Cataclismo Early Access Review – the most innovative indie of the year?

thesixthaxis.com:

How do you make a game stand out in the modern age? Innovative ideas and designs might be the path to longevity, but, if we’re all being honest, a game’s visuals are the initial hook. Cataclismo manages both feats though, with a beautiful, distinctive aesthetic married to an inventive take on tower defence and RTS mechanics. Launched into Early Access last month, Cataclismo is an enigmatic, atmospheric, and even at this point, borderline essential title from the team behind Moonlighter and The Mageseeker: A League of Legends Story.

You take on the role of the Lady Iris, leader of the last remnants of humanity. This was once a vibrant world, and remained so when the perlas appeared, giant glowing orbs that carried immense power. Humanity accepted their gifts, but, as with most things, this power came with a price. The world became covered in Mist, its enveloping cloak hiding a malignance that transformed people into foul, thoughtless creatures known as horrors. These grim remnants are attracted to the remaining humans, and so, you must defend against this ongoing threat.

The remaining people reside in Hogar, the last city yet to fall to the Mist. As their leader, Lady Iris commands the steadily growing troops, oversees building, and assists in the city’s defence as well. Unusually, Lady Iris was born with a perla within her, an oddity that allows her to perform Artes. These special actions form the cornerstone of your defense against the monstrous hordes. These abilities can be discovered, upgraded and strengthened as you progress, and likewise you’ll unlock new buildings and structures to help you guard against the horrors as they grow ever more dangerous and greater in number.

Cataclismo is dark. Its landscape leers out of the gloom, black edges teetering against stone and tree alike. It marries well with the bold lines and simple shapes of the people that dwell there, and there’s a comic-like design to each of the different units and the Lady Iris herself. That ties