Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge

Starting at $4.23Buy now

In "Ultionus: A Tale of Petty Revenge," play as Serena, a pilot on a mission of personal vengeance against an evil warlord. This side-scrolling shooter game features vibrant pixel art and humor, with fast-paced action and multiple weapons to help Serena on her journey. With various upgrades and challenges, Ultionus offers a fun and engaging experience for fans of retro-style games.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 258 reviews

gameplay28 positive mentions

Great pixel art and vibrant graphics that evoke nostalgia for 80's and 90's games.
Catchy soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Challenging gameplay that encourages exploration and mastery of mechanics.

Controls are unresponsive and frustrating, particularly the inability to move and shoot simultaneously.
The game is very short, which may leave players wanting more content.
Infinitely respawning enemies can lead to a frustrating experience, detracting from the enjoyment.

gameplay
92 mentions
30 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Ultionus is a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting its retro-inspired mechanics that can feel clunky and dated, reminiscent of 8-bit era games. While some appreciate the nostalgic pixel art and music, others criticize the slow pacing, unresponsive controls, and repetitive nature, leading to a frustrating experience for many players. Despite these issues, the game has been updated to improve mechanics, offering a level of challenge and replayability that may appeal to hardcore fans of retro platformers.
- “Cool graphics, gameplay that's different in an interesting way from other run and guns, bonus objectives that are doable without losing a huge chunk of sanity, and a good amount of replayability.”
- “Great pixel art, great music, challenging gameplay, and you get to fight flowers.”
- “This game is what I'd call a pristine example of good gameplay and interesting game mechanics.”
- “Actually, it takes like 90 percent of the worst parts: meaning the game got clunky and awful controls, a really atrocious shooting attack, and, overall, an incredibly slow gameplay, while most of the levels were thought to be played with a much faster mechanics and gameplay.”
- “Gameplay-wise, this game feels like it has been made by an inexperienced amateur.”
- “I know this game is a throwback to a lot of 80's arcade stuff, which is fine until you put in gameplay and pacing that is just as dated and unwanted.”
music
90 mentions
67 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its catchy melodies and high-quality composition, particularly highlighting the work of Jake Kaufman. The soundtrack is described as a standout feature, evoking nostalgia for retro gaming with its 80s style and chiptune elements, while some critiques mention that the sound effects are less impressive. Overall, the music significantly enhances the game's appeal, often being cited as the primary reason for players' enjoyment and continued engagement.
- “The game itself is pretty decent but the soundtrack is a masterpiece.”
- “Top tier music, especially the credits theme.”
- “The music is very fitting for the adventure and it all is done to a high standard.”
- “Soundtrack is worth a thousand times more than the game.”
- “If you're interested in a retro platformer with some challenge, I recommend you just buy the soundtrack to this and play Rex Rocket instead.”
- “Damn catchy music in the trailer conned me into buying this game.”
graphics
82 mentions
54 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and well-crafted pixel art, reminiscent of classic 16-bit and 32-bit styles, evoking nostalgia for retro gaming. Many reviewers highlight the charming animations and detailed backgrounds, noting that the visuals effectively capture the essence of early home computer games while maintaining a modern appeal. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment, making it a recommended experience for fans of retro aesthetics.
- “The graphics are really good, really well drawn pixel art and animations with amazing backgrounds.”
- “These pixel art visuals are some of the best I have ever seen in a video game, and I play a lot of pixel art styled games.”
- “While it is a bit short, the graphics are gorgeous, the story is simple but funny, and the controls may take a while to get used to but once you get into them the game is no problem.”
- “The only positive thing about this game are the colorful graphics.”
- “I'd say the graphics, the silliness of the plot, and the overall well-designed stage layout carry this game over the finish line into 'recommended' territory, but just barely.”
- “The downside is that it is really short, short enough to make the $7 price tag as of this review very meh, but it's a great throwback and show of quality that even older games have over the horrible indie shovelware that keeps coming out with horrible flash or 8-bit graphics and 2deep4u gameplay, if the gameplay isn't buggy that is.”
story
34 mentions
24 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as simple and humorous, focusing on a lighthearted theme of petty revenge rather than grand narratives. While some players appreciate its tongue-in-cheek approach and find it refreshing, others criticize the forced jokes and lack of depth, suggesting that the dialogue and overall story could be improved. Overall, it offers a fun, albeit basic, narrative experience that aligns well with the game's playful tone.
- “It's a very tongue-in-cheek story that doesn't take itself seriously at all, and I found it refreshing to enjoy a simple and silly story like this one.”
- “A silly, yet amusing story puts things into motion, and the stylized nod to games of old keeps things entertaining.”
- “The story is a nice change of pace, being based on the concept of petty revenge rather than saving the universe from the bad guys.”
- “The story is simple; a dude attacks you because he drops your ship on his kingdom, and you go for revenge. The game has its fun moments, but most of it isn't that funny, and the jokes feel a bit too forced.”
- “There is very little story, and what's there is a little weird.”
- “- stupidly bad story and dialogue?”
humor
22 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of crass and tongue-in-cheek, appealing particularly to those with a more perverted sense of humor, though it can be hit or miss. While some players found it genuinely funny and enjoyed its absurdity, others felt that the jokes were often forced and not consistently effective. Overall, the humor complements the game's retro aesthetic and simple storyline, making it a fun, albeit occasionally silly, experience.
- “Funny tribute to classic home computer eurojank trash where you play as a girl in a pink space bikini who invades some dude's private planet just to kick him in the balls because he talked trash to her on social media.”
- “The humor is very tongue-in-cheek with a main heroine who looks like the cousin of Samus and Phantasy put together (mostly Phantasy) and a lovable robot ball thing.”
- “The whole spacebook thing is humorous and kind of fun for a game with such a 90's aesthetic (when Serena would surely have been using space Geocities instead, eh?).”
replayability
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various features such as secret branching paths, multiple endings, and a range of difficulty levels, alongside achievements that encourage players to revisit the experience. While it provides an enjoyable arcade experience with unique gameplay elements, it may not appeal to everyone. Overall, players can expect a good amount of replay value without excessive frustration.
- “It has some replay value with secret branching paths, good and bad endings, harder difficulty levels, and achievements to take on.”
- “It's cheap, has tons of replayability in the form of achievements, branching level paths, upgrade choices, and multiple endings.”
- “Overall, it's an enjoyable arcade experience with good replayability, but not a game for everyone.”
character development
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its engaging and visually appealing design, reminiscent of heavy metal magazine aesthetics, featuring cute, cool, and sexy characters. Reviewers appreciate the artistic direction, particularly highlighting the work of the late Azipiri, which enhances the overall experience.
- “The character design is incredibly cute, cool, and sexy, adding a unique flair to the overall experience.”
- “The cover art and character design by the late Azipiri truly capture the essence of a heavy metal magazine-inspired adventure.”
stability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, users appreciate the game's stability, highlighting its non-buggy gameplay as a significant positive aspect. However, some express disappointment over its short length relative to its price, suggesting that while the quality is commendable, the value may not fully meet expectations.
- “Want some genuine fun and non-buggy gameplay with your indie game?”
- “Want some genuine fun and non-buggy gameplay with your indie game?”