DaRmaZat With Crisol: Theater of Idols, Vermila Studios delivers a survival horror experience that refuses to be neatly pigeonholed. Released on February 10, the game transports you to a nightmarish reimagining of Spain—dubbed “Hispania”. You step into the boots of Captain Gabriel Escudero, a name that, with its nod to the archangel, feels far from accidental. However, this is not a purely biblical tale; it’s a world where Catholic symbolism and ancient sun-worshipping paganism collide, creating a setting drenched in dogmatic ritual and occult mystery.
A Hispania Set Ablaze
From the moment you take your first steps in the monastery of Tormentosa, it’s clear this is no peaceful pilgrimage. While chapels line the streets and the Cathedral of the Sea dominates both the dialogue and the skyline, the atmosphere is anything but holy. Everything is on fire; the already grim streets lie in ruin, and destruction bleeds into every interior. Along the way, you’re treated to visions of “The Sun”, a sun god depicted as a psychedelic statue-head barking divine orders.
Crisol’s setting mirrors your typical survival horror but adds a dark, occult twist. In fact, the mystery is thick enough to cut with a knife. Where do these horrific puppets that attack you on sight come from? Who are the people in the pictures on pamphlets with red crosses struck through them? How exactly does your bond with the Sun God allow him to possess you? And what is that massive, predatory creature lurking in the shadows, called Dolores? While the immersion occasionally takes a hit from the sheer density of puzzles, the tension and mystery in the plot never truly let up.
However, that doesn’t mean the game is always serious, nor is the “vibe” always consistently tense. For example, inside a cathedral, you stumble upon a walkie-talkie. On the other end is Mediodia, a chatty lady who—somewhat annoyingly—insists on calling you “Gabe” and regularly mocks you while simultaneously warning you about the dangers surrounding you. Talk about a shift in tone and expectations.
Blood as Your Bullet
Luckily, the Sun God himself intervenes to level the playing field. In exchange for your loyalty, he transforms your pistol—the first of many such armaments—into a magical blood weapon. The catch? You don’t have traditional ammo; you trade a portion of your own health gauge for firepower. You can blast the heads off these grotesque enemies or tactically aim for their legs to make them crumble, before watching them ignite and “absolve” into the ether.
One of the more unique touches is the maintenance of your melee knife. It’s faster and more effective than your gun, but it requires regular sharpening. To do this, you need—and I’m not joking—a gasoline-powered motorcycle. Managing these scarce resources, including the “Plasmarine” syringes for health regeneration, is a brutal necessity, especially since enemies hit like a freight train. There’s a scalable difficulty though, featuring a Novice mode for those who want to fully immerse themselves in the story and setting.
Old-School Survival, Modern Grit
The obsession with blood goes deep in Crisol’s lore. You aren’t a vampire in the classic sense; instead, you absorb blood through your hands—channeling the divine power granted by the Sun God—until the carcass or corpse simply vanishes. This doesn’t just reload your blood weapon arsenal but often yields essential items needed for progression as well. It’s no coincidence that inner voices constantly urge you to feed on the remains of fallen creatures and humans.
Structurally, Crisol feels like a crossbreed of various survival horror staples, blending the DNA of Resident Evil and BioShock. You scavenge for gold, “Essence”, and “Crow Relics” to trade for much-needed upgrades with a witch named La Plañidera. The puzzles are classic genre fare—think indispensable bolt cutters, hunting for keys, matching symbols or name cards, and flipping power levers. While those ubiquitous yellow paint markers often point the way, navigating the labyrinthine streets of Tormentosa remains a challenge, especially when you know that Dolores is chasing you from time to time.
However, despite its strengths, Crisol‘s gameplay isn’t without its rough edges. The combat feels a bit static and dated, largely because there’s no dodge mechanic, and shooting and reloading using the blood mechanic is quite slow. It frequently brought to mind the image of RoboCop wielding the bloodgun. The enemy AI isn’t winning any awards either, as foes often bump clumsily into the environment.
Shadows in the Divine Light
If the mechanics feel a bit stiff, the presentation is anything but. Crisol doesn’t just borrow a Spanish aesthetic; it’s a deep dive into the unsettling beauty of Iberian folklore. The developers have masterfully reimagined the early 20th-century landscape, blending rigid Catholic dogma with forgotten pagan sun-worship. Most striking is how the game weaponizes the imagery of Semana Santa; the terrifying, living idols you face are twisted versions of the Pasos—those massive, ornate wooden statues traditionally carried through the streets during Holy Week. In the world of Crisol, however, these sacred icons no longer offer comfort; they hunt.
However, truth be told, I did run into some bugs during my playthrough. At one point, while backpedaling and shooting through a doorway, the door slammed shut. The enemy stayed on the other side, ramming into the wood and blocking my only way forward. It was nearly a softlock, but thankfully my knife could clip through the door to finish him off.
Furthermore, rebinding the melee attack to my mouse buttons simply didn’t work. The save system—relying on autosaves and manual saves at the witch’s crystal ball, with long stretches in between—can also be a nuisance, forcing you to replay chunks of the game if you’re caught by an unexpected death or simply need to step away.
Final Thoughts
Crisol: Theater of Idols is by no means a high-octane, fluid twitch-shooter. Instead, prepare for a methodical, atmospheric descent into a religious fever dream. Visually, it is a remarkably polished AA production; the environments—bathed in exquisite lighting and intricate details—are breathtaking. Combined with solid voice acting and a haunting ambient soundscape, the atmosphere is genuinely engrossing.
However, that immersion does hit some speed bumps. The combat can feel notably rigid, and you should expect a fair share of technical hiccups and bugs along the way. Admittedly, the puzzles can also be demanding, and upgrading your arsenal feels like a bit of a grind—but these investments truly matter, as the game is unforgiving by default.
In short, fans of occult, slower, puzzle-heavy horror will find plenty to love here. Above all, Crisol is a game with a distinct soul and a strong cultural identity; in this genre, that’s often worth more than technical perfection.
Additional Information
Release Date: Feb 10, 2026
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency.
Developer: Vermila Studio
Publisher: Blumhouse Games
Relevant links: Available on STEAM
