to kill the witch (...but then the government cultists tear you up with hatchets).”
“The long and short of it is that this is a top-down shooter with arcade gameplay spread across a handful of different enough levels and a smattering of story that feels like it's punching way above the weight of its presentation and having too little of an effect.”
“From what I can tell, the storyline here seems to have as many plot holes as Swiss cheese.”
- music12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in "Ritual: Crown of Horns" is widely praised for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, featuring a haunting and intense soundtrack that combines heavy metal with western-inspired melodies. While some players noted that certain musical elements can be jarring, the overall composition effectively complements the fast-paced action and strategic gameplay, creating a captivating experience. The soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and chaotic environment.
“But other than that, the soundtrack and atmosphere to Ritual are nothing short of excellence.”
“There is a mysterious, dark, ominous sense to the game where you feel there is always someone watching you, giving it a slight sense of horror with a music track that has notes that fit in perfectly with that.”
“I did find the main theme that plays during dialogue can get a bit ear-piercing at its height of higher musical notes and high bass which is unfortunate.”
“While the overall graphics are nothing to write home about, the music is haunting.”
“The music, a bold mix of heavy raw guitar and western-inspired melodies, only adds to the chaos that we’re about to dive into.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 13 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Ritual: Crown of Horns" is widely praised for its dark, immersive quality, enhanced by a heavy metal soundtrack and a subtle sense of horror that keeps players on edge. The combination of excellent visuals, smooth gameplay mechanics, and a compelling "weird fiction" narrative contributes to a captivating experience that effectively sets the tone for intense action against demons and cultists. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, elevating its appeal.
“The atmosphere of Ritual is fantastic.”
“At its heart, the atmosphere of Ritual is one of darkness filled with action and heavy metal, but always looming in the background when things do slow down, is that subtle sense of horror, that results in you never feeling safe even when in the one place you are supposed to feel it.”
“These elements combined with the story, that has a 'weird fiction' vibe, create an intriguing atmosphere.”
“At its heart, the atmosphere of the game is one of darkness filled with action and heavy metal, but always looming in the background, when things do slow down, is that subtle sense of horror that results in you never feeling safe, even in the one place you are supposed to feel it.”
“The soundtrack and atmosphere of the game are nothing short of excellence.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Ritual: Crown of Horns" effectively create a compelling horror western atmosphere, with a strong art style that enhances the game's grim setting. While the overall visuals may not be groundbreaking, they are complemented by good enemy readability and well-designed cutscenes and character portraits. The combination of visuals and haunting music contributes to an immersive experience, making it a competent top-down shooter.
“And I love a horror western aesthetic, and this definitely delivers.”
“Do not listen to people who pour negativity over this game - Ritual: Crown of Horns is one hell of a competent top-down twin-stick shooter that sets an excellent atmosphere with its visuals and soundtrack for some serious demon/cultist killing.”
“The art style heightens the grim landscape that we find our protagonist, Daniel Goodchild in.”
“While the overall graphics are nothing to write home about (it's not isometric, but literally top-down view), the enemy readability is great (I'm not color-blind though, so wouldn't know how readable they would be for color-blind folk). The art style in cutscenes, character portraits, and loading screens is pretty good, the dialogues are nice and go well with the portrait representation, and the music is haunting.”
“While the overall graphics are nothing to write home about (it's not isometric, but literally top-down view), the enemy readability is great (I'm not color-blind though, so wouldn't know how readable they would be for color-blind folk). The art style in cutscenes, character portraits, and loading screens is pretty good, the dialogues are nice and go well with the portrait representation, and the music is haunting.”
“The art style heightens the grim landscape that we find our protagonist, Daniel Goodchild, in.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the grinding aspect for allowing 100% completion through repeated level play, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game. However, some find the story delivery tedious, relying heavily on text-based conversations, which can detract from the experience.
“The story is delivered primarily through tedious text-based conversations.”
“I'm still grinding out the challenges, and I like that you can get 100% completion by just playing each level twice, as long as you do it well enough.”
“Then spent a couple more hours grinding for bonus items for fun.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Overall, the optimization of the game has been noted to have some minor performance and input issues, which may affect the overall gameplay experience for some users.
“There are some minor performance and input issues that hinder the overall experience.”
“The game suffers from optimization problems that lead to frustrating lag and unresponsive controls.”
“I encountered several optimization issues that affected gameplay, making it less enjoyable.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is noted to be somewhat lacking in dialogue compared to other aspects, yet the character design remains effective and appealing.
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's unique backstory and motivations.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that truly impact their growth and relationships.”
“The depth of character arcs is impressive, with each character facing personal challenges that resonate with the player.”
“It is unfortunate, however, that one doesn’t get nearly as much dialogue as the others, but regardless, the character design works.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with them.”
“I expected more growth from the characters, but they remain static throughout the game.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability as players are encouraged to revisit levels to grind for currency, which is essential for acquiring better gear. This mechanic not only extends gameplay but also enhances the overall experience by motivating players to improve their characters.
“The game offers a lot of replayability, mainly because it encourages you to replay levels to grind for currency to buy better gear.”
“Each playthrough feels fresh due to the variety of choices and outcomes, making you want to dive back in.”
“With multiple character builds and different strategies to explore, the replay value is incredibly high.”
Critic Reviews
Ritual: Crown of Horns (Nintendo Switch)
Ritual: Crown of Horns offers fast-paced action that fans of difficulty will adore. People looking for a casual experience or those who want a story and controls that make sense will probably be left looking for more.
60%Ritual: Crown of Horns Review
Ritual: Crown of Horns is an enjoyable twin-stick shooter, with not much variety, but plenty of challenge - something that may or may not annoy some, due to how it's all executed. Moreover, while the occult gets mixed with a Wild West setting in here, in terms of presentation and atmosphere, Draw Distance's creation is underwhelming at best.
60%Ritual: Crown of Horns review
Ritual: Crown of Horns is an enjoyable experience, but one that seems determined to frustrate through its unforgiving difficulty and repetitive nature. Its soul is saved, though, by an grimly pretty art style and satisfying, punchy gunplay.
75%
