Crypt Custodian review

Crypt Custodian review

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I’ve seen it all – from the grand adventures of Mario to the gritty reality of Powerwash Simulator. But Crypt Custodian has taken me by surprise, plunging me into an afterlife that’s anything but peaceful for our feline friend Pluto.


Video games have long featured characters who work everyday jobs, from Mario’s iconic plumbing profession to more recent hits like Powerwash Simulator. We are indeed stepping into an era where blue-collar professions are becoming more prevalent in video games. Crypt Custodian is one such game that centers around a character with a less glamorous job, even if they were given it after passing away.

Have you ever pondered about what existence beyond life could be for cats? As per Crypt Custodian’s beliefs, it’s not a perfect scenario, as our protagonist Pluto discovers. When evaluated on their past actions, Pluto is condemned to spend eternity cleaning up the afterlife, and soon encounters others facing the same destiny. Driven by the desire to evade this eternal penalty, Pluto and his companions conspire a rebellion that necessitates enlisting numerous other spirits and challenging the established authority.

Crypt Custodian review

This game setup is quite enchanting, yet the true essence of Crypt Custodian resembles a side-scrolling Zelda game with an exceptionally mystical backdrop. It’s brimming with treasures to discover and abilities that unlock fresh territories. Exploring every trail in this game usually leads to rewards and enhances Pluto, particularly in combat skills, although it also offers broader improvements overall.

As a thrilled enthusiast, I find the combat style of Crypt Custodian to be sharp and enjoyable, offering snug controls and an array of maneuvers that effectively ward off foes. It’s crucial to dodge and weave to avoid taking excessive damage and meeting an untimely demise (or a second one, if you will). Unlike many top-down action game characters, Pluto has the unique ability to jump, which allows him to soar over all projectiles effortlessly and is particularly useful when the action intensifies.

Jumping is all well and good for the odd pit blocking your path, but to explore every hidden nook of Crypt Custodian you’ll need more abilities. These are fed to you at a steady rate as you battle through new areas and take down beastly bosses, and expand your repertoire considerably. An air dash will make bigger gaps a breeze, whereas the ability to clone yourself makes weighing down switches manageable. It’s that compelling Metroidvania formula at its finest, with plenty of rewarding upgrades to find if you backtrack with new skills.

Crypt Custodian review

Crypt Custodian’s top picks among its collectibles are enhancements that can be added to your game. These additions not only make the game more exciting but also bring significant changes to gameplay. They include boosts such as increased health or attack power when you’re on the verge of death, and abilities like making enemies you defeat explode into bullets for added excitement. However, keep in mind that you need sufficient upgrade points to activate these enhancements. You can earn these points by exploring the world or by overcoming challenging tasks.

One method Crypt Custodian ensures an engaging experience during gameplay is by offering a diverse array of tasks scattered throughout the world. For instance, you might encounter cursed statues that bestow upgrade points upon defeating numerous enemies under unfavorable conditions, such as being pursued by spike traps or causing enemies to fire lethal boomerangs upon death. Additionally, you may need to gather orbs within a tight timeframe to unlock hidden treasures, and chests that can only be opened after surviving consecutive enemy waves without suffering a single hit. If these tasks seem too challenging early in the game, don’t worry – they make a great comeback later! But I found the level of challenge they presented to be just right for me.

Crypt Custodian review

As a devoted admirer of Crypt Custodian, I must admit that it’s generally an impressive game. However, there are a couple of aspects that could use some refinement. The death animation is quite prolonged, even when skipped, which can feel a bit draggy. Also, the checkpoints being set somewhat far apart can lead to minor inconveniences at times, especially when one meets an untimely demise. That said, these issues aren’t typically major annoyances and are mainly noticeable upon death.

“Crypt Custodian” is an enjoyable top-down Metroidvania game that offers a distinctive environment, precise combat, and numerous upgrades to gather. Discovering new core abilities made me eager to revisit areas I couldn’t access before, and the genre doesn’t get much better than this. Kyle Thompson has once again crafted something truly remarkable with minimal resources, making “Crypt Custodian” an effortless recommendation for almost everyone.

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2024-08-29 13:46