Crypt Custodian Review (PlayStation 5)

Crypt Custodian offers a visually appealing experience with its decent cartoon-like graphics and beautiful animations. The game is relatively lightweight with a download size of 577.4MB and includes a platinum trophy for dedicated players. It provides various graphics settings such as photosensitive mode, screen shake, text effects, and camera zoom, along with gameplay settings like a mini-map, ground marker, vibration, language options, and a speed run mode. Players can remap buttons and have access to three save slots. The game features three difficulty levels—easy, normal, and hard—each affecting boss fights, attack patterns, and reaction times.

The action-adventure gameplay is set in a top-down 2.5D world where you play as a car that has died and must navigate the palace afterlife. The game includes tutorial pop-ups and signs to guide you, and the map fills in as you explore. In-game cutscenes and character interactions add depth to the story. Portals allow you to save, teleport, and equip items, while the simple hack-and-slash combat involves a lot of breakable objects to smash. The game also has an emotional angle, which can be sensitive for players who have recently lost a cat.

Combat revolves around hitting and dodging, but the game struggles with signposting, often leaving players to wander aimlessly early on. The combat system requires memorizing patterns, and judging jump distances can be tricky. It’s inconvenient that upgrades and abilities can only be equipped at shrines, and the game feels sporadic with a lot of empty space and not much happening. The focus quickly shifts from collecting garbage to earning upgrade points, which are necessary to buy and upgrade abilities. The game lacks camera control except for zooming, but it compensates with beautiful animations.

Platforming and jumping are significant aspects of the gameplay, with set pieces that can include wave-based events or challenges like taking no damage for a certain time. Players can collect CDs for bonus rewards and place their own markers on the map. Upgrade points are awarded, and you need a certain amount to equip upgrades—the more points, the more upgrades. Finding and releasing trapped spirits also provides bonus rewards. The game includes optional curses, which are quests that change something in the game until completed or until the player dies. The game has a somewhat open feel, and locked doors indicate which enemies need to be defeated to open them.

In summary, Crypt Custodian is a visually charming game with a mix of action-adventure and platforming elements. While it offers a variety of settings and customization options, it suffers from poor signposting and sporadic gameplay. The combat and platforming mechanics require some adjustment, but the game provides a rewarding experience with its upgraded system and emotional narrative.