Developer: Galla Games
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), Switch, Xbox Series X|S
Genre: Adventure
Publisher: Fellow Traveller
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo is a papercraft-styled adventure game. This game was developed by Galla Games and published by Fellow Traveller. Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo reminds me of a game called Born of Bread, with compliments to Paper Mario. This review was done for the PC version of the game, but the game is also available for the Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch.
Kulebra is a single-player game where you play as a skeletal snake who awakens in Limbo without any memories. Kulebra is guided by a mysterious old lady who describes him as a “Bright Soul” with vibrant eyes. Kulebra gets to explore Limbo whilst trying to break the curse to help other souls from being trapped in a time loop. The story revolves around Latin-American themes following the Day of the Dead and several themes that resonate on a deeper level with players.
The controls for Kulebra are fairly simple to get used to. All interactions are highlighted, and control keybinds are seen on the screen for players to familiarise themselves with. The game on PC is supported by both a controller and keyboard/mouse. I found that using the controller made the game experience a lot more immersive (personal preference). However, using the keyboard/mouse did not take away from the gameplay at all. All controls were responsive and smooth. One of my favourite mechanics in the game is spinning Kulebra, where you can easily zoom like the Tasmanian devil!
The art style of Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo has a quirky, cartoonish look to it. The game kind of reminds me of Paper Mario and the Mario and Luigi RPG with its 2.5D style and flat character art. The papercraft art style puts a great spin on a pop-up book-like charm, then easily blends 3D and 2D elements into the game effortlessly. The characters are able to occupy a 3D space, which gives the game more definition. The game builds a lot of characters based on its visual charm, which creates an appealing aesthetic. Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo captures the beauty that revolves around Latin-American culture, especially when it comes to the Day of the Dead setting. Whilst playing the game, there were so many occurrences that made me think of Coco or The Book of Life by the designs of characters and environments. Everything is lively (even though you are stuck in limbo), filled with bright colours, tapestries, and details. The game encapsulates a culture even through the music. They can have drastic changes depending on the mood of the setting. You can have beautiful guitar strumming to more preppy, pumped-up music. Kulebra and the Souls of Limbos do a wonderful job of creating a world that captures true beauty and captivates the player’s attention.
I adore the characters that you meet whilst exploring Limbo. They have unique, quirky or charming personalities that set aside each one from each other, making them memorable. Most of Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo consists of players interacting with characters, choosing dialogue and listening to them tell their stories or share their trauma. It’s another layer added to the narrative of the game, which I found intriguing. I do have to say that the gibberish Animal Crossing language was hilarious, as the tones and speeches would be unique to each character. Sometimes, it would be a bit distracting from the text, but it was a nice quirk to the game.
When it comes to the narrative of Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo, it goes beyond the expectations one might have from the visuals. Touching players on a deeper level as you get to learn about the trauma that these characters have experienced, learn more about Kulebra themselves, and uncover what else lies in Limbo, but at times those occurrences can fall short. I felt that the game mainly worked in a way where I would learn about the problem, then fix it and move on to the next. I wish there were instances where the story had intertwined, adding more depth. Even though this was the case, the game still creates a wholesome story that players should definitely spend their time playing. You hear more from different perspectives, and the theme for Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo differs from other narratives, adding a sense of authenticity and grace, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Besides the narrative, there are several gameplay elements to enhance the gameplay. The first is the mechanic of a time loop, which is observed through a pocket watch. The day-night cycle affects events and character behaviours that add depth to the gameplay. Things will not always remain the same, and at times, characters will forget what happened the day before; after all, you are stuck in Limbo. I do enjoy how you need to learn the character’s schedules, as they will be fixed to a place during a certain time of day. Keeps players attentive. Also, your notebook is very handy when navigating through Limbo. A majority of the game consists of picking items, trading, opening new areas and continuously carrying out this cycle as you meet new characters. There are sprinkled mini-games and puzzles here and there to break the flow of the gameplay.
I like how easy-going and relaxing Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo are. At first, you may think the time loop can lead to stressful situations or the unexpected boss battles can raise the difficulty of the game, but it’s nicely balanced. The game does not feature combat but creates creative sequences that are invigorating! You get all sorts of ‘battles’ to take on, from taking a quiz to being part of a wrestling match, many occurrences that you would hardly expect. Characters will also guide you through several tasks, making sure that players don’t get lost (at times, I do wish not everything was given hand in hand, but it adds a nice pace to the game).
Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo features a Paper Mario-style artwork that captures the stunning Latin American representation of the afterlife. A refreshing setting captivates players through its charming narrative and easy-going mechanics. The game creates a vibrant colour experience filled with festive music and creative sequences that highlight the beauty it has to offer players. Indulge in the endearing dialogue and character interactions, and be sure to check out Kulebra and the Souls of Limbo.
Overall: 8.5/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
