Ultros

Ultros, developed by Hadoque and published by Kepler Interactive, is a real rarity in the current indie scene. Not because it uses unusual mechanics, but because it does so through a totally overflowing aesthetics, a convoluted narrative design and a game philosophy that demands patience, interpretation and active exploration. We are facing a video game that does not want to be just a metroidvania: it wants to talk to you about life, death, time and repetition... and do it all bathed in psychotropic neons and biomechanical creatures that seem taken out of an acid nightmare.

Gameplay: Between the edge of the sword and the root of a plant

The gameplay core of Ultros is solid, direct and familiar to fans of the metroidvania genre. Precise jumps, melee combat, abilities to unlock that give access to new areas... at first, everything sounds classic. But what makes it to stand out is the way the game introduces the mechanics of time loops: each cycle restarts the world but allows you to retain key progress and knowledge, generating a metroidvania experience with temporal layers.

The combat is agile and satisfying, with a combo system that rewards precision and the strategic use of skills. It also incorporates a curious alien gardening mechanic, where growing certain plants is necessary to unlock routes or facilitate exploration, something that distinguishes it from other titles in the genre.

Art and ambience: A lysergic experience with no brakes

If there is something that makes Ultros an unforgettable game, it is the visual section. Each scene looks like a psychedelic mural in motion, a digital work of art with saturated colors, organic lines and monstrosities that merge with the environment. The artist Niklas Åkerblad (El Huervo), known for his work in Hotline Miami, has given free rein to his imagination in a world that seems alive, alien and completely different to any conventional visual norm.

The music perfectly accompanies the aesthetic, with an enveloping mix of ambient and synthesizers that creates a dense, introspective and at the same time disturbing atmosphere.

Narrative and exploration: Inner journey in a time loop

The story of Ultros is revealed through fragments, symbols and repeated events in each cycle. It is cryptic, philosophical and open to interpretation — an experience that is not easy, but rewards those who want to delve deeper. The game is not afraid to make you feel uncomfortable, to force you to question what you are seeing, and to look for the meaning between the symbolic and the literal.

Exploration is key. There are secrets everywhere, alternative routes, paths that are only opened by making certain plants grow or by taking advantage of what was learned in previous cycles. It is not a game that you can complete without paying attention: it requires dedication, curiosity and a good dose of intuition.

Conclusion: A journey you won't easily forget

Ultros is not a game for everyone, and it makes no secret out of it. It's a visually overwhelming, narratively cryptic and with a demanding gameplay experience. But for those who adapt to its frequency, it is a unique gem, a metroidvania that not only wants to entertain, but also leaves you with strange ideas floating in your head after turning off the console. If you are attracted to the different, the artistic and the disconcerting, this is one of those titles that you should try.