Cataclismo is a real-time strategy tower defense video game developed by Digital Sun and published by Hooded Horse. In the game, the player is tasked with collecting resources and constructing a stronghold using a building system inspired by Lego during daytime, while defending against large hordes of enemies at night. The game was released in early access on July 22, 2024 for Windows PC.
| Cataclismo | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Digital Sun |
| Publisher(s) | Hooded Horse |
| Director(s) | Vicent Ramirez |
| Artist(s) | David Aguado |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows |
| Release | July 22, 2024 (early access) |
| Genre(s) | Real-time strategy |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay
editCataclismo is a real-time strategy game with elements inspired by tower defense games. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world in which a magical cataclysm created a suffocating poison mist that has spread all over the world.[1] During daytime, players must explore and collect resources, construct fortresses and strongholds as well as training various types of troops. The game features a building system in which players can freely mix and match more than 100 building pieces to create towers, walls, and other defensive structures.[2] Different environments and landscapes also provide various architectural challenges for the players. During daytime, players must also invest in technology to unlock new troop types, and expand their strongholds with new buildings, traps and facilities.[3] Oxygen management is also important for maintaining a sustainable base.[4]
At night, the player's settlement will be attacked by large hordes of mutating enenies known as the "Horrors", which seek to destroy the citadel, the player's stronghold command center.[5] Units will automatically attack enemies that are in close approximation to them, but players need to guide them to strategic positions in order to gain tactical advantages over the attackers.[6] The defense buildings constructed will slowly crumble when they are damaged, and sometimes collapse completely, decimating both the player's allies and enemies.[7] According to Digital Sun, the game will feature a campaign mode, as well as three gameplay modes: Creative, Survival and Skirmish.[7] Strongholds constructed by players can also be shared online through Steam Workshop.[8]
Development
editCataclismo is currently being developed by Digital Sun, the studio behind Moonlighter and The Mageseeker.[9] Lego significantly influenced the game's building systems. According to the developer, the game features 13 traditional buildings, but players can freely craft their building using the smaller building pieces, with each having their own rules of stability. Height of a structure and the choice of materials also affect the sturdiness of a building. Following feedback from playtesters during the game's early phase of development, the team made an effort to ensure the most effective buildings were also aesthetically pleasing by implementing a system that allowed players to place decorations which provide additional gameplay perks.[8] The art styles of the game was inspired by works of Romanic painters such as Caspar David Friedrich and the works of Mike Mignola and Studio Ghibli, while the high-fantasy setting was inspired by Dark Souls.[10] The RTS gameplay was inspired by Age of Empires II, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and They Are Billions.[11]
The game will be published by Hooded Horse,[12] following Digital Sun's split with the game's original publisher Humble Games,[13] which announced the title in May 2023.[14] The studio launched a Kickstarter campaign for the game in October 2023, and the game reached its target fundings in a week.[15] The game was released through the early access program by publisher Hooded Horse on July 22, 2024.[16]
References
edit- ^ Bolding, Jonathan (July 3, 2023). "Build and defend a cool castle, block by block, in the Cataclismo demo". PC Gamer. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Romano, Sal (March 4, 2024). "Cataclismo launches July 16 [Update: Delayed to July 22]". Gematsu. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ Donlan, Christian (March 5, 2024). "Cataclismo is a game of castle walls and terrible mistakes". Eurogamer. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Tan, Nick (April 14, 2024). "Cataclismo brings innovative castle-building to the RTS genre". Shacknews. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Jones, Ali (October 12, 2023). "I failed at my favorite Steam Next Fest strategy game and its Lego-style building because monsters ate my stairs". GamesRadar. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Jarvis, Matt (October 28, 2023). "Moonlighter devs' next game has you build Lego-style fortresses and defend them against waves of horrors". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ a b Stewart, Marcus (March 4, 2024). "Cataclismo, A City-Building RTS By The Makers Of Moonlighter, Gets July Release Date". Game Informer. Archived from the original on March 4, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ a b Allsop, Ken (March 18, 2024). "This Warcraft 3 inspired RTS game is like building castles with Lego". PCGamesN. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Campbell, Evan (March 8, 2024). "Moonlighter Dev's Lego-Inspired Cataclismo Gets Flashy Gameplay Trailer, July Release Date". GameSpot. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Mitchell Jewitt, Katelyn (February 13, 2024). "Cataclismo Interview: Developers Talk LEGO Inspiration, The Importance of Visibility, and More". Game Rant. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ "The inspirations of Cataclismo: Sharing some love for the games and media that inspired it all!". Steam. January 20, 2024. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ "Cataclismo joins forces with Manor Lords' publisher Hooded Horse". Steam. June 6, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ "Digital Sun on how Cataclismo is something bold and new for the studio behind Moonlighter and Mageseeker". Gamereactor. October 10, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Romano, Sal (May 18, 2023). "Humble Games and Digital Sun announce medieval fortress building game Cataclismo for PC". Gematsu. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Bellinghem, Hope (October 19, 2023). "Our favorite Steam Next Fest strategy game and its Lego-style base building just beat its Kickstarter goal with over three weeks still to go". GamesRadar. Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Nelson, Will (July 6, 2024). "New RTS and city building blend Cataclismo details early access launch". PCGamesN. Retrieved July 27, 2024.