Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth doesn’t beat around the bush. It might come off as a bit charming at first glance, but don’t let that deceive you. This tower defense game is jam-packed with relentless action, complete with some unsettling bird creatures that’ll keep you on edge. What initially grabbed my attention was the game’s visual appeal, simply from the main screen before I even dived in. It sparked a bit of concern in me, reminding me too much of Don’t Starve—a wilderness survival game I hold in high regard—because of its similar art style and music. However, my worries faded quickly once I started playing, and I discovered its own distinct elements set within this quirky and bizarre world.
Amelia and her classmates are thrown into a creepy nightmare in Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth, and you can tackle it alone or team up with friends. Initially, playing solo felt a bit tedious due to how time-consuming it was to gather materials for tower upgrades. Normally, I find resource-gathering to be a relaxing intermission between battles, but here it dragged on, making it a struggle to defend my base effectively. Admittedly, combat isn’t my forte, but even on a lower difficulty setting, those pesky bird foes managed to dismantle my defenses, and my in-game partner didn’t pull their weight. Micromanaging their actions to keep resources flowing was an unnecessary hassle—after all, I juggle enough responsibilities in real life!
Despite the gripes over resource collection, the gameplay overall delivered a solid experience. The combat mechanics aren’t overly complicated, but they demand precision. Mindlessly firing away won’t help as you need to hit the mark with some skill. Planning your tower placements wisely as resources dwindle becomes crucial, especially when more enemies come barreling down. While their attack patterns are somewhat foreseeable and not overly demanding, things rapidly escalate when you’re faced with a parade of turkeys dressed like characters out of Tudor England!
You might think you’re in for a controller experience with a PC game like Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth, but this time, the keyboard and mouse did just fine. They might encourage using a controller, but honestly, it wasn’t necessary—at least not in the early stages. Maybe as the challenges ramp up, the keyboard setup could become cumbersome, but I’ll have to keep playing to find out.
All in all, Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth has made a good impression on me with what it currently offers. While it might still feel a bit basic, there’s a lot of room for the developers to grow the narrative and enhance some mechanics to make the game truly dynamic. With a bit of polish, its replay potential looks promising. The prologue is up for grabs for free on Steam, so if you’re curious about this whimsical journey, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth
Gameplay: 7.5/10
Plot / Writing: 6.5/10
Design / Visuals: 9/10
Overall Score: 7.7/10
An interesting mix of genres
Pros:
- Whimsical and gothic art style that aligns beautifully with the story.
- A uniquely captivating soundtrack blending cheerful and eerie tunes.
- Well-balanced mix of combat and exploration in rich atmospheric settings.
Cons:
- Resource collection can feel pretty monotonous.
- Enemy patterns remain predictable, offering little challenge.
