Castle Crashers Impressions

So I downloaded the final title in Microsoft’s Summer of Xbox Live Arcade, Castle Crashers. I knew basically nothing about the game except some vague rumors of it being quality.  My best guess was that it was a tower defense game.  Wrong!

Castle Crashers is a exceedingly well put together multiplayer brawler, with a wonderful art style that pokes fun at itself with impunity.  You control one of the four warriors of the kingdom, and set off hacking and slashing your way through level after level of disposable baddies and wicked bosses, all while leveling up your melee, magic, defence, and agility.

It has that classic TMNT arcade cabinet perspective, a sort of cross between 2D and 3D.  The game is cartoonish, but gory, and full of great humor–it’s got a good mix of clever irony and juvenile potty laughs that will definitely make you smile.

The gameplay is addictive–I found myself saying “just one more level” over and over again, and when the game becomes difficult and you die, you’re allowed to keep your XP and attempt the mission again at a new higher level, which will help keep casual players involved.

You can play the campaign solo, or up to 4 person co-op on the same box and over Live.  At 15 dollars it’s a bit steep for an XBLA game, but I think it’s well worth the dough.  In my opinion, Castle Crashers is the best of the bunch from this five week XBLA event.  Pick it up, and send me a game invite!

–WG