<div align="center"> Castle Crashers Platform(s): Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade) Price: 1,200 Microsoft Points (USD 15.00) Genre: Action with some RPG elements Release Date (U.S.): August 27, 2008 Developer: The Behemoth Graphics: Simple yet it doesn’t feel like it needs to be complex so it works. Sound: It works for the game. It sounds dramatic when it needs to be dramatic like in boss fights, and calm and up tempo when you’re just sitting around. Think Newgrounds audio portal. Gameplay: Castle Crashers is basically a hack and slash game that you level up in. You can carry a few items like bombs, potions, a bow, and a boomerang. You can also cast a leveled spell depending on your character. The game levels you up on a by hit basis so the more your smack someone, the more you level. After you gain a level and finish the stage you are on you choose where to raise your skill in: agility, magic, defense, and strength. Replayability: This game can be beaten in about five or six hours if you just want to rush through, but for the gamer who wants to get more out of his game there is so much more. There are 55 weapons to unlocks, 24 playable characters (20 of which you have to unlock), 99 levels to go through, 2 difficulties, 26 animals to find and use, and a multiplayer feature. Multiplayer: There isn’t much to say here. One mode is All You Can Quaff mode which is an unnecessary mode in which you challenge other gamers to an eating competition. Arena which is a mode in which you try to survive waves of enemies much like the arena in game or in a head-to-head match against someone. They also have a sort of co-op gameplay with up to four people and your wealth, animal orbs, and weapons you earn here carry into the singleplayer game. Unfortunately, all of this is marred because of the incredible lag experienced by many when playing Xbox Live, though this very well may be patched in the future. The Breakdown Graphics: 8/10 +/- simple flash type graphics + smooth framerates during game Sounds: 10/10 + sound to match the mood - looping can get boring + wide range of music Gameplay: 10/10 + major replayability +/- brings us back to old school-esque gaming Multiplayer: 2/10 + co-op is nice to have + local co-op is available and is an excellent way to game with friends while not getting lagged to next week and back - lag makes online almost a daydream - arena and all you can quaff take up valuable hdd space and time that could have otherwise been devoted to perfecting the co-op lag problem Overall: 9/10 This currently is the best game available on the XBLA and is defiantly worth a buy. Extras Soundtrack (free release courtesy of The Behemoth and the Newgrounds community): http://forums.xbox.com/22490189/ShowPost.aspx Screenshots (courtesy of IGN): http://media.xbox360.ign.com/media/844/844289/imgs_1.html Gameplay video courtesy of .infinite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5w7EfB65-II </div>
