Crypt Stalker Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)

Crypt Stalker Review is an 8-bit retro-styled arcade game. Take on the role of Gladys, one of the descendants of the world’s defenders, and stop the demons before they unleash hell on the planet. Explore and defend diverse locations such as pyramids, a lake of fire, or overgrown ruins from unearthly creatures.

Crypt Stalker Review Pros:

  • Decent 8 Bit graphics.
  • 137MB Download size.
  • Own in-game achievements.
  • Challenges mode has set missions with major game-changing rewards.
  • Flickering – on/off.
  • Unlimited lives – on/off.
  • Two ways to play – console (NES looking from the palette to graphics) or handheld (Gameboy-looking border and green screen graphics).
  • Console mode has three game types – original, casual, and the Lost sequel.
  • You have two weapons equipped, a whip and a ranged weapon, and can hotswap between them.
  • 2D action gameplay.
  • Health bar system.
  • The Hud and menus look a lot like the ones used in the earlier Castlevania games.
  • Levels are timed.
  • Breakable objects with random loot dropping.
  • Chiptune soundtrack.
  • The game plays out on a screen-by-screen basis.
  • Hooks appear in levels and hitting them with a whip has you swinging around.
  • Has wall meat! (hidden Breakable wall parts for health items and is usually meat).
  • Big end of the chapter boss battles and you see their health bar.
  • Pick up new ranged weapons and whip types in the game.
  • The game does try new things and adds variety.
  • Clever platform tricks and mechanics.
  • Pick up ammo for your ranged weapons.
  • In casual mode, the game saves after clearing a chapter.
  • A lot of fun to play.
  • Both the console and handheld versions of the game feel different.
  • Fast loading times.
  • Has a retro feel and play style but enough mod cons to keep it current and fresh.
  • Can shoot and destroy enemy projectiles.

Crypt Stalker Review Cons:

  • No tutorials.
  • Doesn’t offer any game control screen.
  • Cannot rebind controls.
  • Can be hard at times to know what is the world and what is the background in the console version of the games.
  • Timing and aiming the whip attacks and hook usage is a real pain.
  • You have to learn and remember what the drops mean and do which is not fun at the start.
  • No checkpoints or ways to save in the game.
  • The music can sound repetitive.
  • Uses the dreaded damage knockback mechanic.
  • On the scroller levels, it’s very hard to see where you need to go in time, and is frustrating.

Related Post: Match Village Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)

Crypt Stalker:

Developer: Sinclair Strange / X (twitter.com)

Publisher: Red Deer Games

Store Links –

Nintendo

  • 7/10
    Graphics - 7/10
  • 7/10
    Sound - 7/10
  • 7/10
    Accessibility - 7/10
  • 8/10
    Length - 8/10
  • 8/10
    Fun Factor - 8/10
7.4/10

Summary

Crypt Stalker features decent 8-bit graphics and 2D action gameplay. It provides two ways to play – console mode, which resembles the NES in terms of palette and graphics, and handheld mode, which has a Gameboy-like border and green screen graphics. The console mode offers three game types – original, casual, and the Lost sequel. The game plays out on a screen-by-screen basis, with levels being timed. The HUD and menus bear a resemblance to those used in earlier Castlevania games.

Players are equipped with two weapons, a whip, and a ranged weapon, and can hotswap between them. Hooks appear in levels, and hitting them with a whip allows players to swing around. Players can pick up new ranged weapons and whip types in the game, as well as ammo for their ranged weapons. The game also features clever platform tricks and mechanics.

The game has its in-game achievements and a Challenge mode with set missions that offer major game-changing rewards. In casual mode, the game saves after clearing a chapter. The game also tries new things and adds variety, making it a lot of fun to play. Both the console and handheld versions of the game feel different, adding to the replay value.

The game offers settings such as flickering on/off and unlimited lives on/off. However, it does not offer any game control screen, and controls cannot be rebound. This could be a point of improvement for the developers.

With a download size of 137MB, the game has fast loading times. It has a retro feel and play style but enough modern conveniences to keep it current and fresh.

Some challenges include timing and aiming the whip attacks and hook usage, which can be difficult. It can also be hard at times to distinguish between the world and the background in the console version of the games. The game uses the dreaded damage knockback mechanic, and on the scroller levels, it can be very hard to see where you need to go in time, which can be frustrating. The game features a chiptune soundtrack. However, the music can sound repetitive after a while.

Overall, Crypt Stalker is a game that successfully blends retro and modern elements, offering a unique and enjoyable gaming experience despite a few challenges. It’s definitely worth playing and with what is basically three games in one, You get a lot of action for your money.

Jim Smale

Gaming since the Atari 2600, I enjoy the weirdness in games counting Densha De Go and RC De Go as my favourite titles of all time. I prefer gaming of old where buying games from a shop was a thing, Being social in person was a thing. Join me as I attempt to adapt to this new digital age!