Roguelikes may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about video games, but recent releases helped to propel the genre into the spotlight in the last decade. Though the game has been out for almost a decade, Crypt of the NecroDancer is well known for its rhythm system, taking a unique and challenging direction on the basic roguelike gameplay. It’s easy to see the impact that this Brace Yourself Games title has made since its humble release in 2015 for the PC, with releases on different platforms and collaboration with the Legend of Zelda franchise to create a spin-off on the Switch.
The developers recently announced a spin-off to the rhythm-based roguelike, making this an excellent opportunity to take a look at what made Crypt of the NecroDancer surge into popularity amongst obscurity.
▍An Amazing Combination of Rhythm and Roguelike
The musical beat mechanics of Crypt of the NecroDancer is the game’s defining trait, where the player moves in time with the song’s rhythm to progress through each level and defeat enemies. Mastering this mechanic is the key to success, as defeating enemies while following the beat would grant a gold drop multiplier to the player, expanding the player’s options for the current run.
The title doesn’t stray too far from its roots, featuring the ability to equip different weapons and armor, collecting Diamonds to activate bonuses for subsequent runs, and unlocking different characters to play as, each with their own unique gimmicks to take into consideration.
The rhythm mechanics are intuitive but not overly punishing so that the player can easily understand how a faster or slower song will impact their exploration. With plenty of support and a distinct identity, it’s clear how Crypt of the NecroDancer has won its accolades in sound design. The title’s core gameplay creates an experience that offers the best of both genres without compromise.
▍Customization at Your Fingertips
Even though the game’s soundtrack works in tandem with its core gameplay to fully immerse the player, Crypt of the NecroDancer was initially limited to its own soundtrack. Thankfully, some relatively early updates to the game’s lifespan allow the player to use their own music when playing the game, and the roguelike is able to adjust to different BPMs!
Consistent updates have added new features to the title, such as the inclusion of new characters, gameplay mod compatibility, custom rulesets, and even multiplayer functionality to keep the game fresh despite its time. A collaboration with the Danganronpa series lets players use the latter’s soundtrack for gameplay, and there are skins featuring important characters!
▍Enter the Rift of the NecroDancer
For a title with such critically acclaimed success, Crypt of the NecroDancer has stood the test of time that comes with most games that explode in popularity. Yet, Brace Yourself Games aren’t content on resting on their laurels by announcing Rift of the NecroDancer. Check out the reveal trailer below, which brings a modern touch to the first game’s fantasy setting!
Several different game modes are featured in the short trailer, which all pay homage to other popular rhythm games. The classical music bars from Dance Dance Revolution and other similar titles are shown first, where enemies are the notes that must be pressed in time with the beat. Interestingly enough, each enemy is pushed back, rather than removed from the music bar.
The second game mode shown looks to be a one-on-one fighter, where the heroine, Cadence is shown to dodge her opponent’s attacks in the time of the beat. This particular mode looks to be reserved for boss battles, given her opponent’s appearance and the visible health gauge on the right side of the screen.
Finishing off the trailer is a minigame that wouldn’t look out of place in the Rhythm Heaven series, where a chibi version of the heroine is posing to the rhythm in the middle of a yoga session. It’s likely that these cute minigames serve as the main portion of gameplay during lighter moments of the story.
On the other hand, the opportunity to return to the classic roguelike with updated graphics is also something to look out for, given its role in the franchise’s rise to fame.
Pulling iconic visuals from such popular games in the genre is sure to entice rhythm game players who may have been put off by the roguelike aspects of Crypt of the NecroDancer. Time will tell how Rift of the NecroDancer will perform, but hopefully, there will be references of Beat Saber, the Vocaloid franchise, and perhaps even Osu!; notable games that made their mark in history.
▍What Changes Can be Made in This Spinoff?
Crypt of the NecroDancer is a remarkable title, and its positive reviews are a clear indicator of the game’s success despite being released seven years ago. As one of many fans who are looking forward to Rift of the NecroDancer, I’m personally excited to see what the sequel will add to the franchise.
Gameplay wise, there would be very little that I would significantly change; hopefully, the sequel has the ability to create a personal collection of different minigames and game modes, each with its own track that can be selected by the player. Going beyond the Level Editor in the base game, being able to choose the tracks that play is more than just a personal choice, given what’s been shown in Crypt of the NecroDancer; the BPM of each song impacts the difficulty of each level!
Alternatively, each of the game modes in Rift of the NecroDancer could have an endless mode like the base game. It wouldn’t be groundbreaking in the rhythm or roguelike genre but adds replayability outside of the main story.
▍The NecroDancer Franchise Has a Bright Future Ahead
Crypt of the NecroDancer may not be in the spotlight at the moment, but that doesn’t mean its time is over. Time will tell how Rift of the NecroDancer will shape up, but what’s been shown by the developers is a good sign that the sequel aims to live up to the acclaim that its predecessor achieved. Until then, Crypt of the NecroDancer is an excellent title that’s available on many platforms and is simple to pick up and play even for newbies.
What features or gameplay changes do you want to see in Rift of the NecroDancer? Are there any rhythm games you want to see a reference for in this sequel?
