There’s nothing understated or overly cautious about Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth. It might look a bit cute at first glance, but don’t be misled by its appearance. This tower defense game packs quite a punch, with continuous action and some rather unsettling bird creatures. What really draws me into a game initially is its visual design, and the main screen of Cult of the Elizabeth had me hooked right from the start. At first, I was a bit concerned it might be a mere imitation of Don’t Starve, one of my all-time favorite games, due to its similar art style and music. But those worries dissipated just a few minutes in. It became clear that this quirky universe has its own unique charm.
The game caters to both solo and co-op players as you guide Amelia and her classmates in their attempt to escape this nightmare. Playing solo, I found it a bit tiresome, particularly with the lengthy resource-gathering required to upgrade towers. Typically, I enjoy tasks like rock gathering or tree chopping as a nice break from combat, but this game takes that to an extreme, demanding an inordinate amount of time to collect and build, which left me struggling to safeguard my base. Admittedly, combat isn’t exactly my forte, but even in the easiest setting, the avian adversaries overwhelmed me, and my sidekick wasn’t much help. Instead of aiding me, I ended up micromanaging him to ensure we had enough resources, and let’s be honest, that’s the last thing I want in a game—I’ve got enough juggling to do in real life as it is!
Notwithstanding the resource-draining drawback, the rest of the gameplay holds up well. The combat mechanics are simple yet effective, requiring precision. You can’t just haphazardly shoot at foes expecting them to fall effortlessly. Instead, you need a knack for timing to subdue these foes and prevent them from annihilating your towers or weakening you and your helper. Strategically placing towers becomes essential, particularly as resources start dwindling and more monsters appear. While the enemies’ attacks are fairly predictable and not overly daunting, things definitely heat up when a large group of turkeys clad in Tudor-style garb comes charging toward your camp.
Interestingly, Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth is a PC game that comes with a recommendation to use a controller. Personally, I didn’t find using a keyboard to be a challenge, so I don’t see the controller as essential in this case. Maybe further on, as the game introduces new obstacles, the keyboard might feel cumbersome, but I’ll have to get back to you on that.
Overall, I’m quite taken with Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth and what it has to offer at present. It may feel a tad basic, but I hope the developers continue to flesh out the story and refine some mechanics to enhance the dynamic nature of the game. There’s certainly a lot of promise for replayability with a few tweaks. Currently, the prologue is available for free on Steam and is definitely worth exploring if you’re in the mood for a quirky adventure.
Here’s my breakdown:
Gameplay: 7.5/10
Plot/Writing: 6.5/10
Design/Visuals: 9/10
Overall Score: 7.7/10
Pro Tip: The whimsical, gothic art style beautifully complements the narrative, and the soundtrack is a delightful mix of jolly and eerie tunes. Combat and exploration strike a good balance in this atmospheric setting.
Improvements Needed: Resource gathering is a bit of a slog, and while the enemies are predictable, they aren’t overly challenging.
