Creepy Castle
- October 31, 2016
- Dopterra
- 5h median play time
Get on SteamIn Creepy Castle , players navigate a monster-filled castle to uncover the truth about their new home, battling bosses and solving puzzles in turn-based combat. The game has received updates, including a new audio system, bug fixes, and a final scenario, "The Final Fist," which concludes the first season's storyline. Completing certain scenarios and scenarios 1, 2, 2B, and 4 unlocks this additional content.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Creepy Castle features a unique combat system that incorporates engaging mini-games, making battles dynamic and fun.
- The game has a charming art style and a fantastic chiptune soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The storytelling is deep and emotional, with well-developed characters and themes that resonate with players.
- The map system is rudimentary and can be confusing, leading to frustrating backtracking and navigation issues.
- Combat can feel repetitive over time, as the same mini-games are reused frequently, diminishing their impact.
- The game suffers from pacing issues, with some scenarios feeling overly long and drawn out, particularly when replaying with different characters.
- story122 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Creepy Castle" is a surprisingly deep and engaging narrative that unfolds across multiple scenarios, each with unique characters and themes, including grief, anxiety, and the complexity of morality. Players appreciate the emotional depth and charm of the characters, though some feel that the gameplay can detract from the storytelling experience due to repetitive mechanics and pacing issues. Overall, the game is praised for its well-crafted narrative that encourages exploration and emotional investment, making it a standout indie title.
“I love this game's story; when you first play, you might expect a retro throwback novelty game without much to say, but you are so wrong because the game is far more than that!”
“Without spoiling much, the way the narrative builds and the way we learn more about the characters throughout the story is heartfelt. None of the characters are really evil; they all have understandable motives or are fun in their own way, which makes you appreciate them far more.”
“The story is super charming with a surprising amount of depth and worldbuilding, and the characters are adorable.”
“Would've liked more character dialogue; the story kind of felt underdeveloped.”
“The story never caught me, and I found the gameplay and combat to be rather bland.”
“Overall, I think that this game is worth getting and playing to the end of the main story, but I can't recommend playing the story again as the supporting characters to piece together the rest of the story because having to go through it all again with almost no difference is just too aggravating.”
- gameplay83 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of retro-inspired mechanics, featuring exploration, unique combat systems, and engaging mini-games, which many players find charming and fun. However, some reviewers note that the gameplay can become repetitive and tedious, with navigation and backtracking detracting from the overall experience. While the game offers a rich narrative and diverse character interactions, the core gameplay loop may not sustain interest for all players, leading to mixed feelings about its longevity and depth.
“Fun to explore and read lots of lore, the dueling mechanic is good fun and the vibes are immaculate.”
“The old-school ZX Spectrum aesthetic works surprisingly well, and the gameplay is also fairly interesting, combining elements of Metroidvania, turn-based RPG, and WarioWare-style mini-games.”
“The gameplay is easy to learn and can take itself to difficult measures at times as well.”
“So simply spoken, just moving around the environment alone simply isn't fun; it's cumbersome. Despite that, the game is heavily reliant on navigation and backtracking. Ironically, that's basically the only redeeming quality I can see in its core gameplay loop at times.”
“The gameplay is tedious, tiresome, and almost trivially easy. I would recommend activating the 'accessibility mode,' which makes it even easier but also accelerates some of the minigames tremendously.”
“By about halfway through the first scenario, you will have seen just about everything you'll see in terms of gameplay (exploration style, combat, and duel system), with the only major content remaining being story scenes and dialogue, and slight changes on repeat playthroughs of scenarios depending on the character played.”
- music79 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its charming chiptune soundtrack that evokes nostalgia for retro gaming. Composed primarily in a classic 8-bit style, the soundtrack features a diverse range of tracks that enhance the gameplay experience and are memorable enough to be enjoyed outside of the game. Overall, the music is considered one of the standout elements, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional depth.
“The soundtrack is deeply rooted in the NES sound chip, and it's no surprise; much of it was composed and/or arranged by the excellent rushjet1, whose distinctive style is right at home here.”
“The music does a great job of backing this up, too; for something that seems so subdued at first, it really just surrounds you.”
“The game itself offers lots of exploring, fun battles that will test your dexterity and amazing music that's composed nicely in this indie title.”
“Now, some songs are re-used in the game at various points.”
“But there are a few tracks in this game that I find rather boring to listen to, but there is nothing ear-grating in this soundtrack.”
“With the exception of one track, the songs in this game are completely chip-tune.”
- graphics45 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming retro pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for classic systems like the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64, with many praising its vibrant colors and character designs. While some players may find the simplistic visuals and old-school aesthetic off-putting, others appreciate the artistic effort and the integration of modern enhancements like customizable filters. Overall, the graphics are well-received for their nostalgic appeal and memorable design, complementing the engaging gameplay and soundtrack.
“The visuals are really something else; they're reminiscent of an old Commodore 64 game, but with the system limitations removed, much like Shovel Knight did with NES aesthetics.”
“The graphics and art style are well done and very memorable.”
“The colorful, uncluttered visuals are a nice throwback to the classic age of video games, and the levels are cleverly designed.”
“The graphics are 8-bit and are rather simplistic.”
“Graphically it's what you'd expect from a retro inspired game.”
“The base aesthetics might put some people off at first, but while the graphics are more minimalistic than other retro titles, it has enough personality in the cutscenes and close-ups that they show effort and thought put into them.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and balance between lightheartedness and deeper themes, with players enjoying the creative scenarios and funny dialogue. The incorporation of meta elements and humorous character interactions adds to the charm, while the game successfully avoids clichés, making it both entertaining and meaningful. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, contributing to a delightful blend of adventure and wit.
“I couldn't help but smile in scenario 4 when the game used the duel system to do some really creative and funny things.”
“One moment, it's a dramatic and serious fantasy adventure; the next, it's funny and lighthearted; then it goes all deep and meaningful, with some clear real-life parallels; then you walk into a room with portraits of the developers and several lore tablets listing Kickstarter backers.”
“There is actually a large amount of humor, even in the item descriptions, and the characters are easily likeable and creative.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and slow, with movement and combat feeling repetitive and lacking challenge. The pacing is criticized for being painfully drawn out, making exploration and navigation feel like a chore, although some abilities can alleviate this to a degree. Overall, the gameplay is described as trivially easy, leading to a frustrating experience for many.
“Every single step takes approximately 3/4 of a second, which means if you just want to move across a corridor, you have to adapt your senses to the extremely slow and tedious walking routine where the screen slowly scrolls with every single step, which can be headache-inducing.”
“The game has one massive flaw, however, and that is the pacing: there are many sections that are painfully tedious and repetitive.”
“The battle system seemed fun at the beginning, but the kindergarten-level difficulty just made it tedious after 2 or 3 battles.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deep character development and relatable motives, allowing players to connect with the characters on a personal level. Themes of grief, anxiety, and dread are explored in a heartfelt manner, leading to impactful moments that resonate strongly with players, often evoking tears and a renewed passion for gaming. Despite its obscurity and perceived shortcomings, the game delivers a unique and touching experience that leaves a lasting emotional impression.
“Without spoiling much, the way the narrative builds and the way we learn more about the characters throughout the story is remarkable. None of the characters in the game are really evil; they all have understandable motives or are fun in their own way. The depth of these characters makes you appreciate them far more. The game addresses themes such as grief, anxiety, and dread in a heartfelt manner.”
“I'm not the type of person who easily gets emotional, but there were several parts in this game where I felt my heartstrings being pulled. It was a sensation I haven't felt in a long time. After some of the most emotional moments, I just had to know what happened next and couldn't stop thinking about how the story would wrap up.”
“Even though this game was technically a 'flop' and is now quite obscure, it reached deep inside and touched my heart. It made me feel emotions I had long forgotten. This is the type of game I wish to create, and it reignited my love for video games after a big slump, much like Undertale did for me years ago.”
- character development6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game excels in character development through its charming designs and engaging interactions, with players expressing a strong emotional connection to the characters. The integration of personality into combat mechanics enhances the overall experience, while the deep narrative adds unexpected depth to the seemingly simple visuals and humor. Overall, the character development is a standout feature that resonates with players.
“This is one of the most charming games I've ever played. I love every character here; I love Moth, I love Butterfly, I adore Ant Queen. This game just scratches a very specific itch for me character design-wise that I just can't get enough of, and the character interactions are so fun!”
“That personality is the greatest advantage to the system, since it allows Creepy Castle to weave character development into the combat mechanics.”
“Despite the simple look, charming character design, and funny dialogues (mostly the food descriptions and the fortunes from fortune cookies), the story is really deep and, if you did not see it coming, would hit you in the feels harder than any simplistic game should.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on a meaningful level.”
“I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from my overall enjoyment of the game.”
“While the characters are visually appealing, their personalities and growth throughout the game are disappointingly underdeveloped.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers limited replayability, primarily due to its minimalistic design and the fact that characters play identically, differing only in appearance. While it features a free-play mode for the first three chapters and allows for some character switching, the overall experience lacks significant variation, making it more suited for a single playthrough focused on the story rather than repeated runs. Players may find enjoyment in improving their performance in mini-games, but options for varied gameplay are minimal.
“Of course, as a story-based RPG, you'd assume it's not meant to be replayable, yet there's a free-play mode for the first 3 chapters, allowing you to play as other characters, and you do have to complete chapter 2 (thankfully, the shortest one) twice as different characters.”
“For the price of the game along with the replay value of unlocking characters and chapters to play through, I can find myself really enjoying this game for a while.”
“There is basically no replayability and every character plays exactly the same; it's just a different sprite in a game that already has a minimalistic presentation.”
“In short, this is a neat pixel art-styled turn-based RPG, which focuses primarily on the story and characters with some good music, although it can be slow and doesn't have replayability despite trying to.”
“Overall, there aren't many options available to you to vary up a repeat playthrough, and it doesn't offer too much replay value besides improving how well you do at the harder mini-games.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its engaging Metroid-style exploration and vibrant, bouncy soundtrack, which enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate how the dynamic mechanics and enjoyable action/reflex minigames seamlessly integrate with the immersive environment, contributing to a fun and captivating gameplay experience.
“A game with a really great atmosphere, and the change up of mechanics keeps it fun.”
“The battles are composed of fun little action/reflex minigames that fit in so well with the atmosphere.”
“Fun Metroid-style exploration and a bouncy atmospheric soundtrack.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is highly praised, as it requires players to strategically manage mechanics and items to maximize damage output and minimize damage taken. Each enemy presents unique challenges that enhance the balancing act of combat, making performance crucial to success.
“All-time favorite RPG! Combat is different with each enemy, ensuring that there are just enough twists, especially with some of the special boss actions and moves. This creates a great balancing game of mechanic optimization, item management, and knowing when to utilize your special moves.”
“Your performance in the game determines how much damage you take and how much damage you deal.”
“Performance in the game will determine which side, or both, takes damage.”
