A Delightful Dungeon Crawler: The Typing Adventure of Cryptmaster
3 min readThe world of gaming is vast and diverse, with each title offering unique experiences that captivate players. Among the latest additions to this ever-expanding library is Cryptmaster, a real-time dungeon crawler that challenges players to interact with its environment through typing. This innovative approach to gameplay, combined with the game’s engaging characters and intriguing puzzles, has left many gamers intrigued and eager to explore the underworld.
Upon entering the game, players are introduced to their disembodied necromancer companion, who, in his infinite wisdom, offers to help them escape the underworld. However, this assistance comes with a price: the necromancer requests that the player takes his soulstone with them. With the necromancer’s assistance being crucial to progress, players must find a way to balance their desire for escape with the moral implications of stealing from the dead.
Navigating the underworld is a real-time dungeon crawler experience, with players using arrow keys to traverse the environment. Interacting with objects and characters, however, is where Cryptmaster truly shines. To use abilities and attacks from the game’s four characters (warrior, thief, bard, and sea witch), players type specific commands. For instance, to use the warrior’s BOOT attack, players type “BOOT,” and to use the thief’s JAB ability, they type “JAB.”
To discover these abilities, players must engage in a guessing game. Each character’s status bar displays a series of blank boxes, representing letters in the name of their abilities. To fill in these blanks, players must loot items and use the necromancer’s assistance to identify them. By typing commands like “LOOK” or “TASTE,” the necromancer will provide descriptions or attempts to recall the item’s name, respectively. Correctly identifying the item before running out of guesses rewards the player with the letters of the ability’s name.
Fights in the game are straightforward, with enemies presenting various challenges based on the letters they can block. For example, one enemy may block words containing the letter B, making it impossible to use abilities like “BOOT” or “JAB.” This adds an element of strategy to combat, as players must adapt their tactics to overcome these challenges.
The necromancer, with his witty remarks and spooky pronunciations, is a delightful companion. His sarcastic responses to incorrect or inappropriate words add a layer of humor to the game, making the experience even more enjoyable. The other characters are equally entertaining, with their unique personalities and abilities adding to the game’s richness.
Cryptmaster’s demo, which was available during the Steam Next Fest, has left many players eager for the full game’s release later this year. The game’s innovative approach to gameplay, engaging characters, and intriguing puzzles have captured the attention of both critics and fans alike. With its unique blend of typing challenges, real-time dungeon crawling, and immersive storytelling, Cryptmaster is a must-play for fans of the genre and newcomers alike.
In conclusion, Cryptmaster is a delightful dungeon crawler that offers a fresh take on the genre through its innovative typing-based gameplay. With its engaging characters, intriguing puzzles, and strategic combat, Cryptmaster is a game that is sure to captivate players and leave them eager for more. As the full game approaches its release, fans and newcomers alike can look forward to an unforgettable adventure through the underworld.