Ultros Reviews
While Ultros undeniably looks and sounds beautiful, the incredibly tedious gameplay and a time loop gimmick that leads to tiring monotony more than anything else make Ultros fail to be anything more than nice to look at in screenshots.
Hadoque’s debut title Ultros is a stunning, colorful Metroidvania. From its opening moments, the game draws the player in with its wondrous color palette and captivating music. Traversing its world—known as the Sarcophagus—feels familiar if not a bit uncanny for those who have played other recent genre titles, like Dead Cells or Hollow Knight. In a crowded and competitive genre, Ultros stands out as a memorizing, psychedelic adventure.
Ultros is a slick Metroidvania-style experience that doesn’t only introduce plenty of unique ideas but also looks absolutely breath-taking with its surreal visual style. It does a good job of getting all of the basics of the genre right, whilst the looping, eating, and gardening mechanics each add their own unique twist to the formula. Sure, these mechanics don’t always hit the mark (especially with the focus on eating GOOD body parts getting repetitive over time), but they never stop the game from being a lot of fun to play. With so many Metroidvania-style releases available, it’s nice to play one that does something that feels genuinely different to the norm – and believe me, Ultros is a game that isn’t afraid to be different.
Ultros, Hadoque's title, is a very creative proposal that combines metroidvania elements with a series of very creative mechanics, resulting in a unique experience. A most unusual and even cathartic adventure that leaves you wanting more.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
It might be corny to say, but I look at Ultros as more of an experience. All the weak parts start to fade away as new locations appear, mysteries are uncovered, and a new location offers a fascinating new thing to see. Sure, it would be nice if some of the weaker points were more refined, but at the end of the day it's a 10 or so hour experience that will likely stand out for quite a while.
ULTROS is a masterclass in environmental storytelling combined with solid Metroidvania mechanics in a truly excellent package. Go into this one slow and ready to enjoy the journey and it will more than pay off.
Ultros is a psychedelic platformer that could easily belong in a modern art showcase. It has simple yet engaging combat mechanics, phenomenal art and music, and great characters. I urge you to check the game out if you’re even a little curious.
More than anything, I feel amazing Metroidvanias need to strike a great balance between combat and exploration, where everything you accomplish is constantly bringing you one step closer to reaching the end of the game. I don’t feel that’s the case in Ultros. The rewind aspect of the game, combined with constantly losing platforming abilities and combat upgrades, makes the entire experience a painful slog. So even though I respect the ambition and creativity on display, ultimately, that’s not enough to elevate this game beyond its peers.
Ultros is an adventure of contrasts, in which its innovations shine against the backdrop of its executional flaws. The game stands out for its extravagant atmosphere, creating a unique experience that, despite its problems, is still worth exploring for fans of the genre looking for something out of the ordinary. Full appreciation of the game requires a willingness to experiment, explore, and sometimes tolerate its less refined elements.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Ultros is one of those games that grabs me right from the start, even though it doesn't explain almost anything. Maybe that's why I like it. I like being thrown in at the deep end and exploring the unknown without context. And when that world is as stylish as the "sarcophagus", it's all the better. Unfortunately, some ideas and unlockable abilities are not fully fleshed out. The same applies to the combat system, which suffers from a lack of enemy variety and a low difficulty level. Despite the criticism, I enjoyed playing Ultros. And if you like Metroidvanias, you'll probably feel the same.
Review in German | Read full review
Ultros drips style, but does not skimp on substance. The psychedelic art style and dreamy soundtrack elevate the familiar, but not quite tired, gameplay loop.