Welcome to Bob's
RPG Reviews,
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Kult
When I first read this game I called it Clive Barker the Role
Playing Game. It has many of the elements that Barker
uses in his more horrific works. Of course Clive Barker
has no ties to the game at all so the point is comparative
only. The setting is dark and oppressive in a suitably
gritty style. The horror comes in many different
flavours, from that in the human heart to that from creatures
from alternate realities. These creatures from the
realms beyond our comprehension stalk through the decaying
cities of our world unseen by most. A great being long
ago stole our ability to see beyond this we call the physical
world rendering us helpless in the greater scheme of things.
Depravity rules but still the worst of the predators
are all too human.
I find that Kult skilfully portrays the darkness that fills
our world, our imaginations, and our souls. The
mechanics are easy to understand and use, flexible and
realistic. The setting is somewhat original but echoes
familiar with old concepts while still looking at it all in a
fresh way. One failing I found was that concepts
described in the opening introduction to the world of Kult
were not used within the rest of the book. Another was
opportunity to use a lot of the magic would be beyond most
characters due to time constraints. This leaves the magic to
be more properly geared towards non-player characters.
If you are looking for a contemporary horror game then Kult is
most likely for you. It covers all of the bases with
common monsters such as vampires and werewolves, and branches
out from there with its own vicious nasties. The magic
is dark and ritualistic with lots of room for you to add your
own personal flourishes. Combat is quick, easy and
stylistically integrated. The best endorsement I can give
is that a friend who normally despises all things horror
bought a copy and thoroughly enjoyed it, while I found it to
never pull a punch.
(
Thank you for reading my review.
Bob Male)
All ideas, opinions, and information are from the reviewer
and are not representative of any company or group involved with the creators
and/or staff of the materials being reviewed.