I had the opportunity to demo the upcoming indie horror survival title Crisol: Theater of Idols from Vermila Studios and published by Blumhouse Games. Drawing inspiration from titles like BioShock, this game blends cultural folklore with grotesque creature design to create a creepy world and introduces an interesting combat system, where your own blood becomes ammo.
Set in the haunting world of Hispania, you will be playing Gabriel, a soldier on a journey to uncover the chilling history and twisted folklore of Tormentosa. It’s a beautiful, but malevolent island where you traverse eerie landscapes and take on monstrous foes as you fulfill your divine mission from the sun god.
A look into Spanish-inspired Horror
One thing I love about this game is the attention to detail and entertainment that can put you into a different world. Crisol does exactly that. The island Tormentosa is based on a nightmarish reimagining of Spain. The game designers were definitely inspired by Spanish folklore and religious imagery, and you see this inspiration throughout the game.
For example, during my playtest, the creatures that resemble marionette puppets were inspired by polychrome statues, which means “many colored.” Statues like these are commonly seen in Spain and within Catholicism. Drawing from these gothic themes allows the game designers to incorporate different artistic and architectural styles. Adding that horror twist makes everything feel threatening while staying true to the environment they have created.
A Different Kind of First-Person Shooter
Unlike most shooters, your health is your blood, and this acts as your ammo; using your weapons drains Gabriel’s life. This is one of the most interesting parts of the game, and it’s a real learning curve. In most FPS games, the pacing is fast when aiming, shooting, and reloading. At first, it’s cool to see the animation of Gabriel’s blood and how it reloads your weapon, showing that attention to detail with the lore the developers created. However, I also felt that this mechanic could be slow, especially when you’re in an active fight with enemies.
I thought of this as a negative of the game, but after doing some reflection on my play test, I can see this combat style as being a part of the experience. It does take some time getting used to, but I feel like this isn’t a game where you rush in and shoot every creature on sight. You have to focus on survival rather than action. Instead of diving in headfirst, the player must rely on strategy, precision, and stealth. Honestl,y it also adds to the fear as well, especially when you’re low on ammo and health while enemies are closing in on you.
Final verdict
Crisol: Theater of Idols is a very intriguing game, and it’s definitely shaping its own identity while setting itself apart from typical horror games. I also think it would make a very fun VR game, allowing the player to be fully immersed in the world. I also love seeing a smaller studio being supported by huge publishers like Blumhouse Games. This is big for smaller creators and studios, and hopefully shows that anyone with an idea for a game should put it out there. You never know who might pick it up.
If you’re a fan of horror, Crisol: Theater of Idols is a game you might want to check out. You can get it on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam on February 10.
Staff Writer & Media Critic for Big Gold Belt Media: NYC Actress | Twitch Streamer | Artist