{{short description|2018 video game}} {{Infobox video game | collapsible = | state = | italic title = | title = Tesla vs Lovecraft | image = File:Tesla_vs_Lovecraft_2018_Nintendo_Switch_Digital_Cover_Art.jpg | alt = | caption = | developer = 10tons | publisher = 10tons | series = | engine = | platforms = {{Unbulleted list|Windows|macOS|Linux|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Xbox One|iOS|Nintendo Switch}} | released = {{Video game release|NA|January 26, 2018}} | genre = Twin-stick shooter | modes = Single-player, multiplayer }} '''''Tesla vs Lovecraft''''' is a 2018 twin-stick shooter video game developed and published by Finnish studio 10tons. Players control Nikola Tesla as he attempts to stop H. P. Lovecraft and his army of monsters.
== Gameplay == Horror author H. P. Lovecraft interrupts a demonstration of Nikola Tesla's newest invention. Tesla ignores Lovecraft's warnings, only to find that Lovecraft has become possessed by Cthulhu. Lovecraft steals all of Tesla's inventions and uses them to open a dimensional gateway for the monsters described in his fiction. Players take the role of Tesla as he fights the monsters, initially armed with conventional arms and a teleporter. Players can upgrade Tesla's weaponry as they find items, up to a mecha, and power-ups grant him brief advantages.<ref name=pg>{{cite web|url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/articles/079137/tesla-vs-lovecraft-review/|title=Tesla vs Lovecraft review – "Lightning fast Cthulhu-blasting action"|last=Slater|first=Harry|work=Pocket Gamer|date=2018-10-26|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> Killing large numbers of monsters allows players to select perks, which grant special abilities during all fights on that level. Dying allows players to choose different perks, and they are reset when moving on to a new level.<ref name=ps>{{cite web|url=http://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/tesla_vs_lovecraft|title=Tesla vs Lovecraft Review (PS4)|last=Talbot|first=Ken|work=Push Square|date=2018-03-16|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref>
== Release == ''Tesla vs Lovecraft'' was released for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux on January 26, 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/01/26/tesla-vs-lovecraft-shmup-released/|title=Crimsonland devs blast out Tesla Vs Lovecraft|last=O'Connor|first=Alice|website=Rock Paper Shotgun|date=2018-01-26|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> The PlayStation 4 version was released on March 13, 2018;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://blog.us.playstation.com/2018/03/08/tesla-vs-lovecraft-launches-march-13-on-ps4/|title=Tesla vs Lovecraft Launches March 13 on PS4|last=Maaniemi|first=Jaakko|work=PlayStation Blog|date=2018-03-08|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> the Xbox One and Nintendo Switch versions were released three days later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/15/17124336/nintendo-switch-eshop-games-list-update|title=Nintendo Switch eShop update brings the cuteness and the waterworks|last=Frank|first=Allegra|work=Polygon|date=2018-03-15|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://majornelson.com/2018/03/15/tesla-vs-lovecraft-is-now-available-for-xbox-one/|title=Tesla vs Lovecraft Is Now Available For Xbox One|author=<!-- Staff -->|work=Major Nelson's Blog|date=2018-03-15|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> The iOS version launched on October 25, 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://toucharcade.com/2018/10/17/tesla-vs-lovecraft-mobile-release-date/|title=Electrified Top-Down Shooter 'Tesla vs Lovecraft' Available for Pre-Order with Discount, Launching Next Thursday|last=Nelson|first=Jared|work=Touch Arcade|date=2018-10-17|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> The Android version launched on May 2, 2019.
== Reception == {{Video game reviews | title = | subtitle = | state = expanded | na = true | PC = true | PS4 = true | NS = true | iOS = true | XONE = true | MC_PC = 73/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tesla-vs-lovecraft/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Tesla vs Lovecraft for PC Reviews |work=Metacritic |access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> | MC_PS4 = 71/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tesla-vs-lovecraft/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Tesla vs Lovecraft for PlayStation 4 Reviews |work=Metacritic |access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> | MC_XONE = 75/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tesla-vs-lovecraft/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=Tesla vs Lovecraft for Xbox One Reviews |work=Metacritic |access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> | MC_NS = 74/100<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/tesla-vs-lovecraft/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Tesla vs Lovecraft for Switch Reviews |work=Metacritic |access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> | MC_iOS = | NWR_NS = 8.5/10<ref name=nwr>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/46861/tesla-vs-lovecraft-switch-review|title=Tesla vs Lovecraft (Switch) Review|last=Keremes|first=David|work=Nintendo World Report|date=2018-04-02|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> | PG_iOS = 4.5/5<ref name=pg/> | PSQ_PS4 = 8/10<ref name=ps/> | TA_iOS = 4.5/5<ref name=ta>{{cite web |url=https://toucharcade.com/2018/10/25/tesla-vs-lovecraft-review/ |title='Tesla vs Lovecraft' Review – Another Shockingly Great Top-Down Shooter from 10tons |last=Nelson |first=Jared |date=2018-10-25 |work=TouchArcade |access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> }}
Harry Slater of ''Pocket Gamer'' called the iOS version a "wonderfully violent and perfectly challenging shooter".<ref name=pg/> Writing for ''TouchArcade'', Jared Nelson called it "an absolutely fantastic top-down shooter" and 10tons's best game, despite some issues with the iOS controls.<ref name=ta/> Reviewing the PlayStation 4 version for ''Push Square'', Ken Talbot wrote, "The PS4 isn't exactly wanting for top down shooters, yet despite the familiarity of its execution, there's just so much to enjoy here."<ref name=ps/> Andrew Reiner of ''Game Informer'' wrote, "''Tesla vs. Lovecraft'' seems simple at first, but the way the environments are used is quite clever."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/03/20/science-fiction-weekly-surviving-mars-vicious-attack-llama-apocalypse.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323101134/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/03/20/science-fiction-weekly-surviving-mars-vicious-attack-llama-apocalypse.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=March 23, 2018|title=Science-Fiction Weekly – Surviving Mars, Vicious Attack Llama Apocalypse, Tesla Vs. Lovecraft|last=Reiner|first=Andrew|magazine=Game Informer|date=2018-03-20|access-date=2019-02-21}}</ref> The Nintendo Switch version, reviewed in ''Nintendo World Report'' by David Keremes, was criticized for lack of online co-op gameplay and the sameness of the levels. Kermes, however, said that it "looks and feels great", concluding that it is "a solid and fun twin-stick shooter".<ref name=nwr/>
Tesla vs Lovecraft won the 'Big Screen Game of the Year 2018' award at Finnish Game Awards 2019, while also gaining a nomination for the 'Finnish Game of the Year 2018' award.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neogames.fi/FGA19WINNERS/|title=The Winners of Finnish Game Awards 2019|last=Hiltunen|first=KooPee|work=Neogames|date=2019-04-25|access-date=2019-06-14}}</ref>
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== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://teslavslovecraft.com/}}
Category:10tons Entertainment games Category:2018 video games Category:Android (operating system) games Category:Cooperative video games Category:Cthulhu Mythos video games Category:Cultural depictions of Nikola Tesla Category:IOS games Category:Linux games Category:MacOS games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:Nintendo Switch games Category:PlayStation 4 games Category:PlayStation 5 games Category:Twin-stick shooters Category:Video games developed in Finland Category:Windows games Category:Xbox One games