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 Dying’s Door and Tunic, brotherly duo Kyle and Eric Thompson have made an approachable but exceedingly pleasing journey filled with fight, platforming, puzzles, and appeal.
You play as a cat ordered to scrub the afterlife after its demise. The overlord assumes the broom you are given will sweep the streets clear, however underneath their nostril, it is what’s used to type a way of escape. You will make buddies with fellow animals and beat the dangerous guys and managers alongside the best way, navigating an unlimited map filled 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 inconceivable to not come away with a smile plastered throughout your face.
It is not fairly top-down, however you play from an overhead perspective with a whole lot of little islands making up the map to leap between. Pluto controls nicely due to responsive inputs and on-screen tells for the place your leap will land, whereas fight is saved comparatively easy however sources depth from upgrades and particular assaults. You purchase them utilizing a foreign money dropped by enemies and the setting — don’t fear, although, this is not a Souls-like. Completely nothing is misplaced upon demise.
The sport develops with the introduction of recent skills, typically rewarded after boss fights. Most change the way you method and navigate the world, like extra dashes, clones, a boomerang, and extra. For those who’re not exploring aspect areas or conquering fight assessments, you then’ll unlock these abilities pretty shortly — roughly one each hour. One or two will take a little bit trial and error to completely determine, nonetheless, as their capabilities might be barely complicated at first. They assist to present the title an ideal tempo, guaranteeing you at all times have one thing new to contemplate or check in beforehand explored areas.
And whereas the variations between every zone are largely simply beauty, all of them really feel distinct sufficient with different colors, enemy varieties, and total themes. A chill soundtrack enhances the laidback and pleasant tone kickstarted by the visuals and basic gameplay path, making Cyrpt Custodian a calming expertise simply as a lot as it’s an entertaining one — an impressively completed recreation all in all.
