PLATFORM: PC, PS5, XBOX SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Inspired by 20th century Spanish folklore, Crisol: Theater of Idols casts players in the role of Gabriel Escudero, a divine soldier of the Sun God, sent to the Hispanic island of Tormentosa where a war is brewing between the followers of the Sun and the Sea. Combining the atmosphere of BioShock with the survival horror elements of Resident Evil and mixing in twisted versions of real-world historical events and religious overtones, Crisol proves to be one of the most surprising games of the year so far.
From the outset, you’re introduced to one of the game’s most unique gimmicks. Each shot that you fire from your weapon uses a small amount of Gabriel’s blood, and refilling an empty gun will take a fair chunk of his health bar away. You’re able to carry a small amount of syringes to replenish your supply, as well as draining blood from any animal or human corpses that you might find lying around, but finding the right balance eventually leads to some incredibly tense situations. The tension is ramped up even further by some incredible sound design and the unsettling atmosphere of the various locations you’ll explore throughout the game, making sure that you never quite know what to expect at any given moment. And that’s before we even get to the creepy puppet-like enemies that require a little more than mere headshots to take down, as well as the Mr. X-like Dolores, a hulking unkillable monstrosity that stalks Gabriel through various sections of the game.
In true survival horror fashion, there are plenty of well thought-out puzzles to solve, unhinged characters to meet, lore to uncover, mysteries that unfold over the course of the game’s four chapters, a variety of weapons, collectibles to find, and an upgrade system that allows you to increase Gabriel’s firepower as well as learning a few handy skills and perks. It’s true that there are dozens – if not hundreds – of indie survival horror games out there, but very few manage to pull all of their influences together into a coherent package as successfully as this one. Crisol: Theater of Idols is a stunning example of what can be achieved by a small team, and should absolutely be on the radar of anyone with even a passing interest in the genre.
