“Explore this nightmarish world of twisted religion and discover its many secrets hidden deep inside.”
The Steam description for The Game Kitchen’s “Blasphemous” pretty well sums up the gameplay experience. “Blasphemous” is a dark, brutal and unforgiving metroidvania.
“Blasphemous” is not for the faint of heart – it can be gruesome sometimes and leaves little to the imagination. It is set in a Victorian-esque world called Cvstodia, where it and all of its inhabitants have fallen to a foul curse known as The Miracle. Playing as The Penitent One, you are on a quest to break eternal damnation.
It is a difficult challenge, with tough boss fights and plenty of enemies throughout each level. While the challenge can be frustrating at times, the gameplay is still fun. The mechanics feel fluid overall, and the combat is a fun hack-and-slash adventure.
While the bosses are difficult, it is rewarding to finally beat them. No fight feels easily won, but the challenges never feel entirely hopeless.
What truly sets “Blasphemous” apart from other games is its grim art style. The world of Cvstodia is dull and moody, reflecting the overall dark theme of the game.
Even when the boss fights get frustrating, it’s hard not to be amazed by how stunning the visuals in “Blasphemous” are. The pixel art style is hauntingly gorgeous, with details that can be easily missed at first glance.
“Blasphemous” stays true to the dark aesthetic throughout the game, but each location still feels different from one another.
The atmosphere is eerie and often feels a bit unsettling. However, this works well for the story “Blasphemous” is telling.
“Blasphemous” draws inspiration from old European Catholic imagery throughout the game. It has strong religious undertones both in the story and visuals.
“Blasphemous” was released in September 2019 for the Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Xbox One, Mac, Windows and Linux computers. It can be purchased for $24.99.
Despite being a few years old now, “Blasphemous” still runs smoothly and with such a unique art style, it will remain timeless.
The Game Kitchen states on their website that they only work on projects that are meaningful to them, and “Blasphemous” is the perfect testament to artistic vision. Coming from a small indie studio, it is clear “Blasphemous” is a labor of love.
“Blasphemous” doesn’t hold back – it is grotesque yet beautiful and an experience like no other. For those up to a challenge and not too squeamish, it is absolutely worth picking it up.
