Read our full review. Our full review is below.
The story of the game may be technically driven, but it lacks in character development and plot. The game is a story-driven title, but the narrative offers little in terms of character development or plot. After stumbling across an ancient citadel it becomes apparent that there is something wrong. The buildings are in ruins and the city is filled with the undead. What is it?
The facts
An arcade-style medieval hack-and-slash adventure that pits players against an army of the undead.Platforms:
, Quest, PC VR (review conducted on Quest 3)PicoRelease Date:
Out nowDeveloper:
Dark CurryPrice:
$19.99From here, the game proceeds to embark upon a roughly five-hour campaign of arcade violence, spattered intermittently with low-rent spatial puzzles, some lackluster looting, and a fair bit of bad language. Horde Mode is a collection of three maps which offers a lot of replayability once the main story is over. The story is thin, and it’s surprising to see so soon. However, this is not a major problem. Undead Citadel, after all is an action-packed game. It’s probably best to focus on that. Dark Curry, the developer of Undead Citadel’s physics-based gameplay and over 80 medieval weapons that can be unlocked, has taken on VR giants like
or
. Despite some fundamental similarities, Undead Citadel takes a faster-paced, more arcade-style approach to the combat which does well to differentiate the game from the competition.
The physics system used is not as deep as that used in Nomad but it functions well, delivering intense, over-the-top carnage. The system is mostly smooth, with only the occasional physics glitch. For example, a skeleton can get stuck to your sword. Except for any time you are required to carry a barrel – which happens more often than you’d think – or open a padlock, which are unnecessarily arduous and finicky affairs.
Actual swordplay is fairly light. The clever animations can make it difficult to predict the attacks of each enemy. The attacks are usually single ones, which can be telegraphed with a grand, spinning movement. They’re not a series of hits that need to be parried. The best offense is often to be aggressive. Undead citadel is more of an arcade hack and slash game than a realistic combat simulation. It’s not a bad thing, though. The simpler and faster combat is easier to learn, which makes it more enjoyable. When you defeat an undead monster, it will drop its weapons. Players can then pick them up. There’s also a good selection of one- and two-handed weaponry, along with ranged weapons like bows or magical power-ups that are administered through consumable potions. The weight of two-handed weaponry is excellent; heavy weapons cannot be lifted with one hand, but can do a lot of damage when used with both. It is also important to change between bladed and blunt weapons depending on your opponent. It’s easier to defeat skeletons and armored enemies with blunt weapons that can shatter their skulls, while fleshier foes can be dispatched by a sword. The implementation of this idea is a bit lacking. A sword thrust, which appears to travel straight through the fleshless body of a skeleton will still take the enemy down, which detracts from this tactical element that could have given the combat a little more depth.Blade & Sorcery: NomadTis Only a ScratchSwordsman VRUnfortunately, Undead Citadel hides some serious design flaws that hamper the overall experience. The game lacks some basic features that would be expected in a combat-oriented title. This includes the ability to sprint or jump. The inability to cross a log is one of the few things that can ruin the fantasy you have about being a powerful warrior. The most glaring omission is the inability to sprint. It was very frustrating. The campaign requires a lot of backtracking in order to find items or solve puzzles. Being forced to play the game as if you were out on a leisurely afternoon walk was frustrating. It also makes combat feel one-dimensional, as there’s no way to quickly move around in the battle.
Additionally, climbing exists in only two or three specific sections. The bricks and beams are arranged in formations which scream, “climb me”, but the only thing that you can climb is one set of glowing vines. Undead Citadel has few comfort features. The game does not support seated or standing play, and it requires that you tolerate the artificially-accelerated stick movement. There are also no motion vignettes. The only concession is that the camera can be set to a different speed for smooth turns. If Looks Could Kill
The Undead Citadel PC VR is an impressive looking game. The Quest version has to meet the same high standards. Undead Citadel does not so much walk under the bar, but rather, it clips it. Although the textures are muddy throughout, the brighter and more spacious areas perform better than the darker ones. When compared to Nomad and Swordsman though, Undead Citadel doesn’t fare
too
badly.
In addition to murky low-res textures, items pop in and out of existence in an incredibly distracting way. The sand will first appear in a blurry mass, but as you get closer it becomes more distinct. Sometimes the texture is not just a simple overlay, but the entire object’s shape will be changed. The audio design, while decent, is not spectacular. The sounds are decent. Weapons clash and clang with a reasonable amount of force, and the heads crunch as they collapse under blows. However, there is a lack of weight or resonance that makes them stand out. The spatial audio works well, and it’s easy to tell where the attackers come from. The catacombs is a great example of this. It makes the enemies’ splashing sound echo along corridors. The simple audio element makes this sequence of the game one of its best. The voice acting and undulating music that supports the action are overdone. Much like other aspects of the game, a few inconsistent elements distract from what could otherwise be great.
Undead Citadel Review – Final Verdict
Undead Citadel is an action game redeemed only by its combat. Dark Curry’s Quest game has a number of graphic issues, little plot, or progress, as well as a repetitive campaign. Some great moments can be found, as well as good times. This will be sufficient for many. This game is a good option if you want a more arcade style take on the physics-based combat. You can find a detailed breakdown of the ratings in our
UploadVR
.