PREVIEW : KUR (PC)
The Quantum Astrophysicists Guild publishes KUR, a sci-fi first-person shooter developed by Really Ragdoll. I only got to play a small portion of the game because it was only a demo, but as far as games and demos go, this one is solid. The game is a homage to the Doom series and other classic first-person shooters. The game’s attractiveness comes from such a well-known series, which isn’t always a terrible thing. His pixel shader does bring back memories for me, and it’s entertaining for what it gives.
The demo includes three weapons: a single-shot pistol that can be dual-wielded, a shotgun, and a machine gun, each with its own game, giving the game that classic Doom vibe. It also introduces you to a few more forms of enemy AI, including a spider-like creature with a skull body and three different bull-like beasts. This gets me to one of the issues I have with the demo. And it’s because there isn’t a tale or an introduction. “Boot flesh wearing robots across the screen,” according to the Steam page. This begs the question of what these animals are. The monsters are difficult to explain because of the throwback feel.
They appear to me to be bull devils rather than robots. But that’s only a small annoyance, as the game talks you through how to play the game, including how to collect ammo, health, and energy, as well as how to use the game’s robot leg, which appears to be a big element. This allows you to kick barrels at adversaries, knock down doors, jump higher, and jump from one wall to the next.
The Demo, however, is not without problems, no matter how little they appear to be. The controls are too touchy, and they appear to be the default controls for whatever game engine they’re using.
A mini-map and hotkey control for weapons, as well as a mission indicator or compass to display where you are, could improve the HUD. Because the blood spray from foes glows, it’s difficult to see where anything is, and I had to turn up the demo’s brightness to see anything. Changing the game’s screen resolution also improved visibility.
Overall, the Demo was a lot of fun, and I was disappointed that there were only two stages to complete. It did provide me with the nostalgic fun that the game is attempting to convey, as well as the satisfaction that many homage games attempt to provide. With a few simple changes, I believe Kur will be a game that players will remember and enjoy.
However, I have reservations about the controls and lack of variety in weaponry and enemy AI in this game, but I believe it will be worth a playtime once it is published.
REVIEW : IN RAYS OF THE LIGHT (PS5)
