It's bad enough to end up in the afterlife, and it's probably even worse to be banished immediately upon arrival. Especially when you're a cute little cat. Guardian of the Crypt is the latest game from veteran developer Kyle Thompson, the developer of previous titles. Sheep and IsletsAs with his other titles, Guardian of the Crypt is a top-down metroidvania with a special focus on tight combat and movement, and represents a fun middle ground between quirky, meticulously crafted humor and visual style coupled with tight, action-packed gameplay. You play as Pluto, a mischievous cat turned janitor, and in your exile in the afterlife, you explore a vast landscape filled with curious and funny inhabitants, hidden secrets, and a seemingly endless amount of nooks and crannies.
But wait, how? did Why did this cute little cat end up as a janitor? And why are there so many unruly and sometimes hostile spirits in the afterlife? Enter Kendra, the guardian of the afterlife. Upon your unexpected entrance into this realm, you have a rather disastrous encounter with her, where you are banished to be a janitor… forever! You'd think this was just your mistake, but after meeting other inhabitants of the realm… let's just say you're not so sure anymore. Surely there's a mistake if all these cute little animals are in the same realm as all these evil spirits!
Surprisingly, the afterlife is a pretty dangerous place. Luckily, as a cunning and agile kitty, you have plenty of skills at your disposal to help you navigate and master threats. Movement and combat are at the heart of it all. Guardian of the Crypt's design philosophy. Taking inspiration from Kyle Thompson's previous titles, movement is very fluid, precise, and intuitive. Combat is easy to learn, but full of nuances and quirks that make it rewarding to master. Movement and attacks loosely link together to create a wonderfully fluid system of jumping, running, rolling, attacking, and more. You'll also pick up tons of special abilities along the way that not only expand combat capabilities, but movement capabilities as well.
The ultimate test of combat is, of course, what you're actually fighting: enemies and bosses. Guardian of the Crypt is filled with unusual and creative hostile inhabitants. The afterlife is a very strange place, and what you are fighting certainly reflects that! You will fight against the strange hostile spirits that inhabit the corners of this strange realm. Golems, witches, demons, gigantic insects, animal-like abominations, stray wanderers and…A giant pot full of spidersNeedless to say, every enemy in the game is designed to be unique, with individual behaviors and movements that will keep you on your toes… or on your toes!
But luckily, not everyone living in the afterlife is hostile (or rude). In fact, you'll also encounter plenty of friendly faces, some of whom share your unfortunate fate. As you travel through the realm, you'll often find yourself taking refuge in a cute little bar run by a big bird. As you meet various friends and acquaintances scattered around the world, some will return to take refuge here. You can also purchase items, modify your inventory, and check out unlockables here. One thing, though: don't ask what's in the VIP room!
Developed by Kyle Thompson and ported to Xbox and published by Top Hat Studios, Guardian of the Crypt launches August 27 at 12pm EST / 9am PST / 4pm UTC on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, with a 15% launch discount through September 10.
Guardian of the Crypt
Top Hat Studios, Inc.
Sweep through the afterlife as Pluto the cat in this charming action-adventure/Metroidvania about life, relationships, and self-improvement. Step into the shoes of Pluto, a mischievous cat who has just died and landed in the afterlife palace. After a brief, disastrous encounter with the afterlife’s guardian, Kendra, you’re banished from the palace and sentenced to clean up… FOREVER! Explore the vast grounds surrounding the palace, battle beasts with your trusty broom, and gain new abilities to expand your world. Hang out with damned ghosts, solve puzzles, uncover secrets, and… set up an ambush to get back into the palace!
