I have been having difficulty getting into the holiday spirit this year. Usually, the holiday magic grips me tightly with tantalizing cookie smells and sweet twinkling lights. However, this year, I feel overwhelmed and a touch sad. When I am this way, I tend to throw myself into a video game, so this year, I looked for something with a cheery theme. Did it help? Not really, but I had a great time playing it. Therefore, I would love to share Cthulhu Saves Christmas with you today.
The Plot of Cthulhu Saves Christmas
The plot of Cthulhu Saves Christmas is relatively simple. Cthulhu, our tentacle-clad overlord, has lost his powers. He must save Santa Claus from the League of Christmas Evil to regain them. This is considered a short prequel to Cthulhu Saves the World and offers about four to five hours of holiday-themed fun. In the original, Cthulhu lost his powers to a mysterious sorcerer. The only way to get them back was to become a true hero. Only a true hero would save Christmas. Right?
Features Unique to Cthulhu Saves Christmas
- Join forces with the Snow Maiden, Baba Yaga-chan, and Belsnickel.
- Fight Krampus, Mari Lwyd, and other evildoers.
- Use Cthulhu’s charms to “insanify” enemies.
- Engage in life-sim elements.
- Build relationships, also known as “R’lyehtionships” with team members and employees.
- Fast-paced turn-based combat.
- Multi-character abilities.
- Chickens. Yes, for some reason, there are chickens in this game.
- Can we classify this as a farming sim?
- This is a fun game with an eldritch horror; there are bound to be some tentacles.
Thoughts
I was not looking for something profound when I went into this title. I wanted a light and fun game with holiday elements. What I got was some puny dialogue and a fourth wall breaking. I enjoyed the writing in this game. It is light-hearted and does not take itself too seriously, which I was looking for. The music is also better than anticipated. I found myself humming along as I mashed buttons to defeat my foes. Overall, it is a shorter game with a linear storyline that is more fun than expected. This is an excellent title if you want to kill a few hours and want to get into the holiday mood.
Odds & Ends
In conclusion, if you feel a bit like me, less festive and a bit down, do something you enjoy. Take some time for yourself during the frenzy that is the holiday season. If video games are your thing and you want to check this one out, you have a few options. I played on Steam; however, it is also available on GOG and the Nintendo Switch. Another title I would recommend is Watchover Christmas; it was frustrating but beautifully fun.
