Review: Insights Gained from Cult of the Elizabeth (PC)

Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth might appear charming at first glance, but don’t be deceived by its cute exterior. This tower defense game is an action-packed experience featuring some rather eerie bird monsters. A game’s visual design is always what draws me in first, and the main screen of Cult of the Elizabeth immediately caught my eye when I began playing. Initially, I feared it was just another knock-off of Don’t Starve—one of my all-time favorite games—given the similar art style and musical backdrop. However, those concerns vanished after a few minutes of diving into the gameplay, revealing unique elements that set this strange world apart.

Designed for both solo and co-op experiences, Cult of the Elizabeth has players helping Amelia and her classmates escape their nightmarish predicament. In single-player mode, I found resource gathering to be a bit of a slog, hindering the pace needed to upgrade towers efficiently. While I typically enjoy taking a break from combat to collect resources, the time it required here was excessive, making it tough to maintain a solid defense. As someone who’s not exactly a combat guru, even on easier modes, I found myself overwhelmed by the avian adversaries and had to constantly babysit my partner to keep up with the supplies—not exactly what I look for in my gaming downtime, considering the constant management we’re often balancing in day-to-day life.

Despite some resource-gathering hiccups, the game’s core mechanics deliver solid entertainment. The combat system gets straight to the point: it’s simple, sure, but it demands accuracy and timing to fend off these quirky foes. Randomly firing with hopes of taking down crowds doesn’t cut it here—you need strategy and perfect timing to prevent monsters from toppling your towers or wearing you down. Planning tower placements becomes critical, especially as resources dwindle and creature numbers rise. Their attacks are somewhat predictable, not overly challenging, but when a brigade of turkey-like creatures dressed in regal Tudor attire advances on your base, the intensity skyrockets.

One interesting note about Cult of the Elizabeth is its recommendation for controller use, though I had no issues sticking with my keyboard. Maybe the keyboard setup becomes more cumbersome in later stages or when new challenges unfold, but so far, it’s been smooth sailing.

In summary, I came away quite impressed by Cult of the Elizabeth and its current offerings. While aspects feel a bit simplistic, I see immense potential if developers decide to deepen the narrative and enhance certain game mechanics. With some tweaks, I think this could become a fantastic go-to for replay enthusiasts. You can try the prologue for free on Steam if you’re curious about this unusual journey.

Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth

Gameplay: 7.5/10
Plot / Writing: 6.5/10
Design / Visuals: 9/10
Overall: 7.7/10

An interesting mix of genres

Pros:

• A whimsical, gothic art style that enhances the story
• A unique soundtrack that creatively combines upbeat and dark tunes
• Well-balanced combat with exploratory elements in an atmospheric world

Cons:

• Resource collection feels tedious
• Enemies are a bit too predictable and don’t pose much of a challenge