Some say there are too many Metroidvania video games for this world, but when one nearly 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 Death’s Door and Tunic, brotherly duo Kyle and Eric Thompson have made an approachable but exceedingly fulfilling journey stuffed with fight, platforming, puzzles, and appeal.
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 mates with fellow animals and beat the dangerous guys and managers alongside the way in which, navigating an enormous map stuffed with biomes and challenges. Witty dialogue brings protagonist Pluto and his buddies to life, making for charming interactions on the finish of each battle. All oh so pleasant, it is unattainable 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 a whole bunch 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 surroundings — don’t fear, although, this is not a Souls-like. Completely nothing is misplaced upon dying.
The sport develops with the introduction of latest talents, typically rewarded after boss fights. Most change the way you method and navigate the world, like further dashes, clones, a boomerang, and extra. For those who’re not exploring aspect areas or conquering fight assessments, then you definately’ll unlock these expertise pretty rapidly — roughly one each hour. One or two will take a bit of trial and error to totally determine, nonetheless, as their capabilities may be barely complicated at first. They assist to present the title an excellent tempo, making certain you all the time have one thing new to contemplate or check in beforehand explored areas.
And whereas the variations between every zone are principally simply beauty, all of them really feel distinct sufficient with different colors, enemy sorts, and total themes. A chill soundtrack enhances the laidback and pleasant tone kickstarted by the visuals and common 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.