Some say there are too many Metroidvania video games for this world, but when one pretty much as good as Crypt Custodian comes alongside, it serves as a reminder of precisely why so many builders chase that addictive fusion of explorative motion. With shades of Demise’s Door and Tunic, brotherly duo Kyle and Eric Thompson have made an approachable but exceedingly pleasing journey stuffed with fight, platforming, puzzles, and attraction.
You play as a cat ordered to scrub the afterlife after its dying. The overlord assumes the broom you are given will sweep the streets clear, however beneath their nostril, it is what’s used to kind a method of escape. You will make buddies with fellow animals and beat the dangerous guys and managers alongside the way in which, navigating an unlimited map stuffed with biomes and challenges. Witty dialogue brings protagonist Pluto and his friends to life, making for charming interactions on the finish of each battle. All oh so pleasant, it is unimaginable to not come away with a smile plastered throughout your face.
It isn’t fairly top-down, however you play from an overhead perspective with lots of of little islands making up the map to leap between. Pluto controls effectively because of responsive inputs and on-screen tells for the place your leap will land, whereas fight is stored comparatively easy however sources depth from upgrades and particular assaults. You purchase them utilizing a foreign money dropped by enemies and the atmosphere — don’t fear, although, this is not a Souls-like. Completely nothing is misplaced upon dying.
The sport develops with the introduction of recent talents, typically rewarded after boss fights. Most change the way you strategy and navigate the world, like further dashes, clones, a boomerang, and extra. In case you’re not exploring facet areas or conquering fight assessments, then you definately’ll unlock these expertise pretty rapidly — roughly one each hour. One or two will take slightly trial and error to completely work out, nevertheless, as their capabilities could be barely complicated at first. They assist to offer the title an incredible tempo, guaranteeing you at all times have one thing new to contemplate or take a look at in beforehand explored areas.
And whereas the variations between every zone are largely simply beauty, all of them really feel distinct sufficient with assorted colors, enemy varieties, and total themes. A chill soundtrack enhances the laidback and pleasant tone kickstarted by the visuals and normal gameplay route, making Cyrpt Custodian a soothing expertise simply as a lot as it’s an entertaining one — an impressively completed sport all in all.
