Diluvian Ultra Chapter One, a pulpy indie shooter from developer Crest Helm Studios and publisher Fulqrum Publishing, will officially launch on September 28th, 2023. The announcement was joined by a new gameplay trailer featuring bloody action, strange enemies and retro visuals.

In Diluvian Ultra Chapter One, the immortal warrior-prince Atilla is suddenly awakened and must defend against an invasion in deep space. Players must combine the effects of different weapons, stay mobile, and earn upgrades to survive.

Diluvian Ultra Chapter One will be available on PC, with no word on plans for a console release. You can watch today’s release date trailer on the Fulqrum Publishing YouTube channel:

Fans often respond best when developers approach mayhem with this level of confidence, as in the unapologetic Trepang2 or Cookie Cutter. It will certainly please fans who grew up with Doom and the like.

But Diluvian Ultra Chapter One also offers a uniquely bizarre world, which might help distinguish it from other bloody pulp titles.

The visuals have more detail and refinement than expected, yet still resemble some FPS classics. Similarly, the movement looks surprisingly smooth. These modern sensibilities create an interesting, uncanny mood.

The emphasis on storytelling is also neat. Fans will surely appreciate that the devs are already committed to offer “paid DLCs” that expand the weaponry and enemies, according to the official Steam page.

Though quite bloody, the Steam page notes that Diluvian aims to avoid a grim tone, instead opting for splashy fantasy. Its blend of magic and colorful sci-fi should help make this one more cozy than brutal, though players do need to collect and consume blood.

The upbeat music will likely help, with inventive electronic beats that are gloriously reminiscent of both the 80’s and 90’s. It’s appropriate for a game with action that feels partly driven by rhythm.

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