Cataclismo is an innovative siege-defense real-time strategy (RTS) game crafted by Digital Sun and launched by Hooded Horse. In this immersive experience, players assume the critical role of safeguarding their communities against nightmarish entities emerging from the mist. Your primary tasks involve resource management, troop training, fortification construction, and strategic preparations for the imminent Night cycle when Horrors attack. Fortunately, you’ll have the assistance of Lady Iris, a beacon of hope and warrior for her people.
Insights and Gameplay Overview
I had the pleasure of reviewing Cataclismo in its Early Access phase in 2024, and I’m thrilled to share that it has evolved impressively, ready for its official release. This game uniquely intertwines various gameplay elements, creating a captivating experience that continually challenges players.
A significant portion of the gameplay revolves around meticulous building. The essential task of fortifying your defenses captivates players, leading to hours spent ensuring that the Horrors are thwarted at your walls— an experience filled with satisfying victories.
Both the plot and gameplay mechanics are rich with emotional depth. Estimating the time it takes to complete the game is challenging, as every player’s journey will be uniquely their own.
During my exploration, I found myself overly focused on defense construction, sometimes spending nearly half an hour on a single task. This highlights the personal nature of gameplay, based on individual building philosophies. Now, let’s delve into the aspects that elevate Cataclismo to shining heights.
Mastering Resources and Defenses
A fundamental strategy in Cataclismo is to effectively prioritize and optimize resource collection. Certain resources hold greater significance depending on your immediate needs. For fortifications, an ample supply of stone is crucial, while wood is necessary for constructing buildings.
To create troops and pursue research, you’ll rely heavily on oxygen and minerals. As you progress to the late-game stages, mist becomes vital for developing advanced troops and structures necessary for fending off Horrors on more challenging settings.
Don’t worry if the task seems daunting! Cataclismo introduces each gameplay element in a natural progression. The game gradually familiarizes you with new mechanics, rather than overwhelming you with information. However, effective micromanagement becomes essential over time, as resources are depleting in real-time to maintain your buildings and troops.
Once you acclimate to resource dynamics, building defenses becomes the next core skill to develop. This strategic construction is pivotal, serving as the fundamental pillar that supports all gameplay aspects.
Building your defenses involves a plethora of actions—each stone placed will dictate your next possibilities. A solid understanding of physics is essential; destroying foundational stone blocks shouldn’t lead to the collapse of troops positioned above.
It’s crucial to note that mastering defense building requires patience, and it may prove challenging. Unlike cinematic portrayals, simplistic stone walls won’t suffice. Numerous factors must be evaluated and considered.
Although your mission might not end in failure due to crumbling walls, it can be frustrating to have to rebuild those sections. Additionally, the complexity intensifies with the need to position troops atop your walls effectively.
The Influential Role of Lady Iris
At the heart of the Cataclismo narrative is Lady Iris. Her significance goes beyond mere gameplay, so let’s first explore how troops synergize with defensive structures.
Troops can be stationed on the walls, posing a strategic advantage as they launch attacks against the Horrors. However, to maximize each unit’s potential, optimal positioning is critical. For instance, Lobbers gain advantages when placed on walls at a height of 0-4 meters, whereas Bowmen perform best when stationed above 6 meters.
Additionally, various building components provide essential buffs, such as increased damage and range. Rest assured, Cataclismo introduces mechanics incrementally, allowing players ample time to master each aspect.
Now, let’s return to Lady Iris—her backstory plays a pivotal role in the game. Without revealing any spoilers, her unique ability to manipulate time adds depth to the gameplay experience. As a ranged unit, she can also be specialized with magical spells to inflict area damage or target individual foes.
In summary, Lady Iris embodies a significant narrative element integral to Cataclismo. My admiration for her character remains genuine. To the creative team behind her, thank you sincerely for crafting such a compelling character.
The Challenges of the Night and Its Horrors
The Night is when the Horrors emerge, a term that scarcely encapsulates the challenges they present—especially at higher difficulty levels. You’ll encounter a variety of foes, from the undersized Feeble Vermin: The Swarmer to the formidable Sirena: The Annihilator, each presenting unique challenges to the player.
Do not underestimate even the smallest Horrors, as they can easily breach your defenses if you’re not vigilant. Once they penetrate your fortifications, it becomes critical to have troops ready to counter the onslaught. While the Horrors can pose significant challenges, they also play a crucial role in making Cataclismo an engaging experience.
Fortunately, daytime offers reprieve from these Horrors—unless you venture out to gather resources or seek Lost Pages. However, as the sun sets, ensure you’re behind secure walls and adequately equipped with area-damage and focus-fire troops to combat their advances.
To truly grasp the challenge posed by Horrors, I would recommend trying Survival Mode, where the intensity escalates with each successive night.
Performance and Audio Quality
My experience with Cataclismo, provided by Hooded Horse, occurred on a setup featuring the following specifications:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
- GPU: RTX 3070 8GB
- RAM: 32 GB
The game performs seamlessly, exhibiting no lag, stuttering, or crashes, ensuring a smooth gaming experience.
Final Thoughts
As I wrap up this review, it’s hard to reiterate what hasn’t already been expressed: Cataclismo stands as a compelling example of what tower defense and RTS games can achieve. From the outset, it captivates players and sustains engagement until the very end. The interwoven mechanics provide players with a plethora of options to explore.
From my estimates, you can expect around 15-20 hours of engaging campaign gameplay, particularly if you aim to uncover Lost Pages and spend additional time meticulously devising defensive strategies for every mission—an endeavor fraught with trial and error.
Throughout your journey, you will inevitably modify or replace defenses as you discover more effective construction methods, prompting a rewarding cycle of redesign and experimentation.
Once the campaign concludes, your adventure continues. Try your skills in Survival Mode, where you face relentless waves of Horrors. For quicker sessions, Skirmish and Sandbox modes offer alternative gameplay experiences.
In conclusion, I am eager to see what future updates and expansions hold. Perhaps we will see new protagonists or factions, or even fresh Horrors to challenge players, along with the intriguing addition of melee units.
For now, Cataclismo is poised for its official launch, and there’s nothing more exhilarating than witnessing what lies ahead for this remarkable game.
Game Information
Reviewed on: PC (Review code provided by Hooded Horse)
Platform: Microsoft Windows
Developer: Digital Sun
Publisher: Hooded Horse
Release Date: March 20, 2025