There’s nothing understated or zen-like about Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth. It might come across as a bit charming and playful at first, but don’t let that fool you. This tower defense game is packed with relentless action and unexpectedly eerie bird creatures that keep you on edge. A game’s visual style is always a major draw for me, and the primary interface of Cult of the Elizabeth grabbed my attention right away when I booted it up. Initially, I had a niggling worry that it might just be a Don’t Starve imitation, considering how the art and music seemed reminiscent of that beloved survival game. But my hesitation was short-lived; just a few minutes in, I realized that this strange world had its own quirks that set it apart.
Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth lets you choose between solo play and co-op modes. Amelia and her classmates are in over their heads trying to escape a pretty grim scenario. In the solo mode, I noticed it was kind of a slog with how long it took to gather resources for tower upgrades. Usually, I enjoy the downtime of collecting rocks or chopping trees—not that I’m particularly fond of combat—but here, it felt like it took ages just to get prepared to defend my base. And even on the easiest level, I found myself getting my butt kicked by those pesky bird minions, while my partner in crime wasn’t much help at all. It felt like I was babysitting him just to make sure our supply levels didn’t drop too low—definitely not what I’m looking for in my leisure time, since I’ve got more than enough to manage in my day-to-day life!
Nevertheless, once you get past the resource grind, the rest of the gameplay really shines. The combat mechanics are straightforward and efficient, but you can’t just spam attacks willy-nilly and expect success. You need to exercise some skill and timing to take down these foes and stop them from overruning your defenses. As resources dwindle, placing towers strategically becomes crucial, especially when you’re swarmed by what I can only describe as turkey armies dressed in Tudor-era garb. It really kicks into high gear then!
The game is one of those PC titles that comes with a suggestion to play using a controller. I stuck with my trusty keyboard and mouse and found it worked perfectly fine, so a controller isn’t a must-have right from the start. Maybe it becomes more pertinent as the game evolves and you face more intricate challenges, but I’ll reserve judgment on that for a later update.
Overall, Lesson Learned: Cult of the Elizabeth has left a strong impression on me. Although it’s a bit simplistic at the moment, I’m hoping the developers build more depth into the story and tighten up some gameplay mechanics, which could make this game a truly dynamic experience. With those adjustments, I can see it having excellent replay value. For now, you can try out the prologue for free on Steam if you’re up for a taste of this unique and eccentric journey.
Review Summary
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, gothic art style that complements the storytelling
- Unique soundtrack blending both playful and dark tones
- Good balance of combat and exploration within an evocative environment
Cons:
- Resource gathering can feel monotonous
- Enemy encounters often lack a real challenge
