Lost Castle

Someone mentioning the game Lost Castle without playing it would probably trigger the thought - "what obscure hyper-difficult platform arcade game from the 80s is this?". The name does feel like it belongs in that category of retro games, but what we have here is not too far off the mark. We've got a colorful, cutesy platform that aims to be as inclusive as possible rather than frustratingly hard.

Lost Castle aims to capitalize on the flourishing multiplayer indie hits by making a beat em' up that's very accessible to its players. No complexities in gameplay, no complicated narrative - and best of all, nothing that will annoy the living hell out of you. Many gamers would be the question - if this follows the same old formula, what's the point of playing it?

Beat 'em up with Friends

Lost Castle doesn't indulge in a heavy narrative or try and offer something spectacular. It actually pays homage to classic multiplayer arcade games in a human-friendly fashion. It's not offering revolutionary gameplay by any means - it uses simple platform mechanics with RPG style character progression in each level. What it does - it aims to do very well. There are five themed stages, each with randomly generated scenery. All are within the same pixelated theme of each level. The visuals all very cartoony yet very acceptable for an arcade game - with very fluid animations to keep the game pleasant on the eye. There clearly has been a lot of work to be accessible. It honestly helps complement Lost Castle amongst the pile of overblown and excessive beat 'em ups out there.

The game encourages your friends to join, although it can be played solo. You'll progress through each stage, hacking and slashing enemies with various weapons and skills that level up as you go along. Lost Castle features an upgrade system using souls collected from bosses and enemies, helping build up characters on each run. The mechanics for progression are a little bland - but does help peak interest in combat to make it less mundane.

Teamwork is encouraged with builds of traditional RPG style parties - healers, damage dealers, and tanks - to take on hordes of enemies that eventually do feel a bit repetitive after a while. It is an arcade game, after all. But it is surprisingly engaging for something that you'd think would bore after an hour.

All is Not Lost

Lost Castle is massively entertaining for more lengthy periods than you would expect. But it's worth noting that the game is a lot more fun when you are playing with people you know.

The accessible nature serves as a fun party game where the team effort is digitally and physically rewarding. The lighthearted nature of the game keeps it entertaining. Even when it does become a bit frustrating from dying. I'll remind the player - you will die a lot.

Pros:

• Good 2D visuals that complement the arcade-style of the game
• A lot of fun to be had with character progression
• Easy to learn - a great party game that anyone can play

Cons:

• Much better as a multiplayer game - it feels a little boring solo
• Combat does get repetitive
• The character rewards system is not that interesting