A challenging take on the standard DDR rhythm genre
Charming, low requirement artstyle
Cheeky fun minigames
DannyB, FamilyJules and friends never disappoint

The twist on the genre will stump even the most hardened DDR veterans so know what you are getting into

I can never get the calibration to feel right

My 4-year old PC is starting to really show its age. High-graphic requirement games I could no longer play without having to endure crashes and freezes that would force me to restart my PC. Thank goodness games like Rift of the NecroDancer exist.

The original Crypt of the NecroDancer was an absolute masterclass in game design, fusing together the traditional roguelike trappings with a rhythm gameplay feel and effectively making it real-time. This sequel goes all in on the Dance Dance Revolution style, but with their own spin on things. Instead of just merely reading notes as they come in, you have to remember the enemy attack patterns as they come right at you.

Rift makes for an incredibly challenging, but fun prospect. It can get really challenging at the higher difficulties, and even on Medium as you progress through the song list (I would recommend doing it via the story, which is pretty light-hearted and nice to get to know some of the characters you would have otherwise encountered in CotN) things ramp up fast and serious. Even I, as a veteran of multiple rhythm games of various types, struggle on Medium charts (God help me for anything harder), so it definitely takes some learning, but nailing a full combo can never not feel good.

Needless to say, the soundtrack is the star of the show. The ever-reliable Danny Baranowsky and Jules Conroy, along with other composers new to the NecroDancer universe, really knock it out of the park with immensely catchy tunes, and I always love the references to the motifs from CotN's soundtrack. Even the slightly-less-serious minigame songs are incredibly fun.

10% launch discount that can be stacked with other bundle discounts if you already own CotN or some other specific games. Well worth the money, really. It's a good thing BYG/Klei are keeping the demo up so you can try it out, if you are on the fence regarding the gameplay feel.

[h1]Pros[/h1] A challenging take on the standard DDR rhythm genre Charming, low requirement artstyle Cheeky fun minigames DannyB, FamilyJules and friends never disappoint [h1]Your mileage may vary[/h1] The twist on the genre will stump even the most hardened DDR veterans so know what you are getting into [h1]Cons[/h1] I can never get the calibration to feel right My 4-year old PC is starting to really show its age. High-graphic requirement games I could no longer play without having to endure crashes and freezes that would force me to restart my PC. Thank goodness games like Rift of the NecroDancer exist. The original Crypt of the NecroDancer was an absolute masterclass in game design, fusing together the traditional roguelike trappings with a rhythm gameplay feel and effectively making it real-time. This sequel goes all in on the Dance Dance Revolution style, but with their own spin on things. Instead of just merely reading notes as they come in, you have to remember the enemy attack patterns as they come right at you. Rift makes for an incredibly challenging, but fun prospect. It can get really challenging at the higher difficulties, and even on Medium as you progress through the song list (I would recommend doing it via the story, which is pretty light-hearted and nice to get to know some of the characters you would have otherwise encountered in CotN) things ramp up fast and serious. Even I, as a veteran of multiple rhythm games of various types, struggle on Medium charts (God help me for anything harder), so it definitely takes some learning, but nailing a full combo can never not feel good. Needless to say, the soundtrack is the star of the show. The ever-reliable Danny Baranowsky and Jules Conroy, along with other composers new to the NecroDancer universe, really knock it out of the park with immensely catchy tunes, and I always love the references to the motifs from CotN's soundtrack. Even the slightly-less-serious minigame songs are incredibly fun. [h1]When to buy[/h1] 10% launch discount that can be stacked with other bundle discounts if you already own CotN or some other specific games. Well worth the money, really. It's a good thing BYG/Klei are keeping the demo up so you can try it out, if you are on the fence regarding the gameplay feel. [h1][b]9.5/10[/b][/h1]