By now many of you probably know about Crypt of the NecroDancer. Crypt of the NecroDancer is an award-winning roguelike game along the lines of Rogue League and Full Mojo Rampage. A roguelike is typically characterized by procedurally-generated levels, turn-based gameplay and permanent death. However, Crypt of the NecroDancer is far less punishing. What makes the game unique is that you can only move to the beat.
Crypt of the NecroDancer first came out in 2015 and gained a substantial following on Steam. A few months later it released on PlayStation 4. That’s when I was finally able to experience it and loved every minute of the game. I had never played a game where it was necessary to move to the beat so that added another layer of challenge. It also forced me to reevaluate how I played games. In order to make sure I was synced with the music, I tapped my foot to the beat and moved accordingly. Crypt of the NecroDancer elevates the engagement you feel with games to another level. Not only do you have to be aware of the music and yourself, you also have to master evasion and combat.
While the plot is simple, it has multiple layers that keep on surprising you. Just when you think the game is about to end, it thrusts you into a new adventure. You start Crypt of the NecroDancer as Cadence who ventures into a dilapidated dungeon to rescue her father but ends up uncovering a generations-long struggle. When you take a look at similar games like Rogue Legacy, it’s evident that not a lot of thought has been put into their narratives. Crypt of the NecroDancer excels on that front.
While the visuals might not appeal to gamers who want next-generation graphics, they serve their purpose well. The real star of the show has to be the soundtrack by Danny Baranowsky. It’s retro but supremely satisfying. You’ll be humming it in your head hours after you’ve stopped playing Crypt of the NecroDancer.
Many roguelikes feature standard weaponry but in this game you’ll see everything from daggers to blunderbusses. Of course many of these weapons are one-time use tools of destruction but it’s still entertaining to see half a dozen enemies being eviscerated in one blow. There are plenty of upgrades as well where you can increase your health and other attributes. The upgrades are permanent so if you die you get to keep them. Just be sure to spend all of your diamonds before you venture into the dungeon again. There is also countless gear to equip which helps you in boss fights.
The attention to detail in this game is also on another level. The developers could’ve easily forgone voice acting but they incorporated it into the cutscenes and some animations. One would expect a smaller game to not employ the best voice actors but Crypt of the NecroDancer again proves that stereotype incorrect. The voice acting is stellar and engaging.
Summary
Crypt of the NecroDancer is a fantastic game and I’m ecstatic that it’s finally on Xbox One. While it might not be the best-looking adventure out there, it’s still one of the most unique games that I recommend you play. The rhythm-based gameplay pushes you and while it can be quite difficult in the beginning, it’s hard not to enjoy it even then. The countless randomized levels and zones make it a replayable experience that will draw you in for hours on end.
Asher is a games journalist, former News Writer (Gaming) at Windows Central. They contributed 1110 articles to ICXM between 2015–2017, focused on opinion pieces, game reviews, Windows and PC, and Xbox news: wrote over 1,100 ICXM pieces on Xbox news, hardware reviews, and platform commentary before joining Future plc’s Windows Central in 2017.