Just finished act 2 of ultrakill, it's wild how this became my fave new blood title
I started thinking it would be Amid Evil > Dusk > Ultrakill when it came to new blood titles, but quickly learned for me it's: Ultrakill Dusk Amid Evil
Ultrakill is my favorite of the main three because of how much is just doing it's own thing with Boomer shooter mechanics. I thought UK would be a hard sell with how much it breaks off from a lot of assumed norms in Dusk and Amid Evil. Turns out, it's precisely why it clicks so much for me (and why act 2's additions leave me a bit ehh)
Act 1 is an absolute show stopper of a game, from the core game to the secrets to the visuals it just delivers for me. I set the resolution to be fairly crunchy and ps1 warping and it's a dream, it's wild how (for the most part) it starts at readable during the chaos
This game delivers more of the doom eternal push forward gameplay, but takes it further for me with how much back n forth your existence can be. It's so fluid and responsive while allowing for some real finesse
The secret challenges often completely change the way you operate in a given level, I love the puzzle solving aspects of this and combat
Then act 2 lands and it's damn good, but the hook shot/rocket launcher additions just feel like an afterthought. This is further pushed by the game, it also doesn't really seem to know what to do with them. When it does it's mostly just to zip you across big swaths, not really doing anything with movement. In combat tho they are both perfectly functional, but because they don't seem to really fit a niche both feel forgettable. The rocket launcher is good for ads, but I already got an explosive shotgun punch. The hook shot's GET OVER HERE ability on ads on the other hand, is great for getting health back immediately. Beyond that tho I found myself just sticking to what I know and it worked great
Just because you don't have to use the new toys doesn't make them bad at all. I don't think that's "bad design" or whatever, but it highlights what makes the better parts better: they feel like they all work synergistically in and out of combat
I'd say act 2 is 75% done, it's cool as is but just lacks the depth the first act had, not by much but it's noticable. This is the second time for me playing thru it and I extremely enjoyed my time with hard mode!