On the indie game scene, many roguelites are trying to make their mark. One of the latest offerings is Cryptical Path, available today on Steam. Right from the start, the title has piqued players' curiosity thanks to an innovative system. Cryptical Path is not a dungeon crawler like the others, with procedurally generated rooms. Here, the player is in control of their destination and the path they must take to reach it.
On paper, we are promised a roguelite builder, with a strong artistic direction and an atmosphere almost as morbid as that of Have A Nice Death and a progression system similar to Hades. The inspiration for the latter is so present that we can't help but compare the two titles, and put them (almost) on the same level on quite a few points. Is Cryptical Path a game made for you? We're sure it is.
Welcome to the loop
The world of Cryptical Path is run by an entity that calls itself “the Architect.” This is the person in charge of creating the dungeon and managing it. The architect, in theory, is you, but it seems that another person wants to steal your title. You then face a Doppelgänger that you will have to face on your own ground.
As in Hades, this opponent is the pretext used to make you explore various dungeons, environments and face several bosses on your way. Except that Crytical Path does not have such an elaborate universe in terms of narration, the title is also similar in its in-game development. Each run, you get closer to your objective, you learn to use randomly generated objects and you meet more and more enemies with different abilities.
Each loop is similar but not the same, and the gaming experience is more or less unique each time. Unlike Hades, however, the feeling of repetitiveness is much less felt in the long term thanks to this very simple mechanic: the player has total control over the rooms he wants to explore during his journey.
This is not a game, it's your game
As an architect, you have a certain number of rooms prearranged on the map, but you can also add as many as you like… as long as you have the necessary resource. Then begins a more strategic game, between fights, the search for parts and the preparation phases for the boss fight. You have the possibility to rush to the final opponent of the map or take the time to explore all the rooms at your disposal. You will then have more objects, but also potentially less life.
This mechanic alone succeeds in completely overhauling our experience of traditional roguelites. After finishing the first chapter (in about 2.5 hours), we naturally unlock new rooms with very specific abilities, different mapping configurations as well as a new objective. We greatly appreciate the attention to detail that makes the experience both immersive and facilitates playability. For example, the rooms are transformable in real time, each layout changes the way the interior decors are shaped and it is possible to teleport between all the completed rooms for a less linear exploration.
For beginner players, but also others!
To help you in your quest against the Doppelgänger, you also have talent points that will unlock permanent skills. The real big difference with Hades ultimately concerns accessibility to the most novice players. The title from Supergiant Games is demanding by nature, and forces you to perfect your combat techniques more times than you can count to reach the end of an area.
Cryptical Path is a much more contained game in its form but also in its substance. Character development is not at the center of the story, or even the gameplay. There is little or no customization of weapons/techniques outside of consumable items, and the controls are rather simplistic. Cryptical Path doesn't indulge in superficial extravagance and that's a good thing because the game is therefore much more manageable and enjoyable for the general public.
Verdict: don't hesitate to let yourself be tempted by this experience which is well worth it!
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