Blasphemous, developed by The Game Kitchen, is a game that is not screwing around. The first enemy you face is a boss. This Metroidvania is definitely on the dark side, but you will be enthralled by the style and how the team made pixel art work. This is a game inspired by the darker works of Christian mythology.
The Miracle has come for the people of Cvstodi. This is not a joyous occasion. You get that by how people say the word. It is a some sort of curse. The only one who can end it is The Penitent One. That is you and your appearance is pretty out there. A metal mask with a crown of thorns and your sword is all you will take to begin the journey to free the land. What exactly is The Miracle? Who brought it to life?
Most reviews compare Blasphemous to Dark Souls. The game is difficult. When you hit a checkpoint, all the previous enemies re-spawn. The biggest Souls influence? The story is presented in item descriptions. You can love or hate this mechanic, but it does force you to explore more carefully. Especially if you want to know what is going on. Encounter a giant blindfolded baby who likes to rip you apart? There is a item that explains that.
Blasphemous gets the heart pumping with fast action sequences. The platforming is standard, but you have to make decisions. Some parts force you to take damage. You get special abilities as the game progresses. The enemies look like they came out of heavy metal covers. There are what I can only describe as fatalities. Imagine Castelvania had been made by Netherrealm Studios.
Once or twice, I had to look up some phrases in Latin. The religious theme is interesting, but a lot of it went over my head. This does not hurt Blasphemous. If you know the phrases or the religion, it just adds to the experience. I had little time to worry as waves of enemies came at me. The style is gorgeous which make some scenes worth a second or third look.
Blasphemous is a game for those who love a deep mythology as well as Metroidvania. There are some queasy parts, but nothing that made me stop playing. You will want to draw some of your favorite parts if you are an artist. This game may have slipped under the raider, but it is certainly worth your time.
8/10
Available on PC, PS4, Xbox and Switch.
