Cadence of Hyrule takes some of the most famous songs from one of the best video game franchises and reworks how they come into play. A mash up between Brace Yourself Games’ Crypt of the Necrodancer and Nintendo’s beloved Zelda franchise, Candence of Hyrule is like a fresh coat of paint on an already wonderful indie game.
For those who haven’t played Crypt of the Necrodancer, it is a rogue-like combat game that plays to the rhythm of the music. Featuring procedural levels and a progress resetting element, it is a fun game in its own merit.
Crypt of the Necrodancer: Candence of Hyrule takes those same gameplay mechanics and mixes in that Zelda flavor that we have all come to know and love. Without getting too far into spoiler territory, Cadence (the series protagonist) gets transported to the world of Hyrule and recruits Link and Zelda to help save their world and get her back to her own. At the beginning, you can choose between Link or Zelda, each with their own abilities and techniques, in order to traverse Hyrule, search for four magical instruments, and save the land.
The story is rather bare-bones, but what it lacks in story, it makes up for in everything else. This is where we see a lot of the Zelda elements come into play. The musical team has beautifully adapted and remixed some of the best tracks in the Necrodancer-style, which really pulls you into the game. As I sunk my feet into the gameplay mechanics, I noticed there were many times where I would just run around to listen to the music of the world. Even the home screen music is a fantastic rendition of the Ocarina of Time theme, which made me even more excitement to begin the game. Playing to the beat of these beloved tunes made this a really fun adventure.
The monsters of Zelda‘s compendium were also given that Necrodancer makeover, turning some of the best boss monsters into really fun and “pun-filled” battles. Seeing Ghomaracas, for example, wielding giant maracas, as the name suggests, brought a smile to my face. We also see many familiar Zelda items, such as the hookshot, bottles, bombs, and many more, each having their own uses in the game.
We do see a few Zelda-esque puzzle elements, but the gameplay really holds to the Crypt of the Necrodancers mechanics. With that being said, for those who never played the first game, you may have a bit of trouble getting started, but you will quickly get used to it; and if you are still having trouble keeping pace to the rhythm elements, there is a setting that turns it into a standard rogue-like game. Like I said before, the game features many familiar items, which provides a lot of fun and interesting ways of solving puzzles and vanquishing enemies.
One of the fun, new elements is the option of cooperative play, where your friend adds a few new elements to the game. I sadly did not get to play with my buddy for long, but when we did, we had fun trying to coordinate with one another while also giving each other a few challenges here and there.
All in all, Crypt of the Necrodancer: Cadence of Hyrule is a wonderful game that really shows some of the best elements of both series. It is fairly short as I was able to beat the main game in a few hours, but it does have a a high replay-value. Again, the remixes of the music really suck you in, making it hard to stop playing. It is definitely a great little side journey to play as we slowly approach the remake of Link’s Awakening and the Breath of the Wild sequel.
Have you bought this game? If so, please let us know you think about it in the comments down below.
GAME: Cadence of Hyrule ~ Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda ~
DEVELOPER: Brace Yourself Games
PUBLISHER: Nintendo
ESRB: E for Everyone (Mild Fantasy Violence)
MSRP: $24.99 US
OBTAINED: Purchased