Topic: Castle Crashers released

[idolminds]

On XBLA. Just when I thought "Hey, I don't really want a 360 anymore" they go and release this.

[Cobra951]

I'm a week behind on checking out the new releases.  I still haven't tried Galaga Legions or the Force Unleashed demo.

[wizall]

Just played through the trial.  I have to admit, I've never been too excited about side-scrolling brawlers, but this is a blast.  1200 points is $15?  Plenty worth it, in my opinion.  If anyone would like to play give me a shout.  "Wizall," naturally, is my gamertag. 

[Quemaqua]

PSN plz

[sirean_syan]

PSN, pretty fucking please.

[Cobra951]

Aw, damn it.  That looks so freaking cool.  I had my heart set on not spending any more money on XBLA.  What is it, $15?  The Alien Hominid demo kicked my ass, though.  The reviewer says this one is better balanced.  We shall see.

[Quemaqua]

Hot damn, that does look freaking cool.  I hadn't seen any motion in a while, and that thing looks brilliant.

PSN PLZ.

[Cobra951]

Oh, good stuff.  Nicely done.  I definitely want to get the whole game, but that may not happen for a while.

Edit:  But there is trouble in paradise, as I just found out.  Nasty bugs related to saved data.  It may be related strictly to online issues, but I'm not sure what all is up.  I'm definitely waiting for all this to get sorted out.

[Cobra951]

I highly recommend not buying this until some very nasty bugs get fixed.  From what I've been reading several places, it's very possible for saved games to get corrupted by a number of factors.  I thought at first that it was only possible for this to happen online, but apparently it can also strike if different users log into the game locally (on the same Xbox).  This thread deals with the problem and a supposed workaround which is getting inconsistent results.  What a mess.

Edit:  In the meantime, get the demo and let the outstanding theme song play.

[gpw11]

Games should never be released with bugs that corrupt saves.  That should be a law.

[Quemaqua]

Maybe the bugs will be fixed when it hits PSN.

You know, I am sensing a theme to my posts.  Perhaps I am becoming a bit too predictable (you know, as opposed to before, when I was just the right level of entirely predictable).

[Cobra951]

When things go so wrong right off the bat, I have to wonder what's going on.  There has to be a flaw in the development and testing process.  I once read a developer's post on the Criterion forums saying that the 360's development kits don't fully reflect production hardware.  What?  If true, that's a nightmare.  It still doesn't excuse anything, because it would be unconscionable to release a software product that was never tested on the intended systems.  But inaccuracies in dev systems would make things harder, no question.  Difficulty in development is no stranger to console programmers.  In the end, there is simply no excuse.  Whatever the hurdle is needs to be compensated for, if it can't be eliminated altogether.

And yes, Que.  I'm glad I met you way before you got a PS3. 

[Quemaqua]

What shocks me is that such a simple game has those kinds of probelms when it was in development for as long as this was.  The thing took forever to come out.

[Cobra951]

I'm thinking there's something extraordinarily obtuse in the way.  It simply makes no sense at all.  These bugs could not have possibly escaped detection if any decent testing was done.  Someone said save games go into your profile, not separate files.  I'm wondering if that was a last minute change which upset the apple cart.

After much reading on the subject, it seems that as long as I play offline under my own profile on my own Xbox where I downloaded the game, I'll be fine.  Yes, even with the buggy crap, I couldn't stay away.  The game is awesome so far.  I'm a Level-18 green knight at the moment.

[Cobra951]

The single-player campaign is outstanding, easily worth the price of admission by itself.  Gameplay tweaked to perfection.  The leveling system, hidden items and random access to completed stages give it a long play time and make it impossible to put down.

The developers are back from PAX and working on the problems with online and with playing the game anywhere other than the original system.

[sirean_syan]

Zombie thread brings good news (at least for Que and I... and possibly Idol one day).

[Cobra951]

CC Remastered releases on the 9th on the XONE, free until the 20th for 360 owners, $5 for previous owners after that, $15 for everyone else.  60 fps (up from 30), 5 times the texture sizes, new multiplayer minigame.

I'm there!  Can't believe it's been 7 years since I got the original.

[Quemaqua]

I'd be irritated that they were only doing this on Xbone, but to be honest, I've played all the Castle Crashers I have any desire to. This wouldn't be enough to get to me go back.

[W7RE]

I bought the original on Xbox 360 but never played much of it. I'm so glad I'll be able to get the new release for free. Maybe I'll put more time into it this time.

[Cobra951]

I'd be irritated that they were only doing this on Xbone, but to be honest, I've played all the Castle Crashers I have any desire to. This wouldn't be enough to get to me go back.

Somewhere, I read that the Steam version will be getting the same enhancements.  The free thing is related to how well the game sold on XBL--apparently, a big shot in the arm for the company  ("our Thank-You-For-Saving-Our-Lives-That-One-Time special price of FREE").

[Cobra951]

It went live on XBL this morning, but there was a problem with the price ($15 for everyone).  This evening, it looks like the problem was resolved.  Got it free.  (Yay!)  Plays the same.  Double frame rate is perfect--so smooth.  I miss the title screen from the original game.  It went so well with the epic theme tune.