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Indie Highlight: Crypt of the NecroDancer
11 years ago
General
So normally when I highlight games here in my journal, it's usually either got to do with the most recent Sonic game in development or it's my opinions on the most recent Nintendo Direct. However, Sonic and Nintendo are not my only loves when it comes to gaming. I also absolutely LOVE Indie Games, and so I've decided to spotlight one that I recently became aware of: Crypt of the NecroDancer.
Crypt of the NecroDancer is a Rouge-Like Dungeon Crawler game done in a pixel-based art style. You play as a brash, yet inexperienced female demon hunter (couldn't find her name anywhere, though I KNOW she has one) whom has lost her heart to the evil NecroDancer after a nasty fall while searching for her missing father. You are tasked with fighting your way through the NecroDancer's undead and monstrous forces, recovering your heart, and finding the answers you seek. As you adventure through the randomly-generated floors, you'll pick up gold to use in the dungeon shops you find on each level of the crypt, and Diamonds you can use in the shops on the main lobby level to purchase permanent upgrades such as new weapons drops form chests and Heart Containers that increase your maximum health (Shops will unlock as you rescue captured prisoners). You can also acquire equipment and tools from chest you find that will protect you and grant you various effects, as well as spells that can be used in a pinch to help turn the tide of battle.
Sounds pretty basic, right? Well, here's the thing; it's called Crypt of the NecroDANCER for a reason. Your movements, your attacks, the enemy's movements and patterns: EVERYTHING is set to the beat of the music and keeping to that beat while learning enemy patterns is key for survival. For example: Skeletons will actively pursue you and will move on every other beat. They raise their hands just as they're about to move, so time your movement so that you can strike them on the beat they raise their hands.
Defeating enemies and keeping to the beat will enable a gold multiplier; signified by a disco floor-styled effect on the ground of the dungeon activating. The longer you keep the beat going, the higher your multiplier gets, the more gold you earn. As I mentioned before, the Gold is used in special shops you find on each floor of the dungeon to buy better weapons, tools & equipment. However, getting hurt or missing the beat will break the multiplier, and while it won't outright hurt you if you do, you can end up leaving yourself vulnerable to an enemy attack. You also have a time limit of sorts. The music on each floor will only play for so long, and if the track reaches it's end.... Well, I dunno. I haven't seen that happen yet. I assume it's an instant death, but don't quote me on that.
So you're probably wondering; "Since the game is so dependent on the music, is the music any good?" Well, lemme put it this way: even the shopkeeper can't help but sing along with it! The soundtrack is composed by Danny Baranowsky, whom has composed music for other Indie Games such as Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Issac. And let me tell you, he does a fantastic job with this game!
Crypt of the NecroDancer is currently available for early access on Steam for $15, and is available for PC, Mac & Linux. The soundtrack can also be purchased through the Steam Store for $10. I've yet to buy it myself, but I have every intention to purchase it soon as I love what I've seen and heard of it so far.
Crypt of the NecroDancer is a Rouge-Like Dungeon Crawler game done in a pixel-based art style. You play as a brash, yet inexperienced female demon hunter (couldn't find her name anywhere, though I KNOW she has one) whom has lost her heart to the evil NecroDancer after a nasty fall while searching for her missing father. You are tasked with fighting your way through the NecroDancer's undead and monstrous forces, recovering your heart, and finding the answers you seek. As you adventure through the randomly-generated floors, you'll pick up gold to use in the dungeon shops you find on each level of the crypt, and Diamonds you can use in the shops on the main lobby level to purchase permanent upgrades such as new weapons drops form chests and Heart Containers that increase your maximum health (Shops will unlock as you rescue captured prisoners). You can also acquire equipment and tools from chest you find that will protect you and grant you various effects, as well as spells that can be used in a pinch to help turn the tide of battle.
Sounds pretty basic, right? Well, here's the thing; it's called Crypt of the NecroDANCER for a reason. Your movements, your attacks, the enemy's movements and patterns: EVERYTHING is set to the beat of the music and keeping to that beat while learning enemy patterns is key for survival. For example: Skeletons will actively pursue you and will move on every other beat. They raise their hands just as they're about to move, so time your movement so that you can strike them on the beat they raise their hands.
Defeating enemies and keeping to the beat will enable a gold multiplier; signified by a disco floor-styled effect on the ground of the dungeon activating. The longer you keep the beat going, the higher your multiplier gets, the more gold you earn. As I mentioned before, the Gold is used in special shops you find on each floor of the dungeon to buy better weapons, tools & equipment. However, getting hurt or missing the beat will break the multiplier, and while it won't outright hurt you if you do, you can end up leaving yourself vulnerable to an enemy attack. You also have a time limit of sorts. The music on each floor will only play for so long, and if the track reaches it's end.... Well, I dunno. I haven't seen that happen yet. I assume it's an instant death, but don't quote me on that.
So you're probably wondering; "Since the game is so dependent on the music, is the music any good?" Well, lemme put it this way: even the shopkeeper can't help but sing along with it! The soundtrack is composed by Danny Baranowsky, whom has composed music for other Indie Games such as Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Issac. And let me tell you, he does a fantastic job with this game!
Crypt of the NecroDancer is currently available for early access on Steam for $15, and is available for PC, Mac & Linux. The soundtrack can also be purchased through the Steam Store for $10. I've yet to buy it myself, but I have every intention to purchase it soon as I love what I've seen and heard of it so far.
