If you’re in search of a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled FPS that combines old-school vibes with modern mechanics, then ULTRAKILL from developer Arsi “Hakita” Patala and New Blood Interactive is the game you’ve been waiting for. This retro-inspired masterpiece takes everything you loved about classic FPS games like Quake and Doom and adds a healthy dose of chaos, style, and precision.
But ULTRAKILL isn’t just a love letter to the golden age of shooters; it’s a game that demands mastery. ULTRAKILL is a fast-paced ultraviolent retro FPS combining the skill-based style scoring from character action games with unadulterated carnage inspired by the best shooters of all time. With intricate movement mechanics, a brutal yet rewarding combat system, and an ever-evolving skill ceiling, this is a shooter designed to push you to your limits.
The story of ULTRAKILL is minimalistic yet effective, drawing you into its dark and desolate world from the get-go. Humanity has gone extinct, and the only beings left on Earth are machines fueled by blood. As blood is starting to run out on the surface, machines are racing to the depths of Hell in search of more blood to regain health and survive. You step into the metallic shoes of V1, a battle-ready war machine that thrives on blood.
V1 is not your ordinary robot—this combat unit's entire purpose is to rip and tear through Hell's inhabitants to stay alive. The premise is simple yet highly effective, especially in a game that puts action and style at the forefront. The sparse narrative isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a perfect excuse to drop you into a chaotic world where the only law is survival.
One of the standout features of ULTRAKILL is its unique campaign environments inspired by Dante's Inferno. The game's levels are divided into distinct layers of Hell, each with its own aesthetic and set of challenges. Descending into Dante's Inferno to find plentiful hidden secrets, you'll traverse environments ranging from molten lava pits to grotesque flesh-covered chambers.
The level design isn't just there for decoration; it's designed to test your skills in movement and combat, often requiring quick reflexes to survive environmental hazards or outwit aggressive foes. The environments are diverse, atmospheric, and full of surprises, ensuring that you never know what's waiting around the next corner.
While most modern shooters rely on regenerating health or health packs scattered throughout the level, ULTRAKILL introduces a bold new mechanic that ties perfectly into its aggressive, fast-paced gameplay. In this game, you heal by showering in the blood of your enemies. The concept of "blood is fuel" is literal here, and the only way to keep your health topped up is to stay on the offensive.
This risk-reward system creates a thrilling dynamic where standing still is not an option. You’ve got to keep moving, keep killing, and most importantly, stay close to the action. The closer you are to your enemies when they explode into a bloody mess, the more health you recover. It’s a mechanic that encourages reckless abandon and aggressive gameplay, forcing you to dive headfirst into battle instead of hiding behind cover.
The decision to make blood the source of health isn’t just a gimmick—it fundamentally alters the way you approach combat. In most shooters, the instinct is to play defensively when your health is low, retreating to find cover or healing items. In ULTRAKILL, playing defensively is a death sentence. You can’t hide and wait for your health to regenerate—you need to kill more enemies to stay alive. This forces you to engage in a highly aggressive, fast-paced playstyle where every moment counts.
The health system also synergizes with the game’s movement mechanics. The faster you move, the easier it is to dodge enemy attacks while staying close enough to bathe in their blood. It’s a delicate balance of risk and reward that keeps the gameplay tense and exhilarating from start to finish.
Movement in ULTRAKILL is nothing short of poetry in motion. You have many movement abilities to stay mobile and avoid the relentless attacks of the dead. It's not just about running and gunning—it’s about sliding, jumping, dashing, and wall-jumping with precision and style. The game takes inspiration from classic FPS games like Doom, but turns the speed dial up to eleven. Every move you make is designed to keep you one step ahead of your enemies, and mastering the intricate movement mechanics is key to surviving the onslaught of Hell.
At the heart of ULTRAKILL’s movement system is the ability to slide, dash, and jump in rapid succession. Sliding across the ground not only looks cool but also helps you dodge incoming projectiles and stay mobile during intense firefights. Dashing adds another layer of mobility, allowing you to quickly change direction or escape tight situations. And if that’s not enough, you can jump off walls, bounce off enemies, and perform acrobatic maneuvers that would make even the most seasoned parkour enthusiast envious.
What sets ULTRAKILL apart from many other shooters is its emphasis on verticality. The levels are designed to encourage vertical movement, and mastering wall jumps and aerial dashes is crucial to staying alive. The fluidity of movement is so perfectly tuned that it feels like you’re skating through levels, weaving in and out of danger while delivering devastating attacks.
It’s this movement system that gives ULTRAKILL its signature frenetic pace. You’re not just fighting enemies—you’re dancing around them, always in motion, always one step ahead. The sense of speed and fluidity is exhilarating, and the better you get at chaining together jumps, dashes, and slides, the more satisfying the combat becomes.
Combat in ULTRAKILL isn’t just about blowing things up—it’s about doing it fast and with SSStyle. The game features a combo-based ranking system that encourages you to get creative with your kills. You’re not just judged on how many enemies you kill, but how you kill them. The more varied and stylish your attacks, the higher your score multiplier climbs.
The weapons in ULTRAKILL are as varied as they are deadly. You have an arsenal of incredibly powerful weapons at your disposal. Each weapon comes with multiple variations, adding an extra layer of depth to the combat. For example, the shotgun has a variant that allows you to charge up a devastating blast, while the pistol can shoot coins that ricochet off walls for precision kills.
What makes ULTRAKILL’s weapons truly special is their versatility. Each gun has its strengths, but the real magic happens when you start combining them. You might use a shotgun blast to clear a group of enemies, then switch to the pistol for a ricochet headshot, all while sliding under a barrage of enemy fire. The game rewards experimentation, and the more you play, the more you’ll discover new ways to chain together attacks and create devastating combos.
In addition to the traditional shooting mechanics, ULTRAKILL introduces a parry system that adds even more depth to the combat. Certain enemy projectiles, like fireballs, can be parried with a well-timed punch, sending them flying back at your foes or deflecting incoming damage. Mastering the parry system takes practice, but once you’ve got it down, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities in combat.
Parrying isn’t just about defense—it’s about turning the tide of battle in your favor. Successfully parrying a powerful attack can leave your enemies vulnerable, allowing you to follow up with a devastating counterattack. It’s a high-risk, high-reward mechanic that perfectly complements ULTRAKILL’s aggressive, fast-paced combat.
If the main campaign isn’t enough to satisfy your thirst for destruction, ULTRAKILL offers an endless mode known as the Cyber Grind. This is where you’ll truly test your skills, battling wave after wave of increasingly difficult enemies. The Cyber Grind isn’t just about survival—it’s about pushing yourself to see how far you can go, how high you can climb the leaderboard, and how stylishly you can rack up kills.
What sets the Cyber Grind apart from other endless modes is its level of customization and replayability. Each wave presents a new challenge, with random enemy spawns, environmental hazards, and changing layouts. You never know what’s coming next, which keeps the mode fresh and exciting no matter how many times you play.
The Cyber Grind also encourages experimentation with weapons and movement. Since the enemies come in endless waves, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to test out different combos, try new strategies, and see how far your skills can take you. It’s a brutal, unforgiving mode, but it’s also incredibly rewarding for players who are willing to put in the time to master ULTRAKILL’s mechanics.
Hell is full, and that means you’ll be facing off against an impressive array of enemies, each more grotesque and dangerous than the last. From demonic machines to towering behemoths, the enemies in ULTRAKILL are as varied as they are deadly. Each enemy type has its own unique attacks and behaviors, forcing you to adapt your strategies on the fly.
Boss fights in ULTRAKILL are where the game truly shines. These aren’t your typical bullet-sponge bosses—each one has its own unique moveset, requiring precise timing, quick reflexes, and a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics to defeat. These encounters are some of the most intense and rewarding moments in the game, pushing your skills to their absolute limit.
Each boss battle feels like a carefully crafted test of everything you’ve learned up to that point. Whether you’re dodging a barrage of projectiles, parrying a massive energy blast, or using the environment to gain an advantage, every fight is a heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat experience. On the hardest difficulty, these fights become even more challenging, truly testing your mastery of the game.
No review of ULTRAKILL would be complete without mentioning its phenomenal soundtrack. Composed by Andrew Hulshult and Dominik Ninmark, the music is a perfect blend of heavy metal, industrial beats, and adrenaline-pumping guitar riffs. As you revel in the chaos, the soundtrack doesn’t just accompany the action—it amplifies it, driving you forward as you tear through enemies with relentless energy.
Each layer of Hell has its own distinct musical theme, and the soundtrack evolves as you progress through the game. The music hits its peak during boss fights, where the intense rhythms and soaring guitar solos perfectly capture the chaos and intensity of the battle.
ULTRAKILL’s retro-inspired visuals are a love letter to the classic shooters of the '90s, but with a modern twist. The pixelated textures and low-resolution sprites evoke a sense of nostalgia for games like Doom and Doom Eternal, while the detailed enemy designs and environmental effects add a modern layer of polish.
Despite its intentionally retro aesthetic, ULTRAKILL manages to look fresh and vibrant. The attention to detail in the environments, from the flickering lights of Hell’s industrial zones to the eerie glow of demonic altars, creates an atmosphere that is both nostalgic and visually captivating. The retro style isn’t just a gimmick—it’s an integral part of the game’s identity, adding to the sense of chaos and destruction.
As of now, ULTRAKILL is still in Early Access, but don’t let that fool you—there’s already a ton of content to sink your teeth into. The game’s Prelude and Acts 1 and 2 are fully playable, with Act 3 currently in development. Each update brings new content, improvements, and features, ensuring that the game continues to evolve.
One of the things that makes ULTRAKILL special is its relationship with the community. Developer Arsi “Hakita” Patala has been actively involved with players since the game’s inception, regularly taking feedback and suggestions to improve the game. This collaborative approach ensures that ULTRAKILL continues to grow and evolve based on the needs and desires of its player base.
The game gained significant attention during Steam Next Fest, drawing in a passionate fanbase eager to dive into its intense gameplay.
ULTRAKILL’s vibrant community is continually growing, with players uploading original content, creating gameplay videos, and sharing it all with friends around the world on YouTube. You can enjoy the videos and music, watch high-level playthroughs, and even learn new strategies from other players. The community aspect adds another layer to the game, making it more than just a single-player experience.
In related news, ULTRAKILL is expected to release on consoles like PlayStation and Xbox in the future, expanding its reach to even more gaming enthusiasts. This move will allow console players to start playing and experience one of the best FPS games in recent years.
In a world where shooters often blend together, ULTRAKILL stands out as a shining example of what the genre can be. Its fast-paced, skill-based gameplay, combined with its unique mechanics and retro-inspired aesthetic, make it one of the most exciting and innovative shooters of recent years. Whether you’re a fan of classic shooters or modern action games like Devil May Cry, ULTRAKILL offers something for everyone.
With its brutal combat, intricate movement system, and constantly evolving content, ULTRAKILL is a game that will keep you coming back for more. If you haven’t already, now’s the time to dive into Hell and play this game—just be prepared to lose hours, days, or even weeks to this pulse-pounding masterpiece.
