Castle In The Darkness

 PC
  • Publisher: Nicalis
  • Release Date: Feb 5, 2015
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 30 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 30
  3. Negative: 5 out of 30

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  1. Protomandrew
    Mar 3, 2015
    10
    Castlevania II + Megaman + Metroid + zelda. Really awesome 8-bit game. It's challenging, but not too much so to where you really hate the game. The game was very well done. Graphics were fantastic. Music was really nice. Reminded me of a lot of old NES games. Much longer than I expected. Most definitely worth the 6 bucks I paid for it on steam. I spent around 10 hours on this game to beatCastlevania II + Megaman + Metroid + zelda. Really awesome 8-bit game. It's challenging, but not too much so to where you really hate the game. The game was very well done. Graphics were fantastic. Music was really nice. Reminded me of a lot of old NES games. Much longer than I expected. Most definitely worth the 6 bucks I paid for it on steam. I spent around 10 hours on this game to beat it and get 100%.… Expand
  2. GAGMR
    Mar 5, 2015
    9
    If you've played a lot of classic games you will see a lot of funny references in this game.

    It is a hard game that looks & feels like a mixture of classic NES games. It plays simple enough with the 2 button control. Attack with one button, jump with the other & you get a charge style attack that changes depending on the spell you have equipped. It's a very good metroidvania style game.    If you've played a lot of classic games you will see a lot of funny references in this game.

    It is a hard game that looks & feels like a mixture of classic NES games. It plays simple enough with the 2 button control. Attack with one button, jump with the other & you get a charge style attack that changes depending on the spell you have equipped. It's a very good metroidvania style game.

    There's a very heavy emphasis on exploration as well. You really have no idea on where you need to go & the game gives you very little direction. There are several places in the beginning that you can enter but if you lack a certain upgrade you won't get very far. I found this out the hard way.

    You are very weak in the beginning & will die a lot but you get health upgrades from bosses, find them in the world & can buy them from certain shops. There are also various enemy types that will remind you of other games. One in particular is a blue hedgehog that attacks you with a spin dash. The bosses are hard at first but they each have a set pattern that once you learn will be able to beat them easily.

    Overall I haven't gotten very far in this game yet but I have seen enough that I can already recommend it. If you want a classic NES style game & you thought Shovel Knight was too easy then you should pick this one up. It's also good for anyone who wants a decent metroidvania style game.    … Expand
  3. binary_fireball
    Aug 9, 2015
    10
    I registered just to review this game. It's retro metroidvania but with modern design. If you liked Rogue Legacy or dark souls you'll like this. 16 hours in and not half way through!
  4. stop9091
    Dec 30, 2016
    3
    The developer(s) did an exact clone of an 80s NES game.

    This is not how good modern-retro games are done; good games in this category have, under the (pixelated) hood, modern mechanics (eg. Shovel Knight). This game instead is stuck with poor controls, trivial mechanics, and instadeaths everywhere. If you feel like playing a pixelated metroidvania, play Axiom Verge. If you feel    The developer(s) did an exact clone of an 80s NES game.

    This is not how good modern-retro games are done; good games in this category have, under the (pixelated) hood, modern mechanics (eg. Shovel Knight).

    This game instead is stuck with poor controls, trivial mechanics, and instadeaths everywhere.

    If you feel like playing a pixelated metroidvania, play Axiom Verge.
    If you feel like playing a platformer, play Shovel Knight.
    If you feel like playing a modern metroidvania, play Ori and the blind forest.

    If you feel like a masochist bound to nostalgia and bad taste, then do play Castle in the Darkness.    … Expand
  5. PixelSlayer
    Feb 11, 2015
    9
    Castle in the Darkness is a must own "Metroidvania" game from Matt Kap (lead artist for The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth) and Nicalis.
    You assume the role of a pint sized blue knight on a quest to find the princess and help her find her absent father. Helping her, however... is no easy task.
    The world is filled with a variety of traps, enemies, and death around every corner. Some areas you    Castle in the Darkness is a must own "Metroidvania" game from Matt Kap (lead artist for The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth) and Nicalis.
    You assume the role of a pint sized blue knight on a quest to find the princess and help her find her absent father. Helping her, however... is no easy task.
    The world is filled with a variety of traps, enemies, and death around every corner. Some areas you will be stuck in for hours dodging spikes and cleverly placed traps.
    Along the way you find numerous weapons, armor, magic, and items to upgrade your hero so you can slay the 50+ unique bosses and progress through a beautiful 16-bit world with pixel perfect control.
    Although casual gamers will be frustrated by the difficulty of the game, hardcore gamers will love the challenge Castle in the Darkness presents.    … Expand
  6. somedude14
    Feb 19, 2015
    10
    Metroid + Conquest of the Crystal Palace + Castlevania 3 + Kid Icarus + Zelda 2 in a blender = this game. Plus a wicked metal/punk chiptune soundtrack. The scanline effect was probably simple to implement but the effect on the retro feel is outstanding.

    This game exudes excellence in every regard.
  7. DeviantArt
    May 19, 2015
    9
    What seemed ridiculously hard and near impossible for me at first turned out to be an amazingly fun game in the end. First things first, before getting into this game you need to realize it's very challenging, and you're probably going to have a lot of trial and error. If you're just not good with old-school game difficulty then you might want to back off, otherwise expect a very rewardingWhat seemed ridiculously hard and near impossible for me at first turned out to be an amazingly fun game in the end. First things first, before getting into this game you need to realize it's very challenging, and you're probably going to have a lot of trial and error. If you're just not good with old-school game difficulty then you might want to back off, otherwise expect a very rewarding and enjoyable experience. I think that the beginning parts of the game are definitely some of the most difficult, simply due to the player's lack of experience and also because of how quickly you die. I've played through the game twice, the first time I died countlessly as I hopped and flailed my sword around not really knowing what to do; the second time I gracefully defeated the bosses and dodged spikes with very infrequent deaths. In other words this is a game you need to learn how to be good at, and it's very precision based. All of the bosses have particular patterns they follow, and some have weaknesses you can exploit. I also should not forget to mention that the soundtrack for this game is really good, some tracks, like the Sunken Temple theme made me sit still for a while just to listen to them.

    The only complaint I have is about the bugs. The first time I played the game I couldn't get to the Torture Chamber because of a glitch. It's also possible to get stuck in the Sunken Temple if you go there without a particular item from what I've heard.

    Anyways, Castle In The Darkness is an awesome game. If you're looking to scratch your retro platformer itch, then I wholeheartedly recommend this game. It gets a 9/10 from me.    … Expand
  8. Nile3
    Jan 1, 2016
    10
    This game is beyond my expectations. I didn't think it would be this addictive.

    Have you ever had this feeling where you want to finish a game but you don't want to at the same time? That's how I'm like with this game. Music is better than I thought, it's really good. Gameplay is amazing. Story is somewhat regular but with some twist which makes it superior to most nes games. I    This game is beyond my expectations. I didn't think it would be this addictive.

    Have you ever had this feeling where you want to finish a game but you don't want to at the same time? That's how I'm like with this game.

    Music is better than I thought, it's really good. Gameplay is amazing. Story is somewhat regular but with some twist which makes it superior to most nes games.

    I hope this review helps! OMG I have work to do! ciao!..    … Expand

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. games(TM)
    Apr 11, 2015
    80
    It'd be right to call Castle in the Darkness difficult, perhaps even cruel, but so finely tuned it is that it never borders into anger territory. [Issue#159, p.105]
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  2. IGN Italia
    Apr 3, 2015
    82
    Castle In The Darkness is a wonderful game, a clever Metroidvania. Matt Kap, its designer, goes straight to the point, taking the best from the NES era. Like a rose, this game has its thorns and stings, but, as the say, “no pain, no gain”.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    Apr 1, 2015
    75
    ‘A retro platformer enriched with some modern ideas’ – how many times have we already read something like that? Fortunately Castle in the Darkness is among few games that actually managed to pull that off. [04/2015, p.69]
See all critic reviews »