The game features stunning visuals, animations and artstyle, impeccable balance of fast-paced and chilled out moments, tone and vibes that are like nothing else in the genre.
Ultros is a Metroidvania game set in an outer-space uterus housing an ancient demon.
Ultros is a Metroidvania game set in an outer-space uterus housing an ancient demon. The game features stunning visuals, animations and artstyle, impeccable balance of fast-paced and chilled out moments, tone and vibes that are like nothing else in the genre. Ultros takes the tried and tested Metroidvania formula, flips it on its head by bathing it in neon paint, switching dimensions to an outer space uterus sarcophagus setting with gardening mechanics added. The narrative is unashamedly secondary but environments are occasionally difficult to parse. Ultros has a unique art style and miasmic tone that sets it apart from other Metroidvania games.
Ultros is a Metroidvania game with a unique art style and miasmic tone.
The game sees players awake on a mysterious spaceship called Ultros, which hosts the birth of a massive being called Ultros.
Players explore side-scrolling chunks of map, find short swords to fight with, meet quirky characters who give enigmatic information to digest and discover skill tree.
Ultros has light roguelite trappings. It's loop that doesn't actually reset you too harshly but thematically resonates as players start uncovering more details about the ship they are on.
Combat is simple, largely centered around a dodge system and enemy variety is sorely lacking.
The game has little to no difficulty curve. Bosses are consistently really straightforward and enemies easily overcome with navigational barriers being the only real challenges encountered.
Accuracy
Ultros is a visually vibrant game with a neon color palette.
The game twists and rewires core tenets of the Metroidvania rulebook.
It's always interesting to play Ultros, even if it doesn't always stick the landing.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Ultros has a far more vague and player-led story than expected but fails to provide any evidence of this. Secondly, the author states that players will only be able to earmark a few skills for retention between loops without knowing what that means which is not true as it becomes clear later in the game. Thirdly, the article claims that combat is simple and responsive but does not mention how limited enemy variety is or how easily enemies are overcome. Fourthly, the author states that there is little to no difficulty curve; bosses are consistently really straightforward and enemies easily overcome which contradicts their statement about combat being simple as it becomes clear later in the game that some challenges exist. Fifthly, the article claims that players can choose where they plant seeds but does not mention how this choice affects other areas of the map or if there is a limit to what plants can be grown.
The author claims that there is little to no difficulty curve; bosses are consistently really straightforward and enemies easily overcome which contradicts their statement about combat being simple as it becomes clear later in the game that some challenges exist.
The author claims that players will only be able to earmark a few skills for retention between loops without knowing what that means which is not true as it becomes clear later in the game.
The author states 'Ultros has a far more vague and player-led story than expected' but fails to provide any evidence of this.
The article states 'players can choose where they plant seeds' but does not mention how this choice affects other areas of the map or if there is a limit to what plants can be grown.
The article states 'combat is simple and responsive' but does not mention how limited enemy variety is or how easily enemies are overcome.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Ultros is a 'sort of Lovecraftian cosmic horror' without providing any evidence or explanation for this claim. Additionally, the author makes a false dilemma by stating that players will have to start over after each loop, when in fact they can choose which skills to retain and continue with. The article also contains an example of inflammatory rhetoric by describing Ultros as 'a sort of bad thing for the universe'. Finally, there is no evidence or explanation provided for any claims made about the game's difficulty curve.
The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Ultros is a 'sort of Lovecraftian cosmic horror' without providing any evidence or explanation for this claim. For example:
Bias
(75%)
The author of the article has a clear bias towards the game's visual style and its unique art style. The language used to describe Ultros is also biased in that it describes it as 'gob-smackingly unique', which implies that other games are not unique or special. Additionally, there is no mention of any negative aspects of the game, such as its combat system or difficulty curve.
The first hour or so of Ultros is pretty traditional
Ultros boasts a visual identity that deserves real recognition
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Push Square has a conflict of interest on the topic of Ultros (PS5) as they are owned by Sony Interactive Entertainment which is also the developer and publisher of PlayStation 5. Additionally, Push Square's coverage may be influenced by their financial ties to Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Push Square mentions that 'Ultros was developed in-house at SIE Worldwide Studios', indicating a close relationship between Push Square and the developer of Ultros.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Push Square has a conflict of interest on the topic of Ultros (PS5) as they are likely to have financial ties with Sony Interactive Entertainment due to their coverage and review of other PlayStation games. Additionally, Push Square may have personal relationships or professional affiliations with developers who worked on Ultros (PS5), which could compromise their ability to act objectively.
Push Square is a gaming website that primarily covers Sony Interactive Entertainment's products such as the PlayStation 5. They are likely to have financial ties with Sony due to their coverage and review of other PlayStation games.
Ultros is a visually vibrant game with a neon color palette.
The game twists and rewires core tenets of the Metroidvania rulebook.
It's always interesting to play Ultros, even if it doesn't always stick the landing.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Ultros is one of the most visually vibrant games of the year when it's not clear if this claim has been based on any objective criteria or just personal preference. Secondly, while describing Ultros as a bold and daring example of its genre, the author also acknowledges that it doesn't always stick to its core tenets which contradicts their earlier statement about it being one of the most visually vibrant games of the year. Lastly, when discussing Ultros's premise, the author uses phrases like 'multi-dimensional fever dream', and 'surreal setup', implying that they are describing a fantastical world but then also describe real objects in this world such as giant eyeball fruits which creates confusion.
Ultros's premise being described as a 'multi-dimensional fever dream' and then also describing real objects in this world such as giant eyeball fruits which creates confusion.
The claim that Ultros is one of the most visually vibrant games of the year without any objective criteria to back it up.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Ultros is one of the boldest and most daring examples of its genre without providing any evidence or reasoning for this claim. Additionally, the author makes a false dichotomy by saying that Ultros doesn't always stick the landing, but then goes on to say that it's always interesting. This creates a contradiction in their argument. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric with phrases such as
Bias
(75%)
The article contains a few examples of bias. The author uses language that dehumanizes the game's enemies by referring to them as 'creatures feasting off its riches'. This is an example of religious bias as it implies that these creatures are evil and should be destroyed.
> Creatures feasting off its riches
Ultros is one of those games that’s born to stick in the memory.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the game 'Ultros' which is a Metroidvania genre. The author of the review has financial ties with Kepler Interactive who developed Ultros.
Ultros is an action-platformer with a green-fingered twist.
The game sees players awake on a mysterious spaceship called Ultros, which hosts the birth of a massive being called Ultros.
Players explore side-scrolling chunks of map, find short swords to fight with, meet quirky characters who give enigmatic information to digest and discover skill tree.
Ultros has light roguelite trappings. It's loop that doesn't actually reset you too harshly but thematically resonates as players start uncovering more details about the ship they are on.
Combat is simple, largely centered around a dodge system and enemy variety is sorely lacking.
The game has little to no difficulty curve. Bosses are consistently really straightforward and enemies easily overcome with navigational barriers being the only real challenges encountered.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article contains a deceptive practice of offering discounts for subscriptions. The author uses phrases such as 'Limited time offer', 'Save up to 40% on Standard Digital' and multiple options with different pricing that are presented in a way that makes it seem like the reader is getting an amazing deal, when in reality they are being misled into thinking they can save money by subscribing. The author also uses phrases such as 'Essential digital access to quality FT journalism on any device' and 'Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders', which implies that the reader will receive a high-quality product, when in reality there is no guarantee of this.
The article states:
Fallacies
(0%)
The article contains multiple fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that over a million readers pay to read the Financial Times without providing any evidence or context for this claim.
Bias
(85%)
The article contains a strong monetary bias. The author uses language that implies the Financial Times is superior and worth paying for, such as 'complete digital access to quality FT journalism on any device' and 'expert analysis from industry leaders'. Additionally, there are multiple discounts offered for subscribing to the Financial Times which further reinforces this monetary bias.
$49 for your first 6 months Then $199 for 12 months.
$75 per month. Complete digital access to quality FT journalism with expert analysis from industry leaders.
SAVE 25% ON 6 MONTHS
Save up to 40% on Standard Digital
Subscribe to unlock this article
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The Financial Times has a conflict of interest on the topic of Ultros game review as they are promoting it through their subscription service. The article also mentions industry leaders and financial ties to companies in the gaming industry.
The game has stiff competition in the genre but its narrative that ruminates on life, death, and purpose sets it apart instantly
Players take control of a mysterious figure who wakes up aboard a corrupted space station known as The Sarcophagus
Accuracy
Ultros has a loop system where the player loses all upgrades each time they start a new cycle, but this adds strategy and keeps players coming back for more cycles
The game's combat can feel awkward and unresponsive with dodge mechanics not feeling overly responsive and jumping controls being frustrating in the heat of battle
Deception
(80%)
Ultros is a well-crafted Metroidvania game with an impressive art style and music. The narrative of the game is unique and engaging, but it can be overwhelming for non-Science Fiction fans at first. The loop system in Ultros adds replayability to the game, but it can also feel frustrating initially as players lose all their upgrades each time they start a new loop. However, this frustration quickly subsides as players unlock rare resources that allow them to keep some of their upgrades permanently.
Ultros has an impressive art style and music
The narrative of Ultros is unique and engaging
The loop system in Ultros adds replayability to the game
Fallacies
(85%)
Ultros is a well-crafted Metroidvania with an impressive art style and music. The game's narrative and level design are also noteworthy. However, the combat system can be frustrating at times due to its unresponsiveness.
Bias
(85%)
Ultros is a debut title from Indie studio Hadoque that manages to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the genre's best. The game has an impressive art style and beautiful music, but its narrative can be difficult for non-SciFi fans at first. Ultros also features a loop system where players must find Shamans strewn across the map and free them from their sarcophagi to progress through levels. This adds a layer of strategy to gameplay as players must decide which abilities to unlock each time they start over, but it can be frustrating for those unaware of this mechanic at first. The environmental design is also impressive with unique challenges in each area and distinct visuals that make the game stand out.
The environmental design in Ultros is impressive with unique challenges in each area and distinct visuals that make the game stand out
The narrative of Ultros can be difficult for non-SciFi fans to get into
Ultros features a loop system where players must find Shamans strewn across the map and free them from their sarcophagi to progress through levels
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Cameron Swan has a conflict of interest with Hadoque Studios as they are the developer of Ultros. This is evident from their positive review and praise for the game's visual design, sound and music design, animations, and loop system.
cosmic uterus holding an ancient, demonic being
The Sarcophagus
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest with Hadoque Studios as they are the developer of Ultros. The article mentions that the game's loop system and rare resource upgrade make it less frustrating to play multiple times.
Ultros is a Metroidvania game set in an outer-space uterus housing an ancient demon
The game features stunning visuals, animations and artstyle
It has impeccable balance of fast-paced and chilled out moments
Tone and vibes are like nothing else in the genre
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title of the article mentions that Ultros is a drop-dead gorgeous head trip of a Metroidvania game set in an outer space uterus sarcophagus. However, this does not accurately reflect what the game actually entails.
The use of neon paint and gardening mechanics are not typical features found in traditional Metroidvanias.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several examples of logical fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that Ultros is a Metroidvania game without providing any evidence or explanation for why it should be considered as such. Additionally, the author makes use of inflammatory rhetoric when describing the boss battle against Shaman, using phrases like 'rhythmic affairs' and 'deciphering attack patterns'. The article also contains an example of a false dilemma by stating that Ultros is either all outlandish or not worth recommending. Finally, there are several instances where the author uses vague language to describe certain aspects of the game, such as when describing the gardening system.
The article states that Ultros is a Metroidvania game without providing any evidence or explanation for why it should be considered as such.
Bias
(85%)
The article is a review of the game Ultros. The author uses neon paint and switches dimensions to create an immersive experience for players. They also add gardening mechanics that are not typical in Metroidvania games. However, there are some issues with narrative being secondary and environments being difficult to parse at times.
Gardens scattered around The Sarcophagus that you can grow special fruits that provide nutritional boosts.
The game takes place in a cosmic uterus sarcophagus
