Pluto’s adventure draws you into its mythical afterlife, a place where souls embrace a new purpose after life’s end. As a curious cat cast to cleanse this ethereal realm, you piece together encounters with spirited souls and clues from scattered photographs to understand journeys now past.
Crypt Custodian transfixes with tales of loss and longing beneath its whimsical veneer. Developed by brothers Kyle and Eric Thompson, the game casts players as Pluto to sweep the afterlife by broomstick and unravel mysteries through play. Metroidvania gameplay merges with top-down exploration amongst gorgeously handcrafted islands as new abilities expand the imaginative world.
This review aims to share the magic of Crypt Custodian. We’ll explore Pluto’s story and the characters who find community in death. Gameplay mechanics receive focus for their polish and potential. Visual and audio complements dazzle. And we reflect on what lingers from this journey into the great beyond.
A Journey and New Friends
Pluto’s curiosity leads him on quite an adventure. As a new soul in the afterlife, his first meeting with Kendra leaves him sentenced to sweep trash for eternity. But Pluto isn’t one to let that stop his exploring. And as he cleans, his findings reveal the mysteries of this strange realm.
Along the way, Pluto encounters others who now call this place home. Like him, many were regular animals in life—pets, stray animals, and wildlife alike. Yet death has brought them together in new bodies, dressed like people, as they spend forever outside the palace walls.
Each new friend joined has a tale, glimpsed through collectible photographs scattered around. Piecing their stories together shows lives cut short and families left behind. Still, Pluto’s companions welcome his company, eager to experience new things despite circumstances.
Pluto’s pals aren’t the only curious souls he meets. Strange enemies cross his path, guarding the secrets of who dwells in this land and why. Hardworking bosses stand in Pluto’s way, yet battling their powers rewards him with new skills to chart farther.
Kendra likely wanted Pluto to stay a janitor, but his curiosity transforms cleaning into exploring as he seeks the truth of this place. And all the while, Pluto’s new pals suggest that even in death, friendship remains to lighten any load. Their individual charms come through despite plaguing pasts, crafting an endearing world where mirth meets more solemn notes.
A Sweeping Adventure
Pluto’s janitorial duty transforms into an adventure through Crypt Custodian’s gameplay. Top-down exploration lets players hop between islands that build a vast map to uncover. Platforming handles cleanly whether leaping gaps or scaling cliffs.
Combat revolves around Pluto’s broom, swept side to side to bash critters. Different foes offer unique patterns to learn. Battles engage thanks to ever-changing situations like gauntlet rooms that test your skills. Between fights, experience and currency earn upgrades at The Sinner’s Inn, like health boosts or powerful special attacks.
Challenges encourage problem-solving. Some puzzles involve hitting puzzle orbs in a precise order. Others require maneuvering platforms or avoiding hazards to progress. Experimentation reveals solutions that feel fair yet satisfying.
The game constantly evolves. New abilities are unlocked, generally after defeating tough bosses. Abilities range from dashes to boomerang brooms, each altering your approach. One enhances jumps while another spawns clones to distract enemies. Finding uses for every skill helps levels feel fresh on replays.
Combat Trials and curses introduce variety, like beating foes without getting hit or clearing fields of brambles. Their conditions mix up routine fights. Puzzles and combat harmonize to maintain engaging gameplay across Crypt Custodian’s sweeping adventure.
Otherworldly Environments
Crypt Custodian crafts beautifully bizarre worlds to wander as Pluto. Delicate brushstrokes bring each locale to life, teeming with plants or machines depending where feet land next. Vibrant pigments portray grasslands beside steampunk fortresses suspended above the void.
Progression unveils these places piece by piece. Early journeys confine exploration to scattered shores, but new moves puncture barriers. Soaring high reveals grappling points to scale mountains. Twisting portals transport between alien landscapes, tucking hidden sanctuaries across veins and streaming resources.
Masters shaped these realms through architecture as much as flora. Staircases spiraling stone spires stretch towards churning clouds, connected by delicate planks swaying over churning waterfalls. Ancient pillars inscribe runes guiding paths between geological wonders like geode grottoes glowing from within.
Secrets lurk around each corner, from treasure-dotted platforms to hidden shrines tucked through impossible crevices. But dense networks thread areas together, granting shortcuts once tough stretches become home turf. Map markers note what mysteries remain out of reach for now, teasing incentives on subsequent playthroughs.
Progression propels through these paintings at a steady, satisfying pace. Newfound talents forever reshape how eyes explore each frame, finding depths where blank spaces remained before. Crypt Custodian envelopes mind and sight in memorable vistas at every turn.
Mystical Melodies and Masterful Art
Crypt Custodian immerses the mind through sight and sound. Brothers Kyle and Eric craft worlds that dazzle yet soothe. Delicate strokes bring haunting hollows to life as lush forests or mechanical marvels, every swaying leaf or churning gear distinct.
Engrossing scorescapes elevate exploration. Melodies drift and swell to match each new find, whispering questions of what mysteries could wait further. Cheerful notes disguise uncertain roots with dreaming fantastical voyages into vibrant vistas.
Technical wizardry captures it all. Art pops free of limitations normally bounding such small teams. Smoothness persists from title to ending despite lush hand-drawn visuals filled with rich details. Particle effects waft leaves and embers to complete scenes already gripping the soul.
Characters spring to inky, emotive performances. Fluid motions bring personalities to pets and spirits alike with care in every animated quirk. Lip flaps tie voices seamlessly into conversations where humor interweaves with heartfelt notes of loss or hope.
Isometric views could confine, yet Crypt Custodian excels. Platforming flow remains slick and clear despite overlooking angle. Subtle visual language still signals where leaps may carry Pluto or hazards lurk, immersing fully while maintaining function.
Accomplishment shines in every aspect, showing passion pieces can match triple A polish. Crypt Custodian proves a masterclass in vision brought to life by multimedia magic, bearing souls into dreamscapes destined to endure in memory.
Exploring Endlessly
Crypt Custodian considers players every step. Accessibility options adjust text size or controller button mapping for any need. Multiple save slots and warp points remove tedium from replay.
Boss battles offer endless rematches through Rush Mode. Pit Pluto against favorites torturing past selves, now with mastery to prevail where once struggling. Reminisce glorious moments conquering former threats.
Secrets and side stories inspire replays. Hidden upgrades or tales missed in shadows entice venturing familiar realms with fresh eyes. Note locations yet shrouded on maps to discover mysteries overlooked before.
Trophy hunters toil for platinum standards, challenging reflexes and patience. Skill-testing arena gauntlets or deathless boss kills grant bragging rights over harrowing ordeals.
New Game+ unleashes power through kept levels and gear. Storm previously imposing zones, transforming foes into playthings. Explore differently when the slightest touch risks nothing but new insights into lush locales.
With depth, rewarding dedicated fans, and care for all players, Crypt Custodian invites dwelling in its haunting haunts. Its afterlife offers lifetimes of entertainment, whether first play or hundredth revisiting old friends.
Endlessly Entertaining Afterlife
Pluto’s journey through the hereafter dazzles from beginning to end. Crafted with care by brothers Kyle and Eric, Crypt Custodian succeeds in all aspects of gameplay, narrative, and presentation.
Rich worlds resembling works of art come to life through Pluto’s escapades. Metroidvania elements blend seamlessly as abilities expand accessible routes. Whether platforming, puzzles, or combat, tight mechanics excite without frustration.
Whimsical characters and somber storytelling stir emotion. Backstories pieced from scattered photographs deepen attachment to companion spirits. Bittersweet tales linger in memory alongside luminous melodies on the soundtrack.
Lasting appeal arises from myriad secrets and challenge modes. Finding missed tidbits sparks replays, while boss rush arena and difficulties inspire mastery. Accessibility options let all players fully experience Crypt Custodian’s charms.
Crypt Custodian stands out not only within the Metroidvania genre but as a modern classic. Solo developer Kyle Thompson surpasses excellence yet again, delivering captivation guaranteed to enchant genre fans and newcomers alike. Pluto’s afterlife presents a shining example of creative works at their finest.
The Review
Crypt Custodian
Crypt Custodian delivers a breathtaking adventure from start to finish. Blending polished gameplay, stunning visuals, and an evocative story, Pluto's journey through the afterlife will immerse and enthrall players. Solo developer Kyle Thompson has outdone himself yet again, crafting an enchanting Metroidvania world that merits repeated exploration.
PROS
- Beautiful hand-drawn visuals and art style
- Evocative soundtrack that enhances atmospherics
- Tight controls and satisfying gameplay mechanics
- Engaging story and cast of characters
- A dense world with lots of secrets to discover
- Regular ability upgrades that change exploration
- Challenging boss fights and combat scenarios
- Post-game leaderboards and rush mode for replayability
- Accessible to players of all skill levels.
CONS
- Combat can feel repetitive at times.
- Short length for experienced Metroidvania fans
- Minor control customization options
