Venture to the Vile Review (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, & PC)

You have probably taken some of Studio Cut to Bits’ projects for a test drive. The AAA likes of GTA, BioShock, Assassin's Creed, and Far Cry. However, all of their projects so far have been in the shadow of more renowned studios. Now, Cut to Bits is determined to make a name for themselves with their debut indie game, Venture to the Vile. From the trailer and Steam demo, with all the characters wearing strange animal masks and the intriguing Burton-esque art style, you can’t help but want to uncover more of the story and gameplay.

Venture to the Vile is anything but easygoing. It’s determined to stand out from the crowd, which doesn’t come easy with the overwhelming number of already worthwhile Metroidvanias out there. In more ways than one, Venture to the Vile is determined to leave a lasting impression, for better or worse. So, to help you decide whether the game's unique experience is up your alley, we've broken down everything you can expect in our Venture to the Vile review.

Just Kids

Venture to the Vile kicks us off with two kids, a young girl and a boy, whose culture it is to wear baby deer masks all the time. The protagonist, an unnamed boy, shy and compassionate, and his ‘deer’ friend, Luella, assertive and kind, usher us into a strange world dashed in a Burton-esque art style. 

They grow up to receive deer masks. Then one day, when they’re out playing in the woods, they hear a horrific sound that sends them running away in terror. Suddenly, the ground opens up, sending the boy into a cave and knocking him unconscious. 

Upon waking up, you find a ghastly monster clinging to your arm, transforming it to black. As panic sets in, you manage to escape and run straight to the town mad scientist and effectively the healer you’ll need to visit to fill your life bar and get more healing potions, Dr Crow, who then explains that something sinister has taken a hold of your home, something the townsfolk are calling the Vile. 

Mysteries Abound

Dr. Crow further explains that you seem to have absorbed the Vile instead of the Vile absorbing you. As a result, you now have a new power that allows you to transform your arm into a vicious claw. With your newfound power, he asks that you investigate the Vile and bring him your findings so he can study it and find a cure.

Meanwhile, Luella seems to have disappeared. So, while your first business of the day becomes putting a stop to the rot the Vile is spreading throughout the gloomy town of Rainybrook, you also have a personal motive to rescue Ella, wherever she may be.

And so you set forth into the unknown, meeting all sorts of townsfolk who tell you folklore stories about the town, some need your help finding their missing loved ones, eventually leading up to a very possible 20-hour playthrough when you explore all the missions and side quests to completion.

Bit by Bit

Overall, Venture to the Vile’s storytelling thrives in weaving complex mysteries. It rarely hands you the answers you seek, instead relishing in the joy of having you scratch your head every other chance it gets. We don’t know much about the Vile, for example, just that it started small, with only a few places affected, and continues to grow powerfully contagious, spreading throughout Rainybrook. 

Also, the Vile doesn’t just pollute the world around you, causing trees to wither and once-happy towns to descend into darkness. The Vile also infects every living thing it touches, transforming them into ghastly alien beings. As you forge deeper into more affected Vile areas, you also take up more Vile infection. However, unlike the other creatures in the game, you seem to have control over it.

All Powerful

With your vicious claw, you’re able to smack the vile-infested enemies you run into. You can use it to attack enemies up close but also block incoming attacks. You’ll also unlock parries, which require precise timing that's, fortunately, accurate and rewarding to master. 

Soon, though, you won’t just have a vicious claw for a melee weapon. The more bosses you defeat and areas you unlock, the more upgrades you unlock. You’ll transform your claw into a grasping tentacle, for example, that you can use to pull you up to higher ground or pull enemies far away closer to you. 

You’ll continue to mutate, from your arm to a frightening foot that can break almost anything, and so much more. It’s in the actual transformation of your character that the game stands out from most Metroidvanias. Sure, the genre is known for unlocking new abilities as you progress, yet the way it’s been implemented in Venture to the Vile feels unique. 

Metroidvania to the Core

Speaking of Metroidvanias, Venture to the Mile is very much so, with diverse biomes and level design to explore. The more enemies and bosses you defeat, the more rewards and crafting resources you collect. Be sure to check your Mutation skill tree to confirm if there are any new raw materials you can use to further mutate your character. 

Constantly upgrading is vital to tapping into all that Venture to the Vile has to offer. You’ll gain additional strength to take on the increasingly challenging enemies and bosses you face. Some upgrades make your tentacles poisonous, others give you more health potions, and so on.

To an extent, Metroidvanias can be as difficult as you make them. You’ll probably struggle to defeat some enemies. However, checking your Mutation skill tree might be the key you need to progress. Alternatively, some areas will be locked from exploring until you acquire a certain ability, and while it can lead to backtracking, Venture to the Vile packs enough variety to keep your runs interesting.

Spice of Life

On variety, Venture to the Vile nails it with its diverse cast. Dr. Crow is only the beginning of the maniacally sinister yet intriguing characters you’ll meet. You’ll soon meet Ms. Squirrel, Lt Beagle, Ernie Sparrow, and many more. Other characters are often mutations. Anything goes. Giant millipedes, two-headed pigeons, living skeletons—you name it.

There’s an ever-present sense of dread that hangs in the air of Rainybrook. The creatures, while interesting, can sometimes be too frightening to look straight in the eye. It’s partially owing to the well-done sound and visual effects. Creatures don’t talk. However, they do let out the most unnerving grunts and rumbles that immerse you further into Rainybrook’s unnerving world. Of course, the Burton-esque art style speaks for itself, with the diverse biomes further enriching your experience. 

Venture to the Vile has intricate detail and variety in its environments and level design. For what seems like layers and layers of floors, you’ll spend time finding the best ways to maneuver around. Platforming is indeed an exercise on its own, as you often find yourself strategizing the best way to access an item two layers up or down.

Thumbs Down

With its immense variety, it would have been great to have a map that shows you which areas you have covered and which ones you've yet to explore. Perhaps a map that allows you to pin areas you’d like to return to, which comes in handy in Metroidvanias that lock certain areas until you’ve acquired the ability required to unlock them. But more so because it’s easy to forget areas you’ve already been to and can spend precious time backtracking. Fast travel can come in handy, too, to minimize the frustration of exploring the slower sections of the game. 

Venture to the Vile is very much open-ended, with the freedom to go wherever and do whatever you like. And, while it can be a good thing when you discover new enemies who only come out at night or side quests you may have missed, it can also be a surefire way to get lost or redo certain sections one too many times. Lastly, while you may run into some framerate drop issues, Venture to the Vile runs smoothly for the most part. 

Verdict

At the price of $24.99, Venture to the Vile feels like a steal. It may fall short of more renowned Metroidvanias like Hollow Knight. However, it still strives to set itself apart from the crowd. The story takes a mysterious approach, with questions lingering on your mind the more you explore. While constant suspense isn’t always suspense, it gets the job done of building curiosity to know more. 

Gameplay, on the other hand, packs a wealth of content variety. Platforming grows more intense as you unlock more traversal options that allow you to navigate a 2.5D world. Meanwhile, combat grows more in-depth as you unlock new abilities and upgrades. You’ll often backtrack to pick up items you may have missed or face enemies who only come out at night. All along, your journey feels fresh and exciting for the most part, nerves be damned.