Catacomb Kids Brings Co-Op and Platforming to Roguelikes

I've mentioned before that I really like neat and unique games. Any game that tries to innovate is an awesome thing in my book. That doesn't always mean that the game is any good, but it's awesome anyway. Regardless, in the case of Tyriq Plummer's Catacomb Kids, it seems to be the best of both worlds.

I recently stumbled upon Catacomb Kids, and I was instantly intrigued. On the most basic level, it's a roguelike platforming game. That alone is a pretty creative concept. Roguelikes are most often dungeon crawlers, turn-based, or some kind of bullet hell game. Making one out of a platformer (with Megaman levels of difficulty) sounds both brutal and extremely fun.

Lucky for us, that's not the only thing setting Catacomb Kids apart from the herd.



If you don't have 30 minutes to burn on the video above, allow me to break it down for you. Instead of the vaguely representative health bars we've grown to expect, Catacomb Kids implements a more appropriate system. Damage in this game can easily come in the form of actual damage, including but not limited to severed limbs. Supposedly, it's not uncommon to lose an arm when you misjudge a crucial dodge.

On top of severed limbs, there is a system in place to monitor body temperature. That seems more than appropriate for the new ice dungeon, the Anticropolis. As of now, the game is still in early access. However, Plummer is hard at work in creating more dungeons and features for the game. The most recent addition is the dungeon mentioned above. However, that's not the only new addition.



One of Plummer's most exciting additions is local multiplayer. Players can now invite a (hopefully willing) friend over for some co-op, roguelike action. How does cooperation work in a roguelike environment? Well, maybe you need to buy the game to find out. Check it out on on Steam and see what you think.