Review / Insights Gained: Cult of the Elizabeth (PC)

Whenever you dive into Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth, prepare to be taken on a rollercoaster that’s anything but ordinary. At first glance, the game might seem cute, but don’t be misled. This tower defense title throws you into the heart of unrelenting action, spiced up with some unexpectedly eerie feathered foes. What instantly grabs my attention in any game is its visual design, and the main menu in Cult of the Elizabeth did just that right off the bat. Initially, I harbored a bit of suspicion that it could be a knockoff of Don’t Starve—a perennial favorite of mine—given the similarly styled visuals and music. However, those doubts were promptly dashed a few minutes into gameplay, when it became clear this game’s quirky world boasts its own unique flair.

In Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth, you can choose between playing solo or teaming up in co-op mode as Amelia and her pals scrambling to escape a chilling nightmare. In solo mode, I found the resource-gathering process excessively time-consuming, which made the experience less than optimal for me. Usually, tasks like gathering rocks or chopping trees offer a breather from relentless combat, but here, the prolonged process left my base defenses vulnerable. To be fair, combat’s never been my forte, yet even on easy mode, the avian adversaries got the better of me, and my AI sidekick wasn’t of much help. The last thing I want in a game is to micromanage my partner, considering I already juggle enough responsibilities outside gaming!

Once past the resource-gathering hurdles, the game’s combat mechanics work impressively. They’re simple yet demand precision—blindly firing at enemies won’t be effective. Success comes from applying tactics and timing to take down the bird monsters before they obliterate towers or wound you and your partner. As resources dwindle, careful planning on tower placement becomes vital, especially as more enemies surface. Though predictable and not overly challenging, the frantic charge of turkey-like enemies clad in Tudor attire quickly ramps up the thrill level.

Interestingly, Cult of the Elizabeth comes with a nod to controller play, often recommended for PC titles. However, I found navigating with my keyboard quite manageable, so controllers aren’t a mandatory pick right from the start. Perhaps the keyboard’s utility faces challenges in later stages as new obstacles appear, but I’ll need more time with it to give a final verdict.

All in all, I’m genuinely impressed with what Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth brings to the table. Although it feels slightly basic at times, a lot of promise sits beneath its surface. I’m hopeful the developers further enrich the storyline and fine-tune the mechanics to inject more dynamism, paving the way for great replay value with a few tweaks. Right now, the game’s prologue is free to explore on Steam, and it’s definitely worth a look if you’re up for a whimsical, delightful adventure with a side of the bizarre.

[Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth Review]

• Gameplay: 7.5/10
• Plot / Writing: 6.5/10
• Design / Visuals: 9/10
• Overall: 7.7/10

An interesting mix of genres
Pros:

• Enchanting, gothic art style enhancing the storyline
• Unique soundtrack blends cheerful and dark tunes
• Well-balanced mix of combat and exploration in an atmospheric setting

Cons:
– Resource collection can be a drag
– Enemies lack unpredictability and challenge