Ever since Cruelty Squad was released upon an unsuspecting public, most attention it received was primarily centered around its "unique" artstyle and general weirdness, which, while understandable, is also a bit of a shame, since buried beneath the abrasive exterior lies a genuinely enjoyable, deep and very well-designed game that's actually significantly more accessible than one might initially think. Every level tasks the player with eliminating one or more targets, how exactly they go about it is none of the games concern. This general openness, combined with the extensive and detailed level design that heavily rewards exploration by constantly revealing new pathways and secrets, results in a surprisingly organic and immersive, if occasionally frustrating experience that recalls games like Thief or even Deus Ex. Gameplay itself is lots of fun, with movement that feels rather reminiscient of the fast-paced blur of late 1990s Arena Shooters, as well as a multitude of weapons and equippable items that allow for a number of different playstyles, from crawling, corner-peeking Stealth to bouncing around the map like a Quake III player off his ADD medication. Going through all the regular levels likely won't take more than 6-8 hours, but higher difficulties, secret levels/weapons/items/endings and a scoring system based on how quickly levels are completed make sure that there's a lot of replay value. On the whole, I see no reason not to recommend the game. Once you've gotten to grips with the aesthetics and control scheme, what awaits you is definitely one of the more unique and enjoyble games of an otherwise less than stellar year.
Final rating: 9.0/10
originally written on 01/12/2021
