Castle Crashers

"It's crashin' time!"

It seems like it was ages ago when Castle Crashers was supposed to see the light of day. I remember how excited I was, yet somewhat hesitant to play this new game from Dan Paladin, the creator of Alien Hominid. Every time it was shown at a press event, it was met with critical acclaim but for some reason, it always got delayed and pushed further and further away. Well, with the game now available on XBLA, I can comfortably say that the wait was totally worth it.

Castle Crashers is one of those games that, on paper, sounds extremely cliched and somewhat boring, but its execution is unparalleled by any other titles that have been released. At it's heart, all the game really is is a a simple beat-em-up, in the vein of Streets of Rage, Final Fight, or Double Dragon, but what it does is what makes it stand out. The mechanics feel extremely solid, allowing the player to actually improve in their own skill to the point where they can make it through entire levels without taking any damage, something that can't be said for many other games in the same genre. The graphics are done in that same style as Alien Hominid, his previous gaming endeavor. Just like the game preceding it, it's easy to fall in love with the adorable, if vicious characters and enemies you encounter.

Just like any good side-scrolling game like this, there are three main buttons you focus on. Hit. Hit harder. Jump away. Is there anything else you need? Why, in fact...THERE IS! Instead of ending there with just the basics, the game has a blocking mechanic, an inventory that you can go through on the fly by tapping the bumpers, and even a magic system. Another unique take on the genre is that instead of just going through the levels in a linear fashion, you are able to increase your characters stats as you level up from fighting enemies. Another bonus is that instead of just stopping at two players, the game is four players, with four characters available from the start and many more are unlockable as you progress through the story. Just in case you feel lonely, you are also able to find different pets, each with their own unique abilities. Some assist you by helping you find items, others
boost stats, others even help you fight, even though they aren't the most damaging things.

The environments are extremely varied, and it's cute to see that they implemented some of gaming's cliches and embrace them instead of trying to cleverly hide them. Boss fights? Check. Ice world and Lava world? Check. Fighting teammates to the death for the love a woman? Check. It's all here, folks, and it's all done flawlessly. The fact that the game was rendered with HD in mind really does help the characters stand out, looking extremely vivid and it also breathes life into the environment.

Castle Crashers offers a few additional features that help ensure that you get the most out of your money. One of the things that's incredibly important for a title like this is yes, it does have multiplayer via XBLA. Fully fleshed out at that. You are able to go through the entire single player game with friends or strangers, bringing your own character into the fray, and the best part of all is that any money, items, pets, or experience gained online is kept and allowed to be used offline as well, so you don't have to worry about making separate characters. There's also the offline four player, which is a feature many games are lacking nowadays.

In short, the game is long enough to keep you engaged, has enough depth to keep you coming back for more, and is simple enough that you could play it with your family. The humor will have you smiling throughout, and the imaginative environments will keep you coming back for more. All in all, I'd give this game a solid 9/10. Once the few online issues there are are hammered out, there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have this in your collection.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/06/08

Game Release: Castle Crashers (US, 08/27/08)