Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus - Switch Review

I've had a real affinity for Indiesruption's gripping point-and-click adventures ever since I reviewed their first title, Nine Witches: Family Disruption, back in 2020. Their latest title, Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus, is a prequel to their second game, Vlad Circus: Descend into Madness, depicting the days leading up to the terrible tragedy of the circus fire that was recalled prior.

Asmodeus itself is a parasite that has clasped onto the circus itself. Being a demon from the Nine Circles of Hell as depicted by the Book of Solomon, the town of San Reno and its most pious believers are bent on destroying it once and for all. Now, with Vlad Circus touring in the town of San Reno and Josef wanting to rebuild his life, the pious townsfolk immediately warn him of the consequences of a life without God, and thus a tale of weaving narration and madness begins.

The Good

This prequel is played from the perspective of Josef Petrescu, the deadbeat alcoholic brother of circus owner Vlad Petrescu. Upon starting the game, Josef's heart beats back to life after being sentenced to death in the electric chair for having started the fire. However, you haven't woken up in a hospital or morgue, but rather in an underground dungeon where torturous experiments are taking place on live patients/victims. As the disfigured Josef fumbles his way through this mysterious dungeon, he peers into the mirror to recount the memories leading up to the horrific event, jotting his thoughts and regrets into his journal. This method of storytelling is pure masterclass, allowing the player to gain a holistic depiction of the event evenly through parallel timelines.

Josef Petrescu was heavily alluded to in Vlad Circus: Descend into Madness and by playing as him in its prequel, you are curiously made aware of his tragic side of the story, as not all is as black and white as early photography would make it seem. Josef is, for all intents and purposes, an anti-hero, a protagonist you love to hate. He's a deadbeat who mooches off of his brother's success, a liar, and an unapologetic alcoholic and gambling addict—actually, he does apologise, but only to earn his brother's pity for some coin, which he then uses to get wasted and seek the company of escorts. But it's this positioning as a character that makes his side of the story such a wrestling one for the player, especially as you learn of his fate in the opening scene and the horrors he then faces (or rather, has faced).

The puzzle and gameplay sequences feel much better paced than the previous entry, which was one of my primary criticisms. I suppose everyone is going to judge this part differently but personally, I was never stuck on one puzzle for too long, but I also never felt handheld or spoken down to in that respect. Whether Indiesruption took these initial criticisms under consideration or not is up for speculation, but the end result feels much better balanced, and the solutions often felt much more logical.

I've said it in all my other Indiesruption reviews and I'll say it again: their pixel artwork is top tier. It perfectly encapsulates the style of classic PC point-and-click adventures while bringing in its own unique depiction of gruesome and grotesque physical and psychological horror. I don't need to harp on this part much; you can literally see for yourself.

TL;DR

• Shifting between fragmented memories provides engaging methods of storytelling
• Josef Petrescu is the quintessential antihero
• Perfect puzzle difficulty balance
• Indiesruption's pixel art continues to impress

The Bad

Whilst playing, especially during moments where I was at a loss of what to do next, the game would've greatly benefited from a map of some sort. This is especially noticeable during the present tense sections in the underground torture facility, as the layout of the rooms doesn't particularly make much architectural sense.

TL;DR

A map or two would've been handy

Final Score: 10/10

Boy, oh boy, Indiesruption has done it again! Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus is an absolute masterpiece and I cannot sing its praises enough. The tension of each passing moment, the visceral grotesque presentation of its darker moments, and the themes of desperation and despair all culminate into a game that'll keep you hooked from beginning to end. For any fans of horror and/or point-and-click adventures, simply do not sleep on this one; or better yet, play all three of Indiesruption's titles—you will not be disappointed!

Thank you for checking out our Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus Switch review, thank you to Blowfish Studios (via Stride PR) for providing the review code and thank you to our Patreon Backers for their ongoing support:

• Andrew Caluzzi (Inca Studios / Camped Out)
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