Ultros

Ultros takes the tried and tested Metroidvania formula, flips it on its head, bathes it in neon paint, switches dimensions, adds gardening mechanics and sends it to an outer-space uterus housing an ancient demon – and it all, somehow, works

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Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 194 reviews

gameplay41 positive mentions

grinding15 negative mentions

Stunning and unique graphical style that captivates players with its psychedelic visuals.
Innovative gardening mechanic that adds depth to exploration and puzzle-solving, making the gameplay feel fresh and engaging.
The soundtrack complements the visuals beautifully, enhancing the overall immersive experience.

Gameplay can be frustrating and confusing, especially with the time loop mechanic that resets abilities and requires backtracking.
Combat feels simplistic and lacks depth, making encounters less engaging than expected for a Metroidvania.
The narrative can be convoluted and hard to follow, leaving players feeling lost in the story.

gameplay
145 mentions
28 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Ultros is a mixed bag, featuring innovative mechanics like gardening and a time loop system that encourage exploration and experimentation, but often suffers from frustrating controls and repetitive tasks. While the artistic presentation and sound design are praised, many players find the mechanics to be clunky and poorly executed, leading to a sense of confusion and dissatisfaction, particularly in mid to late-game. Overall, the game offers a unique experience that may appeal to those willing to navigate its complexities, but it requires patience and may not resonate with everyone.
- “The gardening mechanic is very cool, but I will be honest that I was a bit put off the first time I got time looped.”
- “Ultros takes the tried and tested metroidvania formula, flips it on its head, bathes it in neon paint, switches dimensions, adds gardening mechanics and sends it to an outer-space uterus housing an ancient demon – and it all, somehow, works.”
- “The storytelling, the music, the art, the design and exploration are all wonderful to experience, even if its biggest puzzle mechanic is also its biggest frustration.”
- “Stopped being fun as soon as you hit midgame; I felt like everything I was trying to do I was either hitting a wall I didn't know how to surpass, a mechanic was poorly implemented (like the cross-propagating plants? Glitchy as hell), and I just flat out didn't want to have to keep doing a particular area over and over again.”
- “The story makes zero sense, and the actual gameplay is slow, boring, and sloppy.”
- “While I really enjoyed the art style and a lot of the plant mechanics in this game, the overall impression I got after 8 hours is that a lot of the mechanics felt a little frustrating and clunky.”
graphics
63 mentions
59 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning visuals, unique art style, and immersive atmosphere, often described as a psychedelic experience that enhances the overall gameplay. Many reviewers noted the beautiful artwork and soundtrack, which contribute significantly to the game's appeal, despite some criticism regarding repetitive environments and gameplay mechanics. Overall, the graphics are considered a major highlight, showcasing the developers' creativity and attention to detail.
- “The art style is probably what stands out most about the game and granted it is beautiful, with vivid colors and creative animations all blending biology with technology.”
- “Stunning visuals: visually, Ultros is a treat, with detailed character models, impressive special effects, and breathtaking environments that showcase the power of modern gaming technology.”
- “The visuals sometimes conjure the essence of a disorienting psychedelic experience, emphasizing the game's theme of an unnatural ecosystem.”
- “A game with poor graphics and excellent mechanics will get people hooked.”
- “In Ultros, all areas look more or less the same with the same color scheme and aesthetic, making it really annoying to try to remember if you've been somewhere or not.”
- “Beyond the trippy visuals and haunting soundtrack (which are great, to be clear), I struggled for the first couple of hours to see what makes this truly unique relative to other metroidvanias.”
story
49 mentions
27 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of the game is described as both intriguing and convoluted, with a mix of cryptic elements and psychedelic themes that engage players while also leaving them confused. While some appreciate the depth and artistic presentation, others criticize the storytelling as shallow and repetitive, often feeling disconnected from the gameplay mechanics. Overall, the narrative is seen as a double-edged sword, offering a unique experience that may resonate with some players while alienating others.
- “How it presents itself, the story it tries to tell, all of it is coherent and alluring in equal measure.”
- “The story is intriguing, especially because of the implications of our actions told through loops.”
- “The storytelling, the music, the art, the design, and exploration are all wonderful to experience, even if its biggest puzzle mechanic is also its biggest frustration.”
- “The story makes zero sense, and the actual gameplay is slow, boring, and sloppy.”
- “The story is nonsensical and convoluted, and full of pretentious sounding sci-fi gibberish words.”
- “Shallow storytelling: while Ultros' sci-fi setting is intriguing, the game's storytelling feels shallow and underdeveloped.”
music
39 mentions
77 % positive mentions
15 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ethereal and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall immersive experience alongside the stunning visuals. While some players noted occasional repetitiveness, the soundtrack is generally described as beautiful and evocative, contributing significantly to the game's unique and intriguing world. Overall, the combination of exceptional art and music creates a captivating atmosphere that encourages exploration and engagement.
- “I love the bizarre and ethereal music, the beautiful and alien art, the central concept of connection and gentleness, and just, this amazing and intriguing world teeming with life.”
- “The music and general art direction is sublime, trippy and really makes you want to progress.”
- “The lovely music and atmosphere make the game a joy to explore.”
- “Sometimes the music feels quite repetitive, even if some bosses and zones have amazing original soundtracks.”
- “The storytelling, the music, the art, the design, and exploration are all wonderful to experience, even if its biggest puzzle mechanic is also its biggest frustration.”
- “While the soundtrack is extremely atmospheric and adds to the vibe of the game, it can become monotonous over time.”
grinding
15 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be largely tedious and repetitive, particularly due to the extensive backtracking and the laborious mechanics involved in farming and upgrading. While some appreciate the unique concepts, many feel that the execution falls short, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment. The grind often overshadows the game's beauty and potential, making it a chore rather than a rewarding endeavor.
- “Unfortunately, this euphoria ends with the first ending and then it becomes a tiresome, grindy farmer simulator.”
- “Item/fruit/upgrade system is a tedious chore.”
- “It is a fair bit of work to pull off largely because the whole growing plants mechanic is a bit tedious and not very intuitive.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
63 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating blend of music, art direction, and world-building, creating an immersive experience that evokes feelings of dread, isolation, and nostalgia. Players appreciate the ethereal and haunting soundtrack, which enhances the overall ambiance and encourages exploration. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The lovely music and atmosphere make the game a joy to explore.”
- “Music is very atmospheric, often very ethereal and haunting.”
- “For me, it was worth playing just for the atmosphere.”
- “You've seen how bright and psychedelic the graphics are already, and the background touches give the game an atmosphere that leads me to just stand around admiring.”
- “The game's art direction and world-building create a captivating atmosphere that draws players into its dystopian future.”
optimization
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game is well-optimized, allowing users to reduce the maximum TDP to 9W for extended battery life without sacrificing performance. Action and platformer fans can expect superb performance on the Steam Deck, with smooth gameplay and good controller compatibility.
- “I was able to lower the max TDP to 9W to extend battery life with no performance hiccups.”
- “But action/platformer fans should be satisfied with a superb performance on deck with no tinkering.”
- “Perfect performance on the deck.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “Despite having a high-end PC, I still experience lag and long loading times, which is frustrating.”
- “The optimization is so poor that even on lower settings, the game feels unresponsive and clunky.”
stability
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game is generally stable, particularly on the Steam Deck, but players have reported occasional bugs that can affect the experience. Overall, while the core gameplay is solid, some users have noted stability issues that may detract from the enjoyment.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “It's a fine metroidvania, and the plant network mechanic is interesting, but it also feels somewhat buggy at times.”
- “Pretty buggy.”
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game's unique art style and character designs initially captivate players, but the repetitive nature of the time loop mechanic and the need to repeatedly regain abilities can lead to diminishing engagement over time.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a genuine connection with each character as their stories unfold.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, with their backstories and motivations becoming clearer as you progress.”
- “The way the game handles character growth is impressive, making each decision feel impactful and shaping the narrative in meaningful ways.”
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
- “I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved throughout the story; their arcs felt predictable and unoriginal.”
- “Despite the intriguing premise, the lack of meaningful character growth left me feeling detached from the narrative.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game evokes strong emotional responses, highlighting its ability to resonate deeply with them.
- “This game evoked a deep sense of nostalgia and longing.”
- “I was genuinely moved by the characters' struggles and triumphs.”
- “The emotional depth of the story left a lasting impact on me.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many users finding it exceptionally funny and entertaining.
- “This game is hilarious and had me laughing out loud.”
- “The humor is spot on and keeps the gameplay entertaining.”
- “I love the witty dialogue and clever jokes throughout the game.”