Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus Review

When I first laid eyes on Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus, I wasn’t too thrilled about it. Why in the world would I want to play what looked like a point-and-click (PAC) Saw with grotesque character designs? But appearances are deceiving and after I gave the game an honest chance I found myself trapped in its macabre tale of the supernatural and the evil human being inflict upon each other. 

Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus is a point-and-click horror adventure game where you play as the truly unfortunate Josef Petrescu who attempts to recover his memories while escaping from a dark and mysterious lair occupied by captors with deadly plans for him. It’s what developer Indiesruption calls “… a simultaneous prequel and sequel to Vlad Circus: Descend Into Madness (2022).” I’ve never played Descend Into Madness but thankfully it’s not a prerequisite for enjoying its successor. 

They gave me the chair!

I’m not kidding when I say the game literally starts with you being executed via the electric chair before you wake up again, disfigured, in a dark cell, wearing only a hospital gown that gives a clear view of your derrière every time you press the up button. From here on out you have to explore your surroundings and solve puzzles typical of the PAC genre such as manipulating objects to find keys to locked doors or finding the light switch to illuminate dark areas. 

What makes this game stand out from other PAC games is how it incorporates survival horror elements without turning it into an unnecessarily adrenaline-pumping experience. For one, any in-game action is supplied to you in limited doses as either quick-time events or minimalist combat, which helps preserve the traditional chill-nature of PACs while also upping the tension you feel as you guide Josef through this nightmare world. Also, you have a health bar in the form of your literal heart that deteriorates as you take damage, a subtle addition that makes you cautious in treading various rooms. These mechanics elevate the dangers of your prison even when they’re in the form of little rats who are most definitely not your friends. 

So what’s the point of going through all of this? Aside from escaping, Josef can remember the past few days whenever he examines a clear mirror. This action triggers a change in scenery where we, the players, are transported to the places and things Josef interacted with before his imprisonment. It’s in this gameplay sequence that we learn about the game’s story. 

In pursuit of a circus… and something more

Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus sees our protagonist, Josef, down on his luck and trying to find the titular circus run by his brother Vlad. But along the way he gets caught up in a sinister plot involving Asmodeus, a terrifying and parasitic demon being investigated by his captors, and all the while navigating his own personal struggles. 

Once Josef finishes a sequence from the past he’s brought back to his current prison and punches the mirror. From there it’s rinse and repeat. You take Josef to more parts of the building until you can find another mirror to take you back to the past. No particular mirror is tied to a particular memory, making exploration flexible depending on what particular puzzles you solve first. 

No one escapes the trappings of the past

If there’s anything I can say about Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus, it’s that just like Josef Petrescu, neither can escape the weight of their pasts. In the game’s case, I’m referring to the issues of the PAC genre that led to its eventual decline in the 90s. One of them is confusing puzzles that block you from making meaningful progress, something which happens at a certain point when you have to run and chase after someone to obtain an item that lets you advance the story. 

But aside from that one hiccup, I couldn’t resist wanting to play more of the game and even its predecessor, Vlad Circus: Descend Into Madness. The story behind the game is just too good and the mechanics are perfect for conveying it. Not to mention, the pixel art style is just the right amount of detailed yet cartoony that pays homage to the PAC genre’s origins while pushing the envelope further in terms of what these kinds of games are capable of. 

The circus and Asmodeus await you

It’s time to find out the truth. Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus is a fun and unique game that’ll have you looking twice over your shoulder as you guide Josef through the darkness. One thing I should mention is that the game recommends using a controller for the best experience but playing with a keyboard shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. But aside from that, it’s worth checking it out for its tantalizing tale and dark secrets.