Crashing the Castle

What’s the best time you and 3 friends have ever had in front of a screen?  Well, if you’ve already had the pleasure of playing Castle Crashers, a run-through the colorful world was likely a party unto itself.

Let’s start with the unique art style; Castle Crashers uses bright colors, simple palettes, bold outlines, and a hand-drawn look to keep things simple.  The distinct silhouettes keep the player’s eye on their knight, while clearly defining what enemies are at hand.  Bright flashes and wonderful animations keep fights engaging; the environments are fresh and unique at every level.  Suffice to say that Castle Crashers is a very pretty game.

Now, what does this seemingly basic look convey in its play?  Silliness.  Sheer, unadulterated, silly fun.  The tale of the player’s trek across the land is fraught with ninjas, bears, skeletons slime bats aliens … too many varieties to include.  These antagonists are keeping the princesses of the kingdom hostage for the evil intentions of an all-powerful sorcerer in his massive fortress.  Not cliché enough for you yet?  Here’s a spoiler – the hero (you or one of your buddies) gets the girl at the end!  Just the unabashed nature of player motivation is worth playing this game.

With the praises I’ve already shoveled on this title, here’s a bow to wrap it up: the controls rock.  Direction is smooth, button presses are responsive, and the straight-forward consequences of what the player does never get turned-around on the player.  It feels ‘natural’ to do things in game.  And did I mention the starting room that prompts the players to test just what their knight can do?  Well, it’s brilliant.

If you are sick of my swooning, don’t worry – I’m done.  But please, if you have a few bucks and a handful of friends that like to have fun together, play this game.  You owe it to yourself to have as much fun as Castle Crashers offers, and it’s also a great study in how a game can take ‘simple’ to complex and epically enjoyable heights.

P.S.  I’m not sure what I’ll write on next, but it’ll come sooner or later.  Until then, take care!

• + Colorful palette is refreshing from level to level.
• + Tight controls with solid cooperative play.
• + Plentiful enemy, item, and power variety.
• + Sheer … fun to experience.
• - Not more games like this.
• A fix: Study this game, and make more like it!