Groove to the beat

When you ask a rhythm game fan to list their favorite titles, good money says that they'll start rattling off a bunch of games you can't actually play. Many of the "best" rhythm games are available only to those with access to a halfway-decent arcade or expensive peripherals. Most of those expensive and inaccessible games are excellent, but what are the odds that you'll actually play Dance Dance Revolution A20 or Rock Band 3 in the near future?

If you're like me and only have a couple of modern consoles and a halfway decent PC, it can be hard to break into rhythm gaming. Thankfully, there are plenty of top-tier titles readily available on modern platforms. They might not be quite as good as th??e finest offerings at a Round1, but they do have the undeniable benefit of being playable.

10. UNBEATABLE [white label]

[caption id="attachment_356563" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via D-CELL GAMES[/caption]

UNBEATABLE, a rhythm game with the panache and style of an anime fighting game, probably won't be out until the end of 2023. Its "demo," UNBEATABLE [white label], is out right now, and beyond bein??g an impressive taste of what's to come, it's also one of the best rhythm games on PC??.

UNBEATABLE [white label] is less of a demo and more of a companion piece to UNBEATABLE. The game has its own story, which is currently incomplete (per developer D-CELL GAMES, it will be completed with a series of episodic releases). More importantly, it's got a killer soundtrack and truly engaging visuals. It's a real treat, especially at the low low price of free. While I'm pretty excited for UNBEATABLE, I'm more than happy to spend more time with [white label].

9. Incredibox

[caption id="attachment_356565" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via So Far So Good[/caption]

I'm not sure if Incredibox counts as a "rhythm game," but it has the "rhythm" tag on Steam and it rocks, so I'm including it. Incredibox is ?a kind of music production toy which involves layering different loops over one another to create awesome music. It's almost impossible to make something that sounds bad.

Incredibox doesn't have a lose state and it doesn't involve tapping anything to the beat, so it might not be a rhythm game in the same way the other titles on this list are. Still, I have often felt that the joy of rhythm games comes from the imitation of "creating" music, and Incredibox i?s a pretty natural evolution of that concept. If you love music, it's at least worth checking out.

8. Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory

[caption id="attachment_356567" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

I really wanted to put a Theatrhythm game on this list. Unfortunately, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and its sequel, Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call are both trapped on the 3DS, and Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival is an arcade exclusive. So, while we wait for the Theatrhythm series to return to modern home platforms in February, I'll give this spot to another Square Enix/indieszero collaboration: Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory.

This isn't just a consolation prize - Melody of Memory is great. It's probably the easiest game on this list, but it's got nearly every song from one of the best franchise soundtracks in video game history. Rhythmic "combat" is an idea that's been tried before, and it's not at its deepest here, but it's undeniably very satisfying. There are plenty of games that can rigorously test your dexterity and sense of rhythm, but when you just want to feel good tapping away at some beautiful music, it's tough to do better than Melody of Memory. It's one of my favorite Kingdom Hearts games, and it's a??lso an excellent rhythm game in its own right.

7. Trombone Champ

[caption id="attachment_356568" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Nothing in Trombone Champ sounds "good," but that's not really the point. This uproariously funny title places you in control of a "tromboner" (the game's word, not mine) and gives you free rein to play whatever music you want. There is a beatmap here, but the game absolutely will not help you hew to it at all, which means that most of your tromboning will consist of playing a note that's either just barely wro?ng or entirely wrong.

There might be a way to get good at Trombone Champ. I've never seen it happen, and I've never tried to do it. I'm happy to be the world's worst tromboner. It's funni??er this way.

6. Metal: Hellsinger

[caption id="attachment_356104" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Funcom[/caption]

Metal: Hellsinger recently found its way onto my list of personal favorites from 2022, and with good reason. This rhythmic first-person shooter actually feels like both a rhythm game and a first-person shooter. What's more, it feels like a good rhythm game and a good first-person shooter.

If you enjoy heavy metal, DOOM (2016), and rhythm gaming, then this game is pretty narrowly targeted at you. Even if you don't like any of those things, though, you probably won't be able to resist falling for Metal: Hellsinger's charms. How ?many games feature Troy B??aker as a talking skull narrating over a Matt Heafy solo?

5. Rhythm Doctor

[caption id="attachment_356569" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Rhythm Doctor is phenomenal. This charming early access rhythm game is deeper and more interesting than most fully released games of the past several years. Rhythm Doctor is set in a struggling cardiac hospital that makes the decision to employ?? a remote intern. Your job is to restart?? patients' hearts by tapping one button to the beat.

It's not as heavy as it sounds - in fact, Rhythm Doctor is quite goofy. The game's wor?ld is vibrant and zany, populated by really interesting characters (not exactly a common thread in rhythm games). It also wrings a very impressive amount of mechanical complexity out of just one button, and, of course, the music is amazing.

4. Crypt of the Necrodancer

[caption id="attachment_356570" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Crypt of the Necrodancer is so simple that it hurts my brain. Literally all you do is move around a dungeon to the beat, attacking enemies simply by bumping into them. There are some basic buffs and item pickups, but at its heart, it's exactly what it looks like. It's all about reading and responding to patterns in the most simple manner possible, and it's wildly addictive. Every time I start playing Necrodancer, I lose hours to it.

On its face, Crypt of the Necrodancer is very basic. And yet, there's nothing else quite like it. Necrodancer uses its simplicity to its advantage to create one of the most enjoyable rhythm experiences o??ut there.

3. Beat Saber

[caption id="attachment_356571" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Beat Games[/caption]

Alright, this might be stretching the boundaries of what you can actually play. You do need a virtual reality headset and a decent amount of space to play Beat Saber, which will immediately make it a tough sell for many. But a Meta Quest 2 costs less than most current-generation consoles, and once you're past that (admittedly tall) hurdle, it's tough to do better than Beat Saber.

Beat Saber is a game about hitting blocks with lightsabers to the beat, and it feels great. It's the kind of motion control magic that lights up something primal in the human brain. It's fun to hit stuff, it's fun to feel the beat, and it's fun to ply Beat Saber.

2. Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA Future Tone

[caption id="attachment_356573" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sega[/caption]

When you hear the words "rhythm game," you probably instantly picture something that looks like a Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA game. Colorful button prompts float across the screen in front of a video of anime girls dancing. You tap the right button when the prompts line up. Occasionally, you hold those buttons, or you slide the analog stick. Yes, this is rhythm gaming perfected.

Every Project DIVA game is pretty similar and pretty great. If you've only got a Switch or a PC, Mega Mix is a fine option, too. I've included Future Tone on this list simply because it's the one I play the most, but it's hard to go wrong with any Project DIVA game. Th??ese are the rhythm game-iest rhythm games around, and they're good for scratching a?ny musical gaming itch.

1. Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum 'n' Fun!

[caption id="attachment_356574" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Bandai Namco[/caption]

Like Project DIVA, you can pretty much insert any Taiko no Tatsujin game into this spot. The series hasn't changed a bit in over twenty years. You press one button when the note is blue and another button when the note is red. Mindlessness becomes meditation becomes mastery. This is Taiko no Tatsujin.

The secret to picking your favorite Taiko no Tatsujin game is simply looking at the tracklist. I like Drum 'n' Fun because it's got the best One Piece opening and the best Super Mario Odyssey track, but you can really pick whichever game has your personal favorite songs. This one gets bonus points for being one of t??he few rhythm games that you can play with just about anybody. The barrier to entry is very low thanks to incredibly simple controls, ??but true mastery can be extremely difficult.

The post 10 best rhythm video games you can actuall??y buy, ran??ked appeared first on Destructoid.

The super-secret news is a big new DLC

Brace Yourself Games is adding even more content to Crypt of the Necrodancer, in the form of a DLC update called Synchrony. The new update was revealed today and is available now in Early Access.

Crypt of the Necrodancer: Synchrony is a brand new content pack, adding a wealth of new features to 2015's rhythm roguelite classic Crypt of the Necrodancer. It's currently only available on PC, though Brace Yourself says it would like to port to other consoles once Synchrony is out of Early Access.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX9JlggiCHo

So what's in the update? Well, a big portion is online multiplayer support. Synchrony adds support for up to eight players, in?? on??line co-op and versus modes. That's a whole lot of hoppin' and bouncin' to the beat.

Three new characters are also part of the content pack. Chaunter can possess enemies and use their powers against others. Suzu is a speedy rhythm-fighter??, with an invincible dash. And Klarinetta has a giant two-handed sword.

Full mod support and an integrated mod portal are also part of the pack. So not only can you mess with most aspects of Crypt of the Necrodancer, but you can also load mult???iple mods at the same time.

Plus, there are new weapons, spells, items, and more. Brace Yourself says more features are expected to arrive in the course of Early Access for Synchrony as well.

Playing in synch

Brace Yourself had teased this super-secret news beforehand, though the scope of it is still pretty surprising. Crypt of the Necrodancer has now received two pretty significant updates this year, which rules for everyone who st?ill likes to boot up this rhythmic dungeon crawler.

And Brace Yourself has more on the way too. Today's trailer closes out with a tease of another game to come. Rift of the Necrodancer just has a title for now, but it will be a new standalone game in the Necrodancer universe. Hopefully we'll hear more soon. But for now,? it seems like a really good time to head back down?? into the crypt.

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Brace Yourself is updating Crypt, ahead of what's next

After several years, Crypt of the Necrodancer is getting a big update. Brace Yourself Games published the v3.0.0 update for Crypt of the Necrodancer yesterday, June 30.

The studio also shared a blog post about the update, going into more detail about what it adds and why. As it notes, it has been 1,721 days since Crypt of the Necrodancer's la??st update in 2017. As for why the update is happening? I'll let Brace ?Yourself speak for itself:

"Well, let’s just say this is a precursor to something bigger coming your way??, and we want to make sure that we address some of the community’s most signi??ficant feedback before we get there."

That's certainl??y good news. But as for the biggest feedback, this update addresses a bunch of quality-of-life aspects: loading times, difficul??ty, custom music, and more.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HiQUw5Np8o

To the beat of your own drum

One big ad?dition is the No Beat mod?e, which lets you play any character like the Bard character, even Aria. So yes, play to your own beat!

Also huge is the Save and Quit feature, letting you dip out ?of a play session and keep it suspended. Load times have also been "greatly" reduced, controller and Steam Deck support has been improved, and various updates have been made for controls and inputs.

Plus, custom music has been ove?rhauled with the ability to save multiple playlists and switch aro??und. Files in MP3, OGG, and FLAC are supported and beat detection is performed in the background. These will go great with the overhauled mod loader and new custom level editor.

On top of that, there is now independent per-player beatmaps in co?-op, an upgraded replay system, new leaderboards for Low%, and more. There's even a countdown to unpausing that you can customize, for getting bac??k into the rhythm.

It's a pretty hefty Crypt of the Necrodancer update, one that feels a bit like it's putting a final touch on the game. With all these new features, there's a ton of new Necrodancer to explore. And it gives fans something to do while they wait for whatever Brace Yourself has on the way next, after Crypt and its Nintendo-themed spiritual successor Cadence of Hyrule.

Also, just a PSA, Crypt of the Necrodancer is currently on sale on the Steam Summer Sale for just $2.99.

The post Crypt of the Necrodance??r gets its first big update in years appeared first on Destructoid.

How Cadence got her groove back

The official Crypt of the NecroDancer twitter has announced that the psychedelic, beat-heavy dungeon crawler is two-stepping onto Nintendo Switch . The game goes live in the U.S. and Japan today,? with Europe and Australia to follow soon thereafter.

The rhythm-action title, developed and published by indie outfit Brace Yourself, first strutted its stuff on PC back in 2015, and has seen releases on multiple formats since. The game features a young adventurer, Cadence, who must journey deep into a series of dungeons to reclaim her heart, ?stolen by the titular NecroDancer.

All of Cadence's movement and attacks must sync with the game's soundtrack, composed by the acclaimed Danny Baranowsky. Although it can feel somewhat frustrating at first, with a little practice the game becomes an addictive and somewhat transient experience, aided by its excellent score and trippy colour palette. The Switch edition of the game will include an exclusive co-op mode and an extra player character.

Crypt of the NecroDancer launches today on Nintendo Switch in the U.S. and Japan. Europe and A??ustralia will hit the dance floor on February 8.

The post Crypt of the NecroDancer hops onto Switch in Japan & America today appeared first on Destructoid.

When it arrives in February

Crypt of the NecroDancer might have been released back in 2015, but that isn't stopping developer Brace Yoursel??f Games (or hundreds of other indie studios scrambling to support Nintendo's latest) from crafting a Switch port in 2018.

As announced last year the rhythm is bound for the Switch, but now we have a little more information by way of Spike Chunsoft. It's out in Japan on February 1 for ¥2,??160 (roughly $20), and it'll include an exclusive character -- Reaper.

Reaper was originally tucked away as a bit of unfinished code in the PC edition, but players unearthed the character anyway. You can see them in action in the video below with thei??r minion revival mechanic.

Reaper added to Crypt of the NecroDancer [Japanese Nintendo]

The post Crypt of the NecroDancer is getting a Switch?? exclusive character appeared first on Destructoid.

Unn*tssh* Unn*tssh* BOOOWWWM!

What a day it's been to be a Switch owner. So many great games and ports have been announced in the last 24 hours, and the beat goes on with the news that rhythm-action dungeon crawler Crypt of the NecroDancer is headed for Nintendo's hip device.

The popular indie-title, created by Brace Yourself Games, has ??the player control a treasure hunter who falls into the catacombs of an evil being, the titular NecroDancer. After having her hea?rt literally stolen by the fiend, young Cadence must explore the catacombs and dungeons, fighting off waves of monsters and traps.

Where NecroDancer differs fro??????????????????????????m other dungeon crawlers is that all movement and attacks must be done to the rhythm of the game's soundtrack, composed by Danny Baranowsky, with treasure and other rewards unearthed by Cadence's constant, rhythmic progression through the dungeon and its hordes. It's a game that requires patience, good-timing and some forward-thinking, but can become an addictive, even ethereal experience as the player's brain becomes one with the game's pulsing beats.

The Switch edition will feature an exclusive new character and a co-op mode. Already available on multiple formats, including iOS and PS Vita, Crypt of the NecroDancer is well suited to the small screen. Nintendo have yet to give a release date for the Switch edition of the game, ??but tweeted that it would be coming "soon."

Crypt of the NecroDancer coming to Switch [Nintendo twitter]

The post Crypt of t??he NecroDancer coming to Nintendo Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

The dance-off begins January 24 on Steam Early Access

Crypt of the NecroDancer is such a neat game. It's a fusion of rhythm (you need to time your movement to the beat of the music as best you can) and roguelike dungeon-crawling (you need foresight and strategy to hit enemies but not be hit back), and it is hard. But it's super good! Hearing that more content is on the way with a prequel expansion, Amplified, is decidedly pleasing.

This DLC will go through Steam Early Access first before its final release, which might raise some eyebrows, conceptually, but Brace Yourself Game????s' reasoning makes sense.

"Crypt of the NecroDancer is a MUCH better game because of all the great feedback we received from our community during Early Access, and we know that the same will be true of Early Access for Crypt of the NecroDancer: AMPLIFIED. Also, Early Access permits us to get the DL??C into your hands more quickly, and we know that there are many of you who are anxious to start playing!"

And if you're opposed to Early Access or just want to wait until the DLC is complete with more characters, modes, items, cutscenes, and the final boss battles, the wait won't be that long. "We expect to be in Early Access for at least two months, though it could be longer if we still feel that we have valuable features to add." Amplified will also make it to other platforms afterwards.

Crypt of the NecroDancer: AMPLIFIED [Steam]

The post Nice! Crypt of the NecroDancer is getting a D??LC prequel appeared first on Destructoid.

With new tunes from Virt

We're quite fond of the rhythmic dungeon-crawler Crypt of the NecroDancer around here. I like it. Darren likes it. Patrick gave the PC version a 9.5 out of 10. The more pla?tforms it's on, the b?etter.

The PlayStation 4 and Vita ports are coming up soon. They'll be available digitally in North America and Europe on February 2, 2016 with Cross-Buy a?nd dance pad support.

Now, you won't be able to import your own music or use mods that Mega Man-ify everything, but developer Brace Yourself Games is adding "a new exclusive soundtrack created by Jake 'Virt' Kaufman, the composer for Shovel Knight, and one additional surprise."

Aaaand now I'm realizing I have f?orgotten most of the enemy patterns.

The post Crypt of the NecroDancer is hoppin’ to PS4, Vita in February appeared first on Destructoid.

Dance Dance PlayStation

Well this is nice. Previously available only for Linux, Mac, and Windows, Crypt of the NecroDancer is now on its way to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita. Brace Yourself Games' community manager Heather Wilson made the announcement on the European PlayStation Blog, and there is a nice tidbit?? of information in there along with the general announcement.

In addition to the kickin' native soundtrack by Danny Baranowsky (Super Meat Boy), the PlayStation versions of NecroDancer will also include a chiptune remix by Jake "virt" Kaufman (Double Dragon Neon). Though I have this on PC? already, that might just be e??nough to get me to double dip for the PS4 version.

In an email with Destruc??toid, Wilson confirmed that the PlayStati??on version will not include custom soundtrack functionality due to licensing issues. A release date has not been set.

The post Crypt of the NecroDancer headed to PS4 and Vita appeared first on Destructoid.

Mega awesome!

You've probably seen Crypt of the NecroDancer, the rhythm based roguelike dungeon crawler that recently released on Steam to positive reviews, but not like this. Crypt of the MegaDancer is a full conversion that gives the entire game a coat of Mega Man paint! The mod still uses the NecroDancer music, but classic 8-bit sound effects are included. It looks like there are multiple playable characters, and various?? boss battles judging by Bass and S??plash Woman's appearances in the trailer.

Owners of the game can easily install the mod from directly in Steam at no cost. Mega Man fans probably grab it before Capcom catches wind of it, though it has been amicable to fan made games in the past. 

The post This Mega Man mod for Crypt of the Ne??crodancer looks awesome! appeared first on Destructoid.

Tunes from the crypt

Dance Dance Revolution was a large part of an earlier era of my life. Going though dance pads year after year until I finally convinced my parents to get me ??one of the "big boy" pads for a lot more money. Eventually I grew past that era,?? but that part of my life will always be fondly remembered.

These days, games like DDR seem to be old hat, and roguelikes are the new hot genre in town. In comes Crypt of the NecroDancer? to merge the two; flawlessly I might add, and rekindle that old love with my new love.

Man, is it lovely.

Crypt of the NecroDancer (Linux, Mac, PC [reviewed])
Developer: Brace Yourself Games
Publisher: Brace Yourself Games, Klei
Release Date: April 23, 2015
MSRP: $14.99

It would be a criminal act to not immediately mention the music in Crypt of the NecroDancer as it plays a starring role and deserves the first-paragraph treatment. This is mostly due to the fact that music is interwoven into the gameplay itself. The player can only act in time with the beat, which is also when the enemies act. Said beat has a visual representation on the bottom of the screen to help players get accustomed to it, but after a shor?t while most players will be acting based on the audio?? cue, not the visual. When done correctly, the music, movements, and sound effects line up to create something that can only be described as "groovy." 

In a game where music is at the core of the experience, the soundtrack could have easily made the game fall flat. Thankfully, this is not the case. There are three soundtracks built into the game. The default music is by Danny Baranowsky, and it is amazingly brilliant and brilliantly am??azing. The tunes for each level are varied, yet all of them are catchy. The other soundtracks are a metal remix by FamilyJules7X and an EDM version by A_Rival, and also assuage the eardrums. Regardless of music preference, players are bound to dig one, if not all, of these versions. It's also possible for players to import their own music for people who don't like good music, or just want to work with something different. 

The game isn't just about boppin' along to some great music, though; there is a story at play here. There are cutscenes for characters between zones, and paying attention to them, as well as some in-game hints, alludes to ??a pretty big overarching story. It's split over multiple playthroughs with different characters, so it will take some time to reveal the whole thing. The lore is legitimately interesting, something man?y players may not be expecting. 

Every action is mapped to ??the arrow?? keys. In fact, the game can even be played with a dance pad! There's a specific mode for dance pad play, which makes the game a bit easier since the control method is inherently more difficult. This also serves as an easier mode to introduce players to the game who don't feel they are up to the full challenge quite yet. When playing with a controller, everything is mapped to the face buttons, which can also be remapped to the player's liking.

Attacking is as simple as pressing the direction of the enemy. Items and spells are also available, and are used by pressing a combination of two arrow keys. For example, to use a bomb, players m??ust press down ?and left (by default) on the beat. Various weapon types will alter where enemies can be killed in relation to the player, and it is of the utmost important to know a weapon's attack range.

When moving, the game will check if anything can be attacked first. So if a player is expecting to move forward but an enemy is within attack range, the attack will happen. This means the character will remain stationary, which can be bad news in certain situations. Knowing these attack mechanics is crucial, and thankfully there is a weapon range in the game where players can try out all the different types of weapons and learn them inside and out. I recommend doing this at least once, especially for the whip.

In addition to weapons, players have access to a shovel for digging through walls, a consumable item, a torch, armor, a ring, and a spell. Armor is split up into head, chest, and feet, making there a lot of? items to equip for a full "set." The items found? are random so make sure to pray to RNGesus before each run!

Many items must be unlocked before they show up in chests within the dungeon. Unlocking items is permanent and costs diamonds, which can be found in the dungeon itself. Any diamonds not spent in between runs are lost forever, giving the player all the incentive in the world to spend them on something. It's the perfect system of progression in a game that oth??????????????????????????erwise has very little, ensuring that even the "terrible" runs can usually yield some sort of good news and contribute to the greater good.

The dungeon is split into four distinct zones, each with its own atmosphere, enemies, and randomly generated layout. The first two are on the simpler side of things, but the third and fourth zones introduce new tile mechanics and are completely unique. It's amazing how fast confidence plummets after beating one zone and entering another. It's easy to be on a bit of a high after beating a boss for the first time, only to be introduced to a brand new area where players know basically nothing. It's a kick in the pants, and it feels so good.

Speaking of the boss fights, each one in NecroDancer is incredibly memorable. Each o??ne has its own theme and executes it perfectl??y. My favorite is definitely Deep Blues, which puts the player against an entire set of chess pieces as enemies, who move according to the chess ruleset. Seeing a boss for the first time usually results in a bit of laughter followed by an "oh shit" as the gravity of the situation sets in. Then death, of course.

Some bosses are definitely easier to comprehend tha?n others (I don't want to use the term "easier in general"), and the boss fights at the end of zones one through three are randomly chosen, which exacerbates the feeling of luck that's inherent in the roguelike genre. There's likely going to be some aggravation from time to time, simply because of bad luck. This frustration is lessened because of the diamond system, but the feeling of futility is occasionally hard to fight back, especially when there's nothing left to spend diamonds on.

While each zone shares some common enemies, the enemy variety in each zone is largely unique. Some weapons may feel overpowered in one zone, and completely useless in another simply because of the change in enemy behavior. This makes the "all zones" runs that much harder. Some enemy types will be "buffed" in later zones, adding more health or variants on the o??riginal behavior.

After completing the four core areas, there is still plenty to keep players occupied. Crypt of the NecroDancer also supports mods, and they are dead simple to use. All you have to do is download a mod from the Steam Workshop, then activate it from the paus??e menu. Many of t??he mods are currently music changes or skin changes, but only time will tell how far they go in the future.

Different characters are also unlocked by accomplishing certain goals, and these characters are way more than just re-skins of the main character, Candace. The Monk, for example, can choose any one item from the Shopkeeper for free, but will die instantly if he lands on gold. Considering gold is dropped by literally every enemy, this forces a huge change in playstyle. I couldn't even get past the? first zone!

In addition to the standard dungeon, which can also be tackled with two players in local multiplayer, there is a boss fight arena, an enemy behavior trainer, a codex for advanced skills, a daily challenge, and a level edi??tor. Beating the game once is really only the beginning. T?here are enough variations on the basic playthrough to keep players coming back for a long time.

Crypt of the NecroDancer accomplishes what few games even attempt to do. It merges together two completely different genres: rhythm and roguelike. The frustrations of both come as part of the package, but some intelligent design decisions help to alleviate the issue. For those looking for the next gaming obsession after the likes of Spelunky, Binding of Isaac, or Rogue Legacy, look no further than Crypt of the NecroDancer.

_{[This review is? base??d on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Crypt of the NecroDancer appeared first on Destructoid.

Full release on April 23

It has been a while since we were first entranced by the "why hadn't anybody done this yet?" rhythm dungeon crawler Crypt of the NecroDancer, and now it's finally in the home stretch. After a nine-month bout in Early Access, it will release on Linux, Mac, and Windows in full on April 23. That's one?? week from today.

To commemorate its full release, the team at Brace Yourself Games put together the trailer above, showing off how it plays when somebody good at it is in charge. My plays don't go quite so well, typically. The best part about the video is the shopkeeper's singing, featured as the correct way to enjoy the procedurally gen??erated dungeon crawler.

The post Crypt of the NecroDa?ncer exits Early A??ccess in a week appeared first on Destructoid.

It's out on Steam Early Access

Are you playing Crypt of the NecroDancer? You should be playing Crypt of the NecroDancer.

It's a rhythm-based roguelike in which you hop around dungeons to the beat of music, a novel mechanic that ends up being enjoyable -- not burdensome, as it might appear in trailers -- and keeps the game feeling action-oriented despite the Rogue influences.

And the soundtrack? Quite possibly my favorite music from Danny Baranowsky to date (though you can play NecroDancer to your own music too -- Daft Punk's "Face to Face" wor??ks wel?l).

I'll openly admit that I wasn't totally sold on the game's concept before playing, but the execution is there. Whether you want to get in now while Crypt of the NecroDancer is still in Steam Early Access ($14.99; Windows/Mac/Linux) is up to you. Personally, I tend? to avoid unfinished games wherever possible, but I f?eel this is far enough along in development to justify playing now.

It's all-around terrific. Also, that singing shopkeeper!

The post Man, I w?ish I were playing Crypt of the NecroDancer right now appeared first on Destructoid.

PRO TIPS FROM PRO PLAYERZ

I've been playing Crypt of the NecroDancer, and now I fancy myself a pretty amazing player. The game hits Steam's Early Access program in just two days, and so I figured I'd impart? my wisdom unto any new players who may be out there by making a hawt tipz video.

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The groove is in the heart of this roguelike

Rhythmic dungeon crawler Crypt of the NecroDancer has been fun to wat??ch at expos, but soon enough we'll be able to play (and fail, likely repeatedly) on our own terms -- the game hits Steam Early Access for Windows, Mac, and Linux on Wednesday, July 30.

Even with that release date knowledge, I strongly recommend watching this launch trailer. It's informative yet quick to the point all ??while being pretty entertaining. I even laughed!

Beginning July 21 and leading up to the title's release at the end of this month, Brace Yourself Games will hold a NecroThon tournament with notable Twitch and YouTube personalities. That'll help pas?s the time and some of the prize money will go to charities.

And, not to be that bad influence in your life, but if you want to go all in for NecroDancer, there are third-party dance pads available.

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Looking at doing a Kickstarter to get people brand new dance pads

The infectiously rhythmic Crypt of the Necrodancer (I hardly even know her!) was one of our games of the show last ??year at PAX Prime. It's back at PAX East, so Holmes tried to do an interview while? playing. On a DDR mat.

While you can play with a keyboard or controller, the dance pad is a pretty fun input method. Apparently the team found a guy who still makes those pads in this garage. They're thinking a??bout doing a Kickstarter so you can order one if ??you want to play the game with it.

Now someone get me the exercise ball turned Katamari controller.

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Dungeons and Dancings

We named Crypt of the NecroDancer one of our PAX Prime 2013 games of the show, despite its location in the eternally cramped and sweaty Indie Megabooth, and for good reason. Roguelikes may be in vogue right now, but none until NecroDancer has had t?he idea to ??fold rhythm gameplay into the genre.

I spent a bit? of time with the title at PAX, and ??after multiple plays, I'm sold on not only the idea, but also the execution.

The basic premise of Crypt of the NecroDancer is a familiar one: players are dropped into procedurally generated dungeon, tasked with finding the exit to a floor and getting as far down as possible. Each run is unique and each death forces a restart, though in the PAX demo, players could choose in which area to restart. W??hat sets it apart?? from a traditional roguelike are the rhythm elements that take the place of turn-based gameplay.

The game is controlled using only the four cardinal directions, with attacks occurring automatically upon moving toward a monster while adjacent to it. The k??ey element ?is that while this is occurring, a song with a heavy beat is playing, and only moves that are executed on the beat are valid. Any panicked attempts to run off beat are penalized by essentially losing that move, opening the protagonist up to attack from nearby monsters.

What results is an almost real time roguelike more akin to Spelunky than to Rogue itself. With limited time to make decisions, even simple situations can go awry pretty easily. Even though monsters move on either a set path or with very simple AI instructions, puzzling out the most efficient way to handle a particular room is ma?de very stressful by the beat mat?ching mechanic.

The soundtrack is composed in part by Danny Baranowsky, who famously provided the tunes for Super Meat Boy, an?d it c??ertainly serves its purpose to keep the player moving to the music, both in game and out. For those wanting more variety, custom soundtracks can be imported.

Though the main conceit of dancing through a dungeon is easy to process and the controls are simple and easy to use, the game is properly difficul?t. On my first run, I made it to the second area where I was ambushed by a huge dragon and very quickly destroyed. Sneaking in a second run, I defeated the dragon, but didn't make it far into the third level before biting it. As with most great roguelikes, the onus of improvement falls entirely on the player.

One really neat feature that stems from the simplified control scheme is that Crypt of the NecroDancer can be played with a variety of input systems, including Dance Dance Revolution dance pads. The booth at PAX had one set up, and it added a whole new layer of difficulty. While I won't be utilizing one myself, I can imagine a community of freestyle dancers making NecroDancer a YouTube hit. It was already a huge hit at PAX, af??ter?? all.

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Haven't seen that done before

If I ever find myself locked in a dungeon, dancing will be my escape; this is what the trailer for Brace Yourself Games' Crypt of the NecroDancer has taught me. The game -- "a hardcore rhythm-based roguelike" -- is?? a veritable new one, as far as I can tell. In it, you'll perform actions to the beat in procedurally-generated dungeons. Just? ... watch the trailer. It'll make sense.

If you have any concerns about the music quality itself, know that notable game composers DannyB and Alec Holowka are attached to NecroDancer.? And since you can also load? your own MP3s into the game, there shouldn't be anything to worry about on that front.

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