We tried for several hours Cult of the Lamb, a video game in which we play a lamb who must manage a sect. Be careful, you might love it.
A cute and frightened little lamb moves hesitantly towards a place of sacrifice in a gloomy forest. His death seems inevitable, and it is necessarily a little sad. His disastrous destiny is in fact only the beginning of a new adventure. A demonic spirit, which answers to the name of the one who waitsentrusts you with a mission: to become the Crown-bearer, guru of a sect whose objective will be to rid the premises of Prelates.
Scheduled for August 11 on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, Cult of the Lamb is a game developed by Massive Monster and published by Devolver Digital (who knows how to find nuggets). Numerama was able to access a preview version whose content easily exceeds that of the playable demo available on Steam. After about five hours, our all-cat sect—to each their own battles—is more flamboyant and pampered than ever. A way to make you understand that Cult of the Lamb has everything to become the game of summer 2022. Be careful, you might be as addicted as we are.
Cult of the Lamb is an ultra-smart 2-in-1 game
If we had to magnify the line as much as possible, we would write that Culf ot the Lamb is the clever mix between two outstanding games released in recent years. On the one hand, it offers a whole management aspect that recalls Animal Crossing: New Horizons. On the other, it stacks the random dungeons way Hades. We have known worse in terms of inspirations, knowing that these two experiences, however diametrically opposed, complement and intertwine with an implacable coherence. Concretely, we go on an adventure in search of followers to enlist or resources to recover. Then we return to his base to take care of his herd.
This duality allows first of all to vary the pleasures, even if it will be difficult to privilege one facet rather than another (it is a quality). The management part is quite easy to understand. I’m not a big fan of the genre and I’m doing pretty well with my army of cats who would be given the good god without confession. Except when some rebel, in which case the Crown Bearer will know how to crack down without any scruple. Moreover, the various tasks to be accomplished are sometimes articulated around the notion of cruelty. Yes, it will be necessary to sacrifice followers at certain times.
The developers of Massive Monster have been quite clever in their way of translating the demands of a cult into a video game. Because in addition to the classic aspects of good management of a workforce (hunger, sleep, illness, etc.), you have to learn how to maintain faith in Culf ot the Lamb. The characters you hire must be with you. To do this, we have a whole string of original tools so that belief is at its highest. Daily sermons, benevolent or oppressive doctrines, rituals that bring people together (avoid nocturnal banquets), more personal attentions… Little by little, a routine is set up and you become a perfect boss, concerned if necessary, tyrannical when it’s needed. ‘is necessary.
In addition, the artistic direction is to die for.
Taking good care of your sect is a prerequisite for making your life easier when you go on an adventure. Indeed, we gradually gain in power, among other means of counteracting the randomness of the dungeons (example: weapons of a higher level). Outside the small village, you have to clear small closed arenas, filled with enemies to fight. Here again, the gameplay is simplistic: one key to attack, another to launch a power to recharge and a final one to dodge. The challenge lies in the sometimes complicated visibility (there are many elements displayed on the screen), and in the art of positioning yourself well to avoid enemy blows. We quickly take the fold, especially since the grip is excellent (the lamb is very lively).
In addition to ensuring gameplay of formidable efficiency and intelligence (picking up the poops will give you fertilizer for your plantations!), Cult of the Lamb has an incredibly charming artistic direction. When you play, pay attention to the face of the hero, whose facial expressions are very telling. He can go from a gentle gaze—like a lamb—to a determined gaze when he wields his ax to chop down a tree. The devil is in the details.
Be careful, if the images and videos suggest that Cult of the Lamb is a choupi game, it’s not always the case. The atmosphere occasionally leans towards horror and gore, with for example bosses with scary designs. We feel that the developers seek to maximize the terrible side of a sect, with a total visual success. We succumb to it without any problem, blinded by once unshakable. From August 11, you also risk becoming a follower, like a lost sheep in the heat of summer.