Ultrakill Review – Free Download on Steam

In the world of the gaming industry, each publisher acquires its own unique features and style. We all know what to expect from Ubisoft, and when it comes to Devolver Digital, you can expect a dose of weirdness and cringe in advance. Fans of non-standard projects enjoy following the work of 11 Bit and Annapurna, which always delight with original ideas.

Among this diversity, the publisher New Blood Interactive confidently stands out. Their distinctive feature is nostalgia for the era of 1996-1998. They continue to create old-school first-person shooters and 8-bit horrors, returning players to those unforgettable times when games were simple, but full of adventure.

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Ultrakill review by VpeSports

To put it simply, Ultrakill is the perfect retro shooter. It offers a minimalist storyline, addictive gameplay, and a colorful visual frenzy. The only question is whether you want to dive into this world. For players aged 25-30, the game is nostalgic, bringing back memories of the times when icons like Makron, gibs, and railgun existed.

But is there more to Ultrakill than just nostalgia? In my opinion, it definitely is. The game offers something unique that makes you want to go back to the roots of the genre, reminding you of what it’s like to enjoy simplicity and adrenaline.

Ultrakill Visuals

What separates modern FPS from retro shooters? The main answer is graphics, and this is absolutely true. However, despite the less cinematic quality, retro shooters have freedom in creating visuals and level design. Judging by the works of New Blood and 3D Realms, the developers are happy to use this freedom. At the time of writing this review, Ultrakill offers only a prologue and the first of three episodes, but even from the available teasers for the second episode, it is clear that the Finn Ansi “Hakita”, the creator of the game, really put his heart into this project.

Ultrakill’s prologue clearly pays homage to the first Quake. Several short and dynamic levels introduce us to the pace and features of the game. Then we are transferred to an extensive first episode, where the designer’s imagination runs wild. The first thing that catches the eye is the “paradise garden” decorations. This is clearly a set, with room outlines and heavenly music coming from speakers located around the level. Then the level of design changes abruptly: we find ourselves in a dark dimension with neon lights and a technogenic hue, or we get into an unstable world of flesh, where the doors look like opening jaws.

1. Graphics Freedom: Retro shooters like Ultrakill prioritize creative visuals and level design over cinematic quality.
2. Homage to Quake: The prologue pays tribute to the original Quake with dynamic levels that set the game’s pace.
3. Diverse Environments: Players experience varied environments, from “paradise gardens” to dark, neon-lit dimensions and flesh-like worlds.
4. Evolving Design: As players progress, both level structure and color palettes shift, adding visual interest throughout the gameplay.
5. Comparative Quality: While Ultrakill’s visuals may slightly lag behind Amid Evil, they are comparable to Dusk, highlighting the game’s impressive artistic direction.

As you progress, not only the structure of the levels changes, but also the color palette. Although the pace of the game does not allow you to linger on details often, the variety of design is pleasantly surprising throughout the episode. At the moment, the game has 4-5 hours of gameplay, and the second episode can only be judged by the video from the developer. However, there are no complaints about the visual part. Although the visual component is slightly inferior in comparison with Amid Evil, Ultrakill can still be compared to Dusk, which is certainly a compliment for this game.

Ultrakill Gameplay

What sets retro FPS apart from modern shooters? That’s right: blood, violence, and adrenaline. The game starts with three lines that essentially set the tone for the entire plot: It’s important to pay attention to the second line — it should be taken literally. Ultrakill not only offers a hurricane pace, lots of enemies, and high difficulty, but also a number of unique gameplay mechanics. Blood really does become fuel for survival here. There are no first aid kits in the game, and enemies deal serious damage. Already during the prologue, it becomes clear that the main character can fall from 2-3 hits even from simple opponents. How to survive? It’s simple: when you hit enemies and especially when you kill them, blood splashes around. If you stand close enough, you can restore some health. This makes a significant change in the game’s tactics.

Instead of retreating when your health is low, the player now needs to attack with double force. The more aggressively you act, the higher your chances of survival. This means that the usual tactics of dodging and collecting first aid kits are a thing of the past, which makes the gameplay more dynamic and exciting.

It is also worth noting that in Ultrakill there are no saves at any time – only checkpoints. As soon as you cross a certain border, you will have to fight in the arena, and in case of failure, you will have to start from the beginning. This is justified, since the arenas are designed in such a way that, having gone a little further, new enemies may attack you. How effectively you fought before can be decisive for the current battle.

• Blood Fuels Survival: Health restoration through enemy blood splashes.
• Aggressive Strategy: Attack more to survive; retreating is risky.
• Checkpoints Only: No saves; restart from checkpoints after failure.
• Weapon Variety: Limited arsenal, each effective against specific foes.
• In-Game Store: Trade points for alternative weapon attacks.

The game is especially harsh on players at the end of the available episode, when after an intense battle you are attacked by two not the strongest, but very inconvenient opponents. And you know that if you fail, you will have to start from the beginning. Another interesting feature is the lack of ammunition for weapons. You can stand in the middle of the level and tirelessly water enemies with a nail gun. But this approach will quickly lead to your defeat if you are not careful.

Ultrakill is balanced: each weapon is effective against certain enemies and at certain distances. You don’t have many weapons – a pistol, a shotgun, a nail gun, a rail, and a fist – but their use is varied thanks to the level design. In addition, only the nail gun can fire continuously, and other weapons have a limited rate of fire. The rail, for example, only charges when not equipped. There is also an in-game store before the start of the level, where you can exchange points earned in battles for alternative attacks for weapons. This adds drive and variety to the gameplay, making each battle unique.

Ultrakill Enemies

In general, the local bestiary is not particularly diverse. With rare exceptions, all enemies are anthropomorphic creatures, differing only in weapons and tactics. However, the way enemies combine during battles quite compensates for their limited species diversity.

The pace of the battle in the arena often changes: new enemies can appear from a decent distance when you have just finished a close fight. The developers like to build up tension, and you can barely survive one fight, and then face long-range shooters when you relax. At the same time, old enemies will not go anywhere, and this adds an element of surprise.

1. Limited Diversity: Most enemies are anthropomorphic with minor variations.
2. Dynamic Battles: New foes can appear unexpectedly during fights.
3. Tension Building: Developers increase challenge with long-range shooters.
4. Exciting Boss Fights: Bosses are well-designed and more engaging than others.
5. First Boss – Gabriel: Fast and lethal, he demands close-quarters combat.

A special highlight of Ultrakill are the bosses. There are many of them, and they are all quite strong. The bosses here are much more interesting than in Dusk, Amid Evil or Ion Fury – their fights are really exciting. They themselves are well-designed, and classic bosses eventually become regular opponents, delighting players with their appearance at the most inopportune moment.

Visually, the bosses are also impressive. For example, the king is visible several levels before the battle, and you feel how you are gradually approaching him until the opportunity to fight arises.

The first boss of the episode is Gabriel. This is the culmination of the entire game. Your meeting with him will definitely drag on, regardless of the difficulty. He is incredibly fast and will most likely cause you damage. We remind you that you can only restore health by dealing damage in return at close range, and Gabriel does not like this and happily switches to close combat, hitting the player twice.

System Requirements Ultrakill

When preparing to dive into the chaotic world of Ultrakill, it’s essential to ensure your system meets the necessary specifications. Below are the minimum and recommended requirements that will help you enjoy the game at its best.

The minimum requirements will allow you to run Ultrakill, but for an optimal experience, especially with the fast-paced action and intense visuals, the recommended specifications are highly advised. Make sure your graphics card is up to the task to fully appreciate the vibrant environments and dynamic enemy encounters. A solid processor and sufficient RAM will ensure smooth gameplay without frustrating lag or performance drops.

Before launching Ultrakill, double-check your system specifications against the table above. Whether you’re navigating through chaotic arenas or battling fierce bosses, having the right hardware will enhance your gaming experience, allowing you to immerse yourself in the adrenaline-pumping action. Enjoy your time in Ultrakill!

How to play Ultrakill for free on Steam via VpeSports

If you’re excited to jump into the fast-paced action of Ultrakill without spending a dime, you’re in luck! There are convenient ways to access the game for free through our platform. We offer shared Steam accounts that come with Ultrakill pre-installed via our Shared Steam service.

To begin your adventure, simply visit the VpeSports website and create an account. Once logged in, you can navigate to the Shared Steam section where you’ll find a collection of shared accounts. Among them, locate Ultrakill and click through to its review page. Here, you’ll find a download button that provides a comprehensive guide on how to access the game. Don’t forget to share your thoughts about our review by leaving a positive comment! Just keep in mind that comments are moderated, so if yours doesn’t get approved, consider tweaking it to meet our guidelines. Once approved, our moderators will send the account details to the email you used for registration.

Alternatively, you can join our Telegram channel, Shared Steam Accounts VP, for another quick access route. By subscribing, you’ll receive updates and can gain access to an account with Ultrakill for free play. This method is fantastic for staying informed about patches and new releases while enjoying the game.

If you run into any issues, a comprehensive guide is available on our website at the following link: How to Play for Free – Detailed Instructions!