Game Review: Caligo

By Al

Players: 1
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, XBox Series XS, PlayStation 5

Every so often a game comes along where I'm at a loss as to how I'm even going to review it. Caligo is exactly that game, and it's set to release on the Nintendo Switch, XBox Series XS, and PlayStation 5 soon by way of publisher Sometimes You. We're going to be taking a look at it on the Nintendo Switch, and see if this is something you're going to want to check out for yourself. This is going to be a weird one, so let's skip the intro, and dive right in!

I typically like to start my reviews with an explanation of the game's plot, but for reasons I'll reveal later, we're going to save that for later. I guess that means we'd move on to gameplay next, but that's not exactly the case either. The biggest reason why I find it hard to review Caligo is due to the fact that it's far more of an art project than a traditional video game. This is a walking simulator in the purest of senses, and it doesn't feature anything resembling gameplay as most would think of it. Your task is to simply go from Point A to Point B, while hearing and seeing things that will eventually open up a path to a Point C. There is no fail state, no way to get stuck, and the only thing you can do besides move forward is collect sketches that don't affect anything in-game. It's a simple experience with some truly unique settings, but it flies in the face of the typical definition of a video game. I'm sure I already lost some people by this point, but that's probably for the best. This is quite the weird title for sure, and it's not for everyone.

If there's one striking aspect to Caligo, it has to be its visuals. Whether it be something colorful and pleasant, or grim and foreboding, Caligo is quite the beautiful game. It's a small world, but one rich in detail. Every single thing in-universe feels like thought was put into its look and placement, and that's not something you see too often in walking simulators. I've played plenty of similar titles that go for the asset-flip approach, and there's none of that here. There may only be a handful of locations to visit, but all of them are stunning and memorable in their own way. I'm also pleased to note that the visuals don't feel like they're toned too far down for the Nintendo Switch, though I'm sure it'll look far greater on the other, more powerful platforms. This is a game that impressed me more than once, and that doesn't happen very often. It truly is a wild ride from start to finish, and it looks great in both its calm and creepy sections. This might be a game that leaves you with more questions than answers, but it'll look great as it does that.

Sound is another area in which Caligo excels, though not quite as well as the graphics. I'm not sure if the game uses original music, or it's from a sound library, but I enjoyed the soundtrack nevertheless. Each piece of music fits the scene it's placed into, and there were several moments where it gave the game an epic feel. This might not be a soundtrack that will make you go out and pick it up outside of the game, but it's great for what it is. Unfortunately Caligo also features voice acting, and it's there were things get a bit more hit and miss. Even though all of the dialogue is in English, it's written and acted in a way that's very hard to follow. I'm not sure if it's an issue with the translations, or if the voice actors are non-native English speakers, but the voice acting is all over the place. The performances were so bad that I actually assumed that the game used AI voices, and was surprised to see actors listed in the credits. It isn't game breaking by any means, but it does come close to it a few times. It may not have saved the overall writing, but many scenes might as well have been left silent for all the good the voice acting did them.

Now is the part where I talk about the story. Besides the fact that I wanted to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible, I didn't want to discuss the plot early on simply due to the fact that I barely know what any of it is about. I think this is a tale of a man facing the afterlife, but there are plenty of sections that imply it's something far beyond that. The credits imply that it may be based on a pre-existing story, or even a poem, but I'm just not sure. Either way, the story is full of philosophical ramblings that will more than likely confuse players. I wouldn't go so far as to say it's pretentious, but there were times when I groaned over dialogue that was clearly meant to be "deep", but felt more like the musings of an angst-ridden high schooler. This approach also means that the game takes some wild turns before the end, and there are sections that lean far into horror territory.

Most of Caligo comes and goes, but the prison section that takes place in the middle stands out in particular. I don't want to spoil the one part of the game that I enjoyed the most, but it was so good that it made me wish the entire game was centered on it. It's a brief section in a brief game, but it was something I wished would've been expanded upon. It was truly a missed opportunity, but I guess I'm also missing the point of the game in thinking that it should've been the focus. And that's it really, the plot is such a mess that I gravitated to the one bit that was simple enough to be understood on a basic level. This isn't a bad story, but it's also not a good one. "Confusing" is the word I'd use, and even that feels like it doesn't do the actual plot justice.

Caligo has two distinct endings, and you get one or the other via a simple choice at the end. Players can spend time wandering around finding pictures and enjoying the sights, but it only takes about an hour to see everything the game has to offer. That includes the second ending too, as you can simply skip back to it thanks to the convenient chapter select system. There's also pretty much no replayability beyond wanting to experience the game again. There are those sketches I mentioned earlier, but the game doesn't seem to keep track of them. You can pick them up or skip them, and they don't affect the story or either ending. This makes its current price tag of $9.99 feel more than a bit overpriced. Not only do I think that's a bit much for the amount of content you get, but it's also nearly double its price on Steam. Strangely enough, Caligo launched on Steam all the way back in 2017, and it currently is priced at $5.99 thee. It also goes on sale quite often for a fraction of that, so there's little reason to pick this one up unless you really must play it on consoles.

I honestly wonder who Caligo is actually for. If you're the type of person who enjoys thought-provoking walking simulators, then this might be the game for you. It might also will appeal to those who appreciate titles that approach the video game medium as a proper art form, rather than one just for entertainment. Everyone else might be left hanging though, as this isn't a very approachable game. There is a lot to like here, I just don't see anyone beyond those two very niche audiences wanting to pick it up. It's pretty to look at, but I can't see myself every going back to it. Maybe I'll give it another shot later down the road. I guess we'll just have to wait and see... Until then, see you in the next one.

Check Out Caligo on Nintendo Switch:
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/caligo-switch/

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Story: B
Gameplay: N/A
Graphics: A
Music/Sound: B
Value: C

Overall: B-

Pros:
+ A simple walking simulator that feels more like a work of digital art rather than a video game.
+ The visuals are truly impressive. A lot of thought and planning clearly went into this one.
+ Even though not all aspects of the sound design are great, the music itself is pretty spot on.

Cons:
- Doesn't feature any type of traditional gameplay, and is over and done in about an hour.
- The voice acting can be really bad at times.
- Feels a bit overpriced for the amount of content you get, especially when compared to its Steam version.

A copy of this game was provided to us free-of-charge by the publisher for the purpose of this review. This did not affect our review in any way.

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This is pretty much the entire cast.

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