Castle Crashers Review

By Dan Whitehead Published 28 August, 2008

Turrets syndrome.

Version tested: Xbox 360

I've just watched an owl poop itself to death. Moments later, a deer is similarly afflicted and takes off across the screen like a rocket, leaving a light brown vapour trail as it goes. It's important that you know these facts, because whether or not you find them funny will dictate how you'll respond to Castle Crashers' epic medieval multiplayer adventure. It's a lot like a jacuzzi, you see. There's nothing to stop you enjoying it by yourself, but it's even more fun with other people. And if those other people happen to be a close-knit group of like-minded friends - the sort of friends who find an owl's bowels hilarious, for instance - then you have the ingredients for a very special evening's entertainment.

Much like The Behemoth's last Live Arcade effort, Alien Hominid HD, this is a resolutely old-fashioned side-scroller. Where it differs is in a much less brutal learning curve, a vastly increased amount of peripheral stuff to play with and a generally more rounded gaming experience.

Whereas Alien Hominid was all about blasting, Castle Crashers is all about the hack and slash. You choose a knight from an initial range of four (additional characters can be unlocked) and set about avenging a gross intrusion into your quiet castle life. An evil wizard has barged in, eaten all the Mini Cheddars, stolen a giant crystal and kidnapped four princesses to boot.

'Castle Crashers' Screenshot 1

Shades of Psychonauts as one of the weirder boss fights pits you against an army of freaky doodles.

Combat is of the traditional fast-fast-strong combo style, and you can also pick up ranged weapons such as a boomerang or bow. Each character has their own magic attack, carried out by holding the right trigger and pressing Y. As well as the predictable elemental spells there are also poison attacks and rains of arrows and spears. Power-ups can be found or purchased, enabling you to throw bombs or, by eating a sandwich, transform into a hulking brute capable of smashing down impassable doorways. It's a familiar and inviting arcade set-up, offering a knowing wink in the direction of Golden Axe, so there's nothing stopping you from jumping straight in and carving up some cartoon miscreants. Experience points are accrued with each hit, and basic stats can be increased between levels, adding a small taste of RPG depth to the relentless mashing.

With the emphasis on manic combat, there's not a whole lot of depth to the adventuring side of things. You need certain items to progress past certain points, but these are always located at the end of obvious paths and obtained by pummelling your way through crowds of bad guys to take a crack at a boss. Levels are small but numerous - 36 in total, plus five arenas - and as you complete each one it's unlocked on the world map. You're free to roam between the levels you've completed, and with almost no loading times it's quick and easy to dart around looking for items or secrets.

'Castle Crashers' Screenshot 2

Can you spot the playable characters?

The main story, played in sequence, is fairly meaty. You're looking at the best part of six or seven hours, at least, before you'll polish it off. Even so, the game offers up considerable replay value as well, with dozens of weapons to find - ranging from swords and axes to fishing rods, sausages and seagulls - as well as Animal Orbs. These are cute little support characters that will follow you around and help you out. Some are easily found, hovering along your linear path or purchased from the various in-game shops. Others require some searching or must be taken from enemies.

When equipped, Animal Orbs bestow status buffs to your strength, defence or agility, as well as additional attack options or the ability to find previously hidden items. The only downside, which applies to weapons as well, is that there's no way of seeing what the effect of a new animal or sword is without quitting the level and journeying all the way back to the start of the map to visit the blacksmith. They're devilishly cute though, and internet rumours of plush toy spin-offs come as no surprise.

The art style is similar to Alien Hominid, but noticeably more polished and detailed. Incidental details abound, and the heavily stylised look is applied to an impressive range of enemies, animals and environments without ever feeling stale. Where the visuals prove less than useful is in the annoying frequency with which enormous scenery items obscure huge chunks of the screen. You're often left fighting with no idea of where you are and in a game that relies so heavily on controlled chaos that's a poor design decision.

The flat sprites also prove confusing where collision detection is concerned. It's a problem that affected many of the classic side-scrollers that influenced Castle Crashers, but it's somehow more annoying to see it occur in a modern game. The game is very fussy about where you can stand to actually land a hit, with a strange dead zone slightly above enemies but no such restriction below them. In other words, if you're standing a few pixels higher than an enemy, you probably won't hit them. Shuffle down by a tiny amount and suddenly your sword finds its target. This is especially problematic in some of the later boss fights, and is downright frustrating when you have to play a game of volleyball to progress. Miss the ball ten times and you have to replay the match, but with a flat ball sprite casting a circular shadow, you can be standing right underneath it and still have it pass through you.

'Castle Crashers' Screenshot 3

Hit points are shown for each strike, but as you don't know how much health enemies have, it's not exactly useful info.

The game isn't particularly well balanced either. Difficulty comes mostly from enemies who knock you down with ranged attacks, and then hit you with another one as soon as you get up. And another. And another. Your block move can be slow to respond in these circumstances, and precious health can be chipped away as you mash the buttons to try and get out of the way. That's assuming you're sticking with the melee attacks, since the magic system - when upgraded - proves so ludicrously effective that you can wipe out masses of enemies with powerful spells that recharge almost instantly. Enemies don't level along with you, so returning to the early stages with a character that's finished the game is embarrassingly easy.

None of these irritations are enough to dim the sheer fun of the game though, especially when played as intended - with four players, either locally, online or whatever mixture of the two best suits your social circle. Characters are carried across from one game to the next, and you can develop all your characters on the same saved game, so you're always earning gold and experience regardless of how you play. It's just a shame there's no drop-in option, given the sheer size of the game. Of course, that's if you can get a game started. The rather basic matchmaking options have been compounded by some terrible connection issues - despite trying all day and night on launch day, we were only able to get a couple of two-player games going for a couple of levels before the connections were lost.

'Castle Crashers' Screenshot 4

Defeat a boss, and a giant chest spews coins and gems. Cue an unsightly scramble for lovely loot.

This is a pretty major problem, since the game is clearly designed around the four-player co-op concept. It's perfectly playable for solo players, and there are few moments that feel like they need a full contingent of players to survive, but the appeal comes from the combination of silly humour and the raucous atmosphere of friends playing together. It's mostly a co-operative experience, but there are PvP arenas, and each time you find a princess you battle among yourselves for the right to kiss her. Basically, the player with the highest level wins - usually by blasting everyone with ferocious magic attacks the instant the battle begins.

Despite the occasional design niggles, and the clunky matchmaking system, there's still more than enough fun in Castle Crashers to justify its 1200-Point price-tag. It's a big, bright and bold dollop of irreverent fun, and it could have been truly phenomenal with a little more attention to the finer details. As it is, it's brushing against greatness but falls frustratingly short of its true potential.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Dan.

About Dan Whitehead

Dan has been writing for Eurogamer since 2006 and specialises in RPGs, shooters and games for children. His bestest game ever is Julian Gollop's Chaos.

Read more articles from Dan by visiting the Dan Whitehead archive page.

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Comments (56) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • triforce23 #1 4 years ago

    first

  • triforce23 #2 4 years ago

    really enjoyed this had great fun levelling up yesterday reminds me of TMNT turtles in time, the simpsons arcade game even better online i would give it 8/10

  • r3n #3 4 years ago

    2 page review for an XBLA game. Aren't there other actual retail games that warrant reviews over this?

  • JayScott #4 4 years ago

    Yes, because Eurogamer NEVER review 'actual retail' games, do they? And anyway, since when was a transaction made over Live Arcade/PSN not a retail transaction?

    Honestly, people have nothing better to do on the internet than fucking complain.
    Edited by 1 at 28/08/08 @ 07:59

  • Ignatius_Cheese #5 4 years ago

    Glad this got a fully fleshed-out review. Loving it so far, even though the toilet humour occasionally gets in the way. The old-skool mechanics and MUSIC!! make this a side-scrolling love in like you wouldn't believe! :oD

  • asphaltcowboy #6 4 years ago

    This is a great game. Really does need to be played in multiplayer to make the most of it though!

  • Xerx3s #7 4 years ago

    Love this! Have been playing this with some of the old SR group and it's awesome fun. Too bad about the MP crash bug.

    /awesome powers of lightning

  • Dizzy #8 4 years ago

    "2 page review for an XBLA game. Aren't there other actual retail games that warrant reviews over this? "

    Since this is better than about 90% of the retail games.

    Anyway.. loving it. It really is an awesome Golden Axe clone (even with ridable mounts) but it actually is much better than GA, with more gameplay depth and a lot more levels and enemies. How many years have we been waiting for a proper new GA/Streets of Rage game? CC is awesome in every way and with friends it is guaranteed to be crazy fun. Almost as good as Guardian Heroes ;)

    /awesome powers of blowing up things
    Edited by 2 at 28/08/08 @ 08:51

  • Scimarad #9 4 years ago

    Why not do a 'big' review on downloadable games? What the hell does the delivery method matter...

  • Krelle #10 4 years ago

    r3n earnx the Ignore for pure stupidity

  • Ignatius_Cheese #11 4 years ago

    @ asphaltcowboy - Same time tonight...? ;o)

  • Apostle #12 4 years ago

    As good as MGS4 then?

    /someone had too

  • the_dudefather #13 4 years ago

    @Apostle

    both feature pooping, so at least they are comparable ;)

  • andywilkie35 #14 4 years ago

    "2 page review for an XBLA game. Aren't there other actual retail games that warrant reviews over this?"

    oh dear

    fantastic game, really enjoyed playing it last night, will try and get my flatmate in for some multiplayer so I can see what thats like

  • Gearskin #15 4 years ago

    This rules.

  • Miths #16 4 years ago

    I just started playing an hour ago and I'm really enjoying it so far. With Geometry Wars 2 and this it looks like my 360 will actually be coming out of hibernation for a few days :).

  • asphaltcowboy #17 4 years ago

    @ Mr. Cheese, why of course! Will have to see if I can convince my brother to get in on the action!

  • InsoFox #18 4 years ago

    r3n is what is wrong with gaming.

  • Xerx3s #19 4 years ago

    Just found an awesome mace that gives me +6 magic.

    70 dmg Magic jump + 80 dmg electricity bolts = death from above. \0/

  • rover #20 4 years ago

    'Confusing' and 'downright frustrating' collision detection...

    'Terrible connection issues' that meant the reviewer only managed to get a couple of two-player games going for a couple of levels, despite trying 'all day and night'.
    Gameplay that's basically 'relentless mashing'.

    Plus there was no mention the jerky framerate (in a 2D game on Xbox 360!) that I noticed from playing the demo.

    And somehow it's a top multiplayer game (presumably you mean offline, Dan?) and worth 8 out of 10. I don't get that impression from the review.

  • Amicus #21 4 years ago

    Game this reminds me of the most is that Konami Simpsons beat em up actually. That and Gauntlet.

  • viper_h #22 4 years ago

    Yeah this review definitely didn't read like an 8/10.

    I played the demo last night, thought it was pretty piss poor for a 2008 game, and deleted it. Aren't we past mindless hack and slash games now? It's just screen after screen of dumb enemies or overpowered ones with bows who chain-hit you to the floor over and over.

    And this for 1200 points, over something like Braid? No thank you.

  • Snarky #23 4 years ago

    This game is brilliant, you just need 1 other person to join in for it to be one of the best games of the year. 10/10 from me!

  • Dizzy #24 4 years ago

    "Plus there was no mention the jerky framerate (in a 2D game on Xbox 360!) that I noticed from playing the demo. "

    There is no jerky framerate... that is why there was no mention of it.

    "'Confusing' and 'downright frustrating' collision detection... "

    Again... bullshit. Unless you are having trouble going back to 2D gaming.... all of these games have the same type of collision detection, obviously you need to be more or less on the same plane as your opponent (something Guardian Heroes solved with a clever trick ofc).

  • kinky_mong #25 4 years ago

    Loving it so far. The only complaint I have is the awful "All you can quaff" game and the fact one of the achievements is to win 20 of those online.

    Won't be getting all 200 on this one then.
    Edited by 1 at 28/08/08 @ 11:13

  • pesser #26 4 years ago

    1200 MS points YOU CAN SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS MICROSOFT

  • ThePissartist #27 4 years ago

    I REALLY enjoyed this game - reminded me why I got into games in the first place.

    *totally agrees with the Simpsons Arcade game comments*

  • septimus #28 4 years ago

    Still undecided, but worth the 1200 points more than braid.

  • Monkey_Puncher #29 4 years ago

    Great game, well worth the price!

    If this came out as a budget retail release or on DS for £25, nobody would moan about the price.

  • kinky_mong #30 4 years ago

    1200 MS points YOU CAN SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS MICROSOFT

    Yeah how dare they charge just above £10 to recompense The Behemoth for all their time and hard work on a content heavy arcade game!

    Tightwad.

  • Snidesworth #31 4 years ago

    Had immense fun with this online yesterday. The game definitely benefits from playing with a few good pals.

  • Pastici #32 4 years ago

    Ahhh, my favorite genre from yesteryear. Bought it as soon as I finished the demo, love it :). Plus it has a hint of Track and Field :)

  • goldenbone #33 4 years ago

    Awesome game. Yes, its 2008. Yes, there is a desire for sophisticated and boundary pushing games, but that really doesn't have much bearing on a well put together fun game such as this (and geometry wars 2). Criticising Castle Crashers for not being 'modern' enough solidly misses the point. It has a few problems, but really.. it's fantastic fun.

    And on the issue of cost. You can see what your points are buying with this game, in terms of content, design and polish. It looks and sounds excellent, has fantastic graphical attention to detail, and enough gameplay to last a good bit, especially with multiple players.

    XBOX live has been excellent over the summer.. I've bought zero boxed titles and 3 XBL games since the drought began.

  • Gearskin #34 4 years ago

    Can't believe people get all shirty at spending 1200 on a game with what? 20+ characters, 40+ weapons, magic, and 20 odd levels.

    Oh, and full co-op. All wrapped up in gorgeous visuals.

  • BillyBrush #35 4 years ago

    Bit too much button mashing for me (enemies with slightly too many hit points imo), got rather tiresome pretty quickly, each to their own & all that, nice kooky art style...but it didn't exactly oust Moonstone from the top of my medieval tree (saying that i only played the demo so whaddo i know)...very much like the dishwasher that XNA game...

  • Nithron #36 4 years ago

    Viper_H: It's just screen after screen of dumb enemies or overpowered ones with bows who chain-hit you to the floor over and over.

    That... Actually sounds a lot like Gears of War to me.

  • Gearskin #37 4 years ago

    Enemies aren't over powered. I also found some combos to be pretty effective against the arrow hurling dudes. I like the combat system, it's cool. There are lots of ways to batter your enemies.

  • kinky_mong #38 4 years ago

    Viper_H: It's just screen after screen of dumb enemies or overpowered ones with bows who chain-hit you to the floor over and over.

    That... Actually sounds a lot like Gears of War to me.

    Quote of the Day!

    And IMO Castle Crashers is 10 times the game Gears of War is.

  • dryden555 #39 4 years ago

    though I love the look of the game, to me at least, I didnt so much enjoy the fighting mechanics. There doesnt seem to be much of a connect of my swing to what the enemies are doing. Also annoying is that hitting "behind" the 2D graphical enemies seemed to confuse the game about what I was doing and where I was. Some folks will love it and they should too. But not for me.

  • r3n #40 4 years ago

    @Insofox & Krelle: Clearly you two are more of the problem with gaming than me. I was giving my opinion where as you two were just bashing.

    Hardly a stupid opinion either. It's great that Eurogamer takes the time out to review XBLA games, but seems to lack reviews of many shop bought games that other sites do review. Just seems a bit online content-centric atm, which is irritating as I don't have a net connection for my 360 as is the same with many casual gamers.

  • Xerx3s #41 4 years ago

    "Just seems a bit online content-centric atm, which is irritating as I don't have a net connection for my 360 as is the same with many casual gamers."

    That's the problem, right there.

  • HyperShadow #42 4 years ago

    @r3n

    But, during this summer and indeed most summers, the 'shop' games are pure drivel and shovelware. Sure there have been the odd 'big' release, but they have been covered already.

    Would you rather Eurogamer devote two pages to BABIEZ on the DS just because you can buy it in a shop rather than Castle Crashers, which the Eurogamer reader actually might be interested in?

  • lambtron #43 4 years ago

    "Just seems a bit online content-centric atm, which is irritating as I don't have a net connection for my 360 as is the same with many casual gamers."

    There are people who don't have the internet? How quaint.

  • viper_h #44 4 years ago

    I don't understand your point about Gears of War? I didn't like that game either.

    From what I saw of the demo, I didn't like it. The demo didn't sell it to me. You guys saying it's good because of all the stuff the demo doesn't do, would mean I'd have to buy the game to see this stuff, and it might still be shit.

    I didn't like the graphics either - I felt like I was playing a flash game. And the fact that I only had 2 attacks and none of this so-called "magic" didn't help this game's case.

    I didn't play it with a mate - it might be more fun that way, but as an SP game, it blew nads. I won't be investing, so that's why I'm out.
    Edited by 1 at 28/08/08 @ 14:52

  • asphaltcowboy #45 4 years ago

    @viper_h: Magic is very much in the demo... are you sure you played it?

  • muscleblade #46 4 years ago

    The demo didnt do this game justice. The game gets better and better as you level up.
    Edited by 1 at 28/08/08 @ 15:26

  • Pastici #47 4 years ago

    spot the guys who didn't grow up with arcades!

  • Retroid #48 4 years ago

    I grew up with arcades (in fact, I own a JAMMA cabinet) and I wasn't that impressed with the demo. Certainly not 1200 / ~£7.50 worth of impressed...

  • r3n #49 4 years ago

    Yeah, I guess it must be something of a dry patch for review-worthy boxed games. Seems ages since I last read a full game review I was interested in (think it was Only Human, which was crap anyways apparently). I obviously have the net, but don't get wireless coverage in my room :( still know loads of ppl that have net just don't bother connecting their consoles because they're stuck in their old ways.

  • Nithron #50 4 years ago

    Viper_H: I didn't really have a point, I actually just read that and thought it worked as a description of Gears of War. Guess I was just saying it for laughs.

  • DjFlex52 #51 4 years ago

    I obviously have the net, but don't get wireless coverage in my room :( still know loads of ppl that have net just don't bother connecting their consoles because they're stuck in their old ways.

    @r3n

    ermmm....if you really were stuck, you would be using a PC with Windows 98 and playing a Megadrive/SNES :)
    Just unplug your connection from your computer and into your 360...Voila!!

  • Pastici #52 4 years ago

    I don't really mean in the way it feels like an arcade game, just that it's a brawler.

  • bloodflowers #53 4 years ago

    Despite this not being as good as a large number of vintage scrolling beatemups, I bet they'd have been marked down for being 'retro'.

  • Wildsleven #54 4 years ago

    played the demo, love it! its a great game to play together with a few friends!

  • Telepathic.Geometry #55 4 years ago

    Gah, fuck you all and your praise! :( Looks like I have to go to the convenience store and buy MS credits now so. :/

  • haowan #56 4 years ago

    "1200 MS points YOU CAN SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS MICROSOFT"

    "1200 MSP = too much."

    It's disgraceful that they let these filthy poor people access the internet.