(Note: This review was first written on 18 April 2020, with 138.1 hours. Due to 2022's updates to CotN, I felt like re-writing the review!)

Crypt of the Necrodancer is essentially a rhythm-based dungeon crawler that's somewhat like a standard dungeon crawler, and somewhat like osu!. As a good first impression, it features a story that's elaborate enough for immersion, yet simple enough to focus on the game proper. Five distinct zones, numerous enemy types, and a variety of items make things interesting long after one has near-mastered the game. As a music-based game, it also has many remixed soundtracks that fit incredibly well with the theme of the game.

Additionally, CotN features a variety of game modes, characters that have different special conditions for the game - often difficulty increases or fun mechanics - and even a level editor! For a long time, the level editor was incredibly difficult to use effectively, leading to the creation of a fan program titled NecroEdit.

With v3.0's release in August of this year, however, NecroEdit has found its way into the game's own level editor, which is now perhaps one of the best editors that I have ever seen. A search function, access to unused items, and a variety of different tools make it easy to design levels from in-game.

Also years after the initial release, the Necrodancer community - which often gathers on Discord - is still as lively as ever. I have personally heard and had vastly positive experiences with them. In any case, while the game had remained unupdated for a long time, it is now back not only with a level editor update, but also many QoL features, continuing updates, and even a new DLC!

As for the DLC itself, I find that both Amplified and Synchrony are well worth the money. Amplified includes three new bosses, a new zone, and several new characters, items, and songs to go with them. Synchrony, an early-access DLC, also includes several new characters, spells, and assorted other features - not least of them being a modding API that has already provided a massive amount of new content to the game.

Even on its own, Crypt of the Necrodancer's base game is well worth the money, and the entertainment is well worth the difficulty. It now even has multiplayer, so you can play with friends or strangers alike!

(Side note: I also wouldn't mind a Necrodancer 2 game, to be entirely honest! I'm aware that Cadence of Hyrule is another such game, and I rather like the... "bells and whistles" that it adds, such as an open-world map, more animations, story elements, and other things that I probably don't remember right now. Things that build on these would be very cool! If it helps any more, the story from the Amplified DLC may also give good ideas to the developers as to how to develop story pieces further; for example, I'm curious about the vampires, the town, stories behind Dove or Tempo, etc. There's no vital need for any of this right now, however, as the game is already very good. ^.^)

(Note: This review was first written on 18 April 2020, with 138.1 hours. Due to 2022's updates to CotN, I felt like re-writing the review!) Crypt of the Necrodancer is essentially a rhythm-based dungeon crawler that's somewhat like a standard dungeon crawler, and somewhat like osu!. As a good first impression, it features a story that's elaborate enough for immersion, yet simple enough to focus on the game proper. Five distinct zones, numerous enemy types, and a variety of items make things interesting long after one has near-mastered the game. As a music-based game, it also has many remixed soundtracks that fit incredibly well with the theme of the game. Additionally, CotN features a variety of game modes, characters that have different special conditions for the game - often difficulty increases or fun mechanics - and even a level editor! For a long time, the level editor was incredibly difficult to use effectively, leading to the creation of a fan program titled NecroEdit. With v3.0's release in August of this year, however, NecroEdit has found its way into the game's own level editor, which is now perhaps one of the best editors that I have ever seen. A search function, access to unused items, and a variety of different tools make it easy to design levels from in-game. Also years after the initial release, the Necrodancer community - which often gathers on Discord - is still as lively as ever. I have personally heard and had vastly positive experiences with them. In any case, while the game had remained unupdated for a long time, it is now back not only with a level editor update, but also many QoL features, continuing updates, and even a new DLC! As for the DLC itself, I find that both Amplified and Synchrony are well worth the money. Amplified includes three new bosses, a new zone, and several new characters, items, and songs to go with them. Synchrony, an early-access DLC, also includes several new characters, spells, and assorted other features - not least of them being a modding API that has already provided a massive amount of new content to the game. Even on its own, Crypt of the Necrodancer's base game is well worth the money, and the entertainment is well worth the difficulty. It now even has multiplayer, so you can play with friends or strangers alike! (Side note: I also wouldn't mind a Necrodancer 2 game, to be entirely honest! I'm aware that Cadence of Hyrule is another such game, and I rather like the... "bells and whistles" that it adds, such as an open-world map, more animations, story elements, and other things that I probably don't remember right now. Things that build on these would be very cool! If it helps any more, the story from the Amplified DLC may also give good ideas to the developers as to how to develop story pieces further; for example, I'm curious about the vampires, the town, stories behind Dove or Tempo, etc. There's no vital need for any of this right now, however, as the game is already very good. ^.^)