Crypt Custodian Review
Pluto for COTY (Cat of the Year)
(Steam code provided for review by publisher Top Hat Studios. Thank you!)
Black cats get a bad rap. Pluto is an adorable black cat who grew up on the streets but, like so many of his fellow felines, eventually found a loving forever home—until one fateful night when he managed to get out of the house. With the last of his nine lives gone, he wakes up in the afterlife.
This is the basic premise behind Crypt Custodian, the next Metroidvania from Kyle Thompson, creator of Islets and Sheepo. Crypt Custodian looks just as charming and colorful, and if you’re a fan of the genre, it’s a must-play. Suppose you’re rolling your eyes at the thought of another Metroidvania on the indie scene? In that case, Pluto’s adorableness, the vibrant world and characters, and gameplay options make this one a great gateway.
After arriving in the afterlife, you’re presented with some exposition in the form of your new pal Pip, who explains that Kendra is in charge. She decides whether you go to the good place, the bad place, or, if you’re like your friend, you stay where you are and become an afterlife janitor forever. FOREVER!
After a brief period where you learn the game’s basic mechanics, you meet Kendra. She begins to go through your life, and it looks like you’re going to get the good ending—EXCEPT while learning the mechanics of the game, you’re given a broom, and to get to Kendra, you need to smash some stuff. Kendra’s maniacal nature peeks out, and despite your story, you’re sentenced to your time in the afterlife as a janitor. She unceremoniously banishes you from the palace with nothing more than a “GG.”
And so the real game begins. You’re not the only one who has missed out on the good place, either. The broom that got you into this mess is your reliable sidekick, allowing you to break all kinds of things over the map, and it’s also your means to defend yourself. Combat with the broom, especially when you get into a rhythm and land those hits, just feels and sounds oh-so-satisfying.
I should mention here that you have a few options for difficulty when it comes to combat. If you’ve read my reviews before, I’ve mentioned that I don’t vibe with games that are difficult for the sake of being difficult, but I know there are plenty of players out there who do. (I’m married to one.) Those kinds of players will feel extremely satisfied at the highest difficulty of Crypt Custodian, and players like me will feel quite at home with one of the easier options. There are also some modifiers in place for those who wish to use them.
My only qualm with the game is that there was a time or two where it didn’t feel like the modifiers were in place, but I’m sure that’s something that will be addressed after the full game launch if I’m not the only one who feels that way.
Some other small observations regarding combat: respawning after death is nearly instant. You die, you wake up, and you’re immediately back in control. You’re not a floaty corpse seeking to reunite yourself with your body or at a checkpoint you triggered half an hour ago. You don’t lose half your money or any other craziness like that. Dying is punishing enough without all the other hoops other games have you jump through.
As you travel the map, taking down enemies and defeating bosses, you’ll discover shrines where you can save, equip items and upgrades, and replenish your health. One of these shrines is unlocked almost right away. There are tons of upgrades and abilities to unlock, some more suited for certain playstyles than others. I loved traveling back to early shrines as I got more powerful, as I was able to get to more places I hadn’t been yet. The map fills itself out as you explore, so you don’t need to worry about finding a certain checkpoint or searching every single corner for a map.
It’s worth it to explore. On your quest to change your fate, you meet your fellow inhabitants, fellow janitors, and you’ll learn how they died and what ‘crimes’ they supposedly committed to face the same punishment as you. After meeting them, they’re available for you to talk to further at The Sinner’s Inn, the location that serves as your first shrine and where you can purchase upgrades and other items for your gear.
It’s vibrant and charming, but how does it run? As stated above, I was provided a Steam code for this review, and it ran beautifully on my Intel rig with a 3090 video card. It’s also flawless on the Steam Deck, and Thompson has said he’s aiming for it to be fully verified when it is released.
Crypt Custodian will be out later today on PC and all major consoles for $19.99.
Thanks again to Top Hat Studios for the review code! Let us know if you pick up the game by leaving a comment below!