Blasphemous is one of those indie video games that touch the soul of those who play it. Created by the Sevillian studio The Game Kitchen, Blasphemous “was born” on September 10, 2019, receiving a great appraisal by critics and public, both national and foreign, who fell madly in love with the video game.
Without wishing to discredit the fantastic gameplay mechanics of this metroidvania, of which the specialized video game media have already spoken at length, one of the most striking features of this video game, if not the most, is its artistic section, where Seville and, in particular, its Holy Week, have been its greatest inspirations.
Seville and the Holy Week: the great influences of Blasphemous
Any Sevillian who has enough years behind him can talk at length about the influence of the Sevillian Holy Week in his life. Whether you like this annual celebration more or less, Holy Week in Seville is one of the most awaited moments in the Andalusian province, which has thousands and thousands of devotees.
An event that, despite being impregnated with elements of Christianity, has followers ranging from the most fervent believers to the deepest atheists, and whose feelings only understand one hundred percent those who have lived it since childhood, either as mere observers or as brothers of a brotherhood.
And, in this context, Blasphemous was born. A video game that, with the creative direction of Enrique Cabeza, masterfully combines the iconography and imagery of the Sevillian Holy Week with Andalusian and Spanish art, as well as the black history of Seville’s capital. The result is a dark fantasy world in which each pixel is a work of art, and that envelops you in a unique atmosphere.
A world that feels both alien and familiar at the same time
In Blasphemous, a strange all-powerful force known as “The Miracle” blesses or curses the inhabitants of the land of Cvstodia according to its judgment. Our protagonist is the Penitent, the last survivor of the Brotherhood of the Mute Lament, whose attire includes a helmet, which doubles as a mask, with a large metal hood and a crown of thorns. Elements clearly inspired by Holy Week and the Christian religion.
Our Penitent owes his name to the penance in which he is trapped, because of which he is resurrected every time he dies (due to the player’s actions, of course). His mission, as well as his way of the cross, is to get to the source of his anguish, in order to end it and, moreover, to put an end to the influence of The Miracle on the land of Cvstodia.
Throughout the game, we will encounter characters, enemies and places that draw from Sevillian culture, Spanish works of art and even real locations, such as the Triana Bridge or the Mosque of Cordoba.
A perfectly cared setting, with a masterful soundtrack created by composer Carlos Viola, which treats with the utmost respect the culture on which it is based, forming a gloomy world far away from ours, but, at the same time, strangely familiar.
2023 will again be the year of Blasphemous
Blasphemous captivated not only the Spanish public, but also the international one, who fell in love with its fun gameplay, its magnificent soundtrack and a completely unique atmosphere. With frequent content updates, either as patches or in the form of free DLC, Blasphemous was reaping great success worldwide, to the point of surpassing one million copies sold in March 2021.
But this is not its end. In August 2021, just after announcing what would be its last DLC: The Wound of Dusk, The Game Kitchen surprised all Blasphemous fans with a teaser of what will be its sequel: Blasphemous 2. Along with other big names in the industry, such as Starfield, by Bethesda, or Hollow Knight: Silksong, by Team Cherry, Blasphemous 2 is one of the most anticipated video games of this 2023, whose exact release date is still unknown.
So far, The Game Kitchen has only shared some illustrations and quotes that refer to this second part, being its most recent publication the one from this past April 5 (Holy Wednesday), in which they directly allude to the long wait of the fans, who are dying to know more about the game that they will be able to play this year: “This wait… This endless wait has been my penance”. Will we have news soon?
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