There are video games with characters who have all sorts of normal, everyday jobs, and that’s always been the case throughout history. Mario’s plumbing background is legendary, of course, but with successful games like Powerwash Simulator, we’re really entering a working-class era in video games now. Crypt Custodian is another title that focuses on someone with a less glamorous job, although admittedly he got it in the afterlife.
We all wonder what the afterlife is like, but have you ever wondered what the afterlife is like for cats? According to Crypt Custodian, it’s not exactly the fairest situation, as our hero Pluto learns firsthand. When Pluto is convicted for his past actions, he is sentenced to clean up the afterlife for all eternity, and it’s not long before others are found with the same fate. Determined to avoid this eternal punishment, Pluto and his friends plan an uprising that will require them to round up a whole host of other ghosts and fight against the force.
It’s a charming enough game setup, but the gist of Crypt Custodian is actually similar to a top-down Zelda game, but with a much more otherworldly setting. There are loads of goodies to find and new abilities that open up new areas. Rolling and jumping along each path is almost always rewarding and improves Pluto in various ways (mostly in combat, though).
Crypt Custodian’s hack-and-sweep combat is crisp and fun, with precise controls and a variety of attacks to keep the baddies at bay. It’s pretty easy to take a lot of damage and die (or die again, I suppose) if you’re not careful, so dodge rolls and bullet-circulation are the name of the game here. Unlike many top-down action game heroes, however, Pluto can jump, which can be used to skip all projectiles entirely, which is incredibly helpful when things get a little hectic.
Jumping is all well and good when a hole blocks your path, but to explore every hidden corner of Crypt Custodian you need more skills. These are regularly made available to you as you fight your way through new areas and defeat hideous bosses, and you’ll expand your repertoire considerably. An air sprint makes larger gaps a breeze, while the ability to clone yourself takes care of weighing down switches. It’s the addictive Metroidvania formula at its best, with plenty of worthwhile upgrades to be found when you go back with new skills.
The best collectibles Crypt Custodian has to offer are passive upgrades you can equip. These are all pretty game-changing, ranging from simple stat buffs like bonus health or attack power when you’re one hit away from death, to making all enemies you kill explode into orbs for maximum chaos. However, you can’t equip these without having enough upgrade points, which you can also find in the world or as a reward for completing a tricky challenge.
One way Crypt Custodian adds variety throughout the game is the variety of challenges you’ll find throughout the world. There are cursed statues that reward you with upgrade points if you can kill a number of enemies, while you’re cursed with a horrific effect, such as spikes that chase you and damage you if you stand still, or having all enemies fire deadly boomerangs when killed. There are also orbs that you have to collect within a strict time limit to open doors to goodies, and chests that only open if you survive a few waves of enemies without getting hit. If these are too tricky at first, there’s no shame in coming back later, but I found the challenge they presented to be just perfect.
There’s really not much to complain about with Crypt Custodian, at least nothing too bad. The death animation takes far too long (even if you skip it) and the checkpoints are quite far apart, which can be a bit annoying at times. These issues only really arise when you die, though, and even then they’re not particularly bothersome.
Crypt Custodian is a delightful top-down Metroidvania with a unique setting, exciting combat, and plenty of upgrades to collect. Every time I discovered a new core ability, I was excited to be able to return to previously blocked paths. What more could you want from this genre? Kyle Thompson has once again created something truly special without a huge team, making Crypt Custodian an incredibly recommendable game for almost anyone.
