PAX: The Castle Crashers test

by Christopher Grant { Sep 10th 2006 at 12:00PM }

The exhibition space at PAX was a bit cramped, but that didn't stop Redmond neighbors Microsoft and Nintendo from representing, Guitar Hero II from rocking out, game import shop extraordinaire Pink Godzilla from selling, and The Behemoth from having one of the most popular games at the show. Who are The Behemoth? They're the small game studio responsible for the adorable Alien Hominid and the delicious Castle Crashers, both headed to Xbox Live Arcade.

The line around Castle Crashers was continuously full -- all four controllers being put to the singular use of button mashing the baddies and quaffing all one could quaff -- while programmer (and Newgrounds chief) Tom Fulp watched on, paternally. One thing he heard continuously through the show, and I corroborated several times, was the repeated claim that players would "buy" an Xbox 360 "just for this game." Seriously, I heard the claim about four times within a half hour, and Tom said he'd been hearing it incessantly since the show floor opened. It was a sort of test. Will this game -- a throwback to the arcade 4-player beat-em-ups of yore dolled up with high-def graphics and (hopefully) an online multiplayer component -- sell next-gen systems to an audience that Gears of War can't?

Don't have an Xbox 360 but still want to play Castle Crashers? I overheard Tom saying there's no reason the title couldn't come out for whatever platform Sony has up their sleeve ... although we have a hard time imagining rows of people proclaiming a similar purchasing intent for the pricier PlayStation 3. Check out GameTrailer's shakycam footage of Castle Crasher's PAX build after the break.

Tags: Castle Crashers, CastleCrashers, PAX, The Behemoth, TheBehemoth

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Franky Digital @ Sep 10th 2006 12:09PM

While I don't know how many consoles will be sold solely because of this, I'd say that Castle Crashers is definately one of the most highly anticipated titles of any Xbox gamer in the know; even reaching levels of near Halo 3 desirability, based on what I've seen.

The key for this game is going to be marketting. They need to get it to a format (like TV or something) that reaches more people.

Andrew Fong @ Sep 10th 2006 12:16PM

Ooh ooh! Let me say it first! Joystiq is so biased against the PS3! You Xbots will all blow LOLOLOL!!!!111one11!!1. PS3 for the win!

Seriously though, this game looks awesome. Reminds me of fun times in the arcade on TMNT.

JJ @ Sep 10th 2006 12:18PM

Personally it hink they should bring it to all 3 next gen consoles, the game looks fun.

i mean if htey're lined up for it on 360... why wouldnt they be on PS3 or Wii?

Matt @ Sep 10th 2006 12:29PM

JJ, I would imagine it hard to line up a game for all three online services when nobody knows a thing about two of them. I would imagine the publishers are about as in the dark about the PS3 and Wii online services as we are, which isn't suprising.

"They're the small game studio responsible for the adorable Alien Hominid and the delicious Castle Crashers"

Chris, been hanging around Jerry lately? :-P

dsub @ Sep 10th 2006 12:26PM

I'll be the first to say it. These guys are smart. They have realized a demand for this style of game, and sorry Konami, you could be cashing in on this demand as well if you brought TMNT Arcade to the Live! Arcade. While I wouldn't buy a 360 for this game (I already have one) I will definately pick it up once it comes out. But am I more excited about this than Gears Of War? Helllll No!

Being excited to play this more than Gears of War would be like getting more excited to drive a Ford Focus than a 67 Mustang Shelby GT500. I consider the Live! arcade titles to be a nice little side perk to having a 360, but I hardly consider them system sellers. That might change though once Castlevania hits the arcade. There's quite a cult following for that one.

kyou @ Sep 10th 2006 12:47PM

Man... another reason to buy a 360. Leave me alone, I'm poor!

Ben @ Sep 10th 2006 1:16PM

Amusing toy. Such games cheer up well.

JJ @ Sep 10th 2006 1:09PM

While thats true matt, still they could do it and dammit while they're at it have a cross platform online play!

My god the first company that does that, MS/Sony/Nintendo be damned, i'd buy it in a heartbeat! as well as stock in that forward thinking company.

Imagine that... we could get a whole Joystiq clan going and have a Wiifanboy/360fanboy/PS3fanboy battle royale.

something like on battlefield 2142 or something.

Wishful thinking yes... maybe next gen.

Grim @ Sep 10th 2006 1:27PM

CC looks pretty damn crisp. Can't wait to play it online with people.

rockintom99 @ Sep 10th 2006 5:09PM

I probably *would* buy a 360 for this, but if it came to Wii's virtual console, so much the better.

Paul @ Sep 12th 2006 8:24PM

High-def Golden Axe? Hope this gets released on PC as well.

bounchfx @ Sep 10th 2006 2:01PM

the game looks AMAZING. I can't wait.

I honestly have no idea why games like this aren't being made more often anymore. they are so freaking fun.

thank you xbox live arcade

croz @ Sep 10th 2006 2:22PM

I got some footage of one of the minigames that was running on the Sunday at PAX. Seems like Castle Crashers is not only inspired by Golden Axe, but also Bishi Bashi Special to some extent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnPr6b7lFr0

Kevin @ Sep 10th 2006 3:20PM

What the hell is this amazement with PAX? It sucks, I haven't seen a site report on a mediocre convention in.... FOREVER.

Evan @ Sep 10th 2006 3:23PM

I'll buy "Castle Crashers", but what I really want is "Pirate Baby's Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006"!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=908674814285543652

A @ Sep 10th 2006 3:56PM

one thing i like about the behemoth is that they stick to styles that are simple yet fun. they dont need HDR or any of these new advanced shading and graphics systems. I played alien hominid back on newgrounds before it became a console game and despite me never winning i thought the game was awesome, same goes for the rest of Tom Fulp's/Dan Paladin's collabs.

Mark D @ Sep 10th 2006 5:47PM

I just want to say one thing to Behemoth after I heard an interview a while back about this game. I think it was Tom that said they'd be fine releasing this in episodes, where someone could buy the first one cheap and it would allow lots of people to try it out for cheap.

Don't. Do. It.

There's no doubt that everyone's seen what shit Q is getting for their plans with Lumines Live. Don't penalize us for beating a part of the game, forcing us to buy more packs. Don't force us to pay extra for the extra guy who has that totally awesome two-handed sword.

I realise that you might(and most likely would) make more money on this game if you split it up and released new content once in a while, but you won't retain the fanbase an indie studio needs to continue pumping out new games. People have sworn off Ubisoft for the Chapter 2 pack for GR, and I personally got so pissed off with Bethsoft trolling for suckers that I sold my copy of Oblivion.

I think anyone with half a brain would pay 1200 points for this, and have the peace of mind of knowing that they won't have to be buying extra stuff every two weeks. $15 bucks is the sweet spot for a great game like this, going 1600 or cutting out features and releasing them later will really alienate your fans.

Jay @ Sep 10th 2006 6:25PM

I really don't care about the Metal Slug clone, OOPS I mean Alien Hominid that much. And this game doesn't have me either. What does this game do that countless shareware/freeware/indie games haven't done before?

Skip me thinks.

kevinski @ Sep 10th 2006 7:05PM

That game looks so fun. I hope that it'll be released on Wii's Virtual Console, eventually. One question, though: Are XBLA games given ESRB ratings? I noticed a good bit of blood in the game, despite its cartoony nature (not surprising, considering the fact that Newgrounds staff created it :P).

Anyway, the game looks absolutely amazing. It never ceases to amaze me what Tom and those other guys can do with such simplistic graphics. I especially loved the water effects.

PSWii360 Fanbot @ Sep 10th 2006 8:00PM

The game looks like fun, but watching just the trailer seemed to get old. Rather repetative. If I had an Xbox I would probably buy the game especially on the cheap. But buying a $500 system for the game? Get bent.

Ragnarok @ Sep 10th 2006 8:15PM

I don't see myself buying a 360 for this game, I could buy a DS though. And the comparison with GeoW is... biased? I think the comparison is just impossible.

KilgoreTrout XL @ Sep 11th 2006 10:57AM

I think dsub's comment is pretty much right on the mark- unless you ask my girlfriend.

Er, I mean my girlfriend and her hopeless Zuma addiction.

Crashers looks like a great time. The next XBLA must-buy.

KR @ Sep 10th 2006 8:35PM

Argh. This makes me want TMNT Arcade even more.

Dirtyboy @ Sep 10th 2006 8:40PM

What platform the game comes out on is irrelevant, as long as it's fun to play. Just like the "Console Wars" are totally meaningless. Who cares if one console outsells another, as long as quality content is provided and people are happy. Of course, if there were no Console Wars the media would have nothing to do but report on games...

fraxyl @ Sep 11th 2006 12:38AM

I don't think the console "wars" are completely without merit, if all they did was push the quality higher for more games, then it would be irrelevant, but: the reason companies make poorly built products is because people will buy them. Why put the effort into superb quality if people are going to buy something that breaks easily and costs less to make?

It'd be so much better for consoles if people refused to buy something that had a few problems because it would cause companies to take notice and increase build quality.