Silver Night’s Crusaders takes elements from a very familiar gothic action game and builds a whole new experience in whipping horrific creatures.
Countess Bathory has been up to some sacrificial shenanigans to keep up her looks (presumably to keep up her popularity on whatever passed for 17th century Instagram), so the church has dispatched some folks to deal with it. Ethan has brought a whip, Francis brings his vampiric powers, and Sheeba has brought her massive scythe and magic abilities. You can shuffle around whoever you want to bring along with you to purge the countryside of evil, but personally, magic- and giant scythe-using witches get my vote.
The game is a ghoulish action romp through some familiar territories and against some familiar foes from that well-known retro horror game, retooling them to create a new experience. It feels simultaneously familiar and completely different, offering a more forgiving life system that aims to keep you in the action rather than having you restart the level if you die. As a consequence, things tend to cut through you pretty quickly if you’re being clumsy (bosses, especially), so I wouldn’t say it’s EASY. It just FEELS less punishing.
Silver Night’s Crusaders is a welcome, delightful game for someone who’s been craving giant monsters and the whipping thereof. While it draws a lot from its inspirations, it builds on them in some fun ways, and offers some great new creature designs to add to the experience. It’s also free, which makes it even harder to turn down. Not that I ever turn down a chance to whip my way through gothic castles, ever.
Silver Night’s Crusaders is available for free on the developer’s site.
Thanks to Alpha Beta Gamer for the tip!
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