Cadence of Hyrule is a new game from the creators of Crypt of the Necrodancer. A game that on first inspection people met be lead to believe was conceived by Nintendo. No, this game is actually an indie darling, and one of the best indie games I’ve played in a long while. It is also one fantastic Zelda game and is a blast to play.
This game stars both Zelda and Link but also the main character from Crypt of the Necrodancer, Cadence. She must first choose which character the player plays as. Zelda actually has some special items at her disposal being Din’s Fire and Nayru’s love. Link doesn’t get any special boons at the beginning but is still the classic Link everyone knows and loves. Though during this adventure he will gain his other classic abilities.
Cadence of Hyrule is a rhythm game, yes a classic Zelda adventure with a rhythm game twist. In this game, Zelda music blasts and the player must move along with the beat. The enemies work like they usually would, but the player must also learn their rhythms. It’s interesting seeing these classic enemies dance along with a beat. All of the enemies follow a specific pattern and go about there lives bouncing to the music.
Players will also fight through dungeons and take on four different bosses. These bosses are based on classic Zelda bosses and include the fantastic Gohamaracas. This boss is the awesome Gohma wielding Maracas, a sight I never thought I’d see in my life.
The dungeons themselves are varied and will also change if the player dies. It’s quite startling to die and walk in to find the dungeon looking different. Each dungeon has its own vibe like in other Zelda games and appear in similar locales. They are all quite fun to battle through and fans of the series should enjoy this part of the game immensely.
The bosses themselves are also battles to the beat. These boss fights are definitely the highlight of each dungeon. Fighting through them will give the player their instruments which are needed to get to the final boss. It definitely hammers in the fact that this is a Zelda game.
There are a bunch of different characters in this game. The game pulls in characters from the Zelda series, though they are usually from the older games in the series. The game itself has that familiar old school vibe so it makes sense. While I might not be the biggest fan of the river Zora it is nice to see them again.
This game has a variety of shopkeepers who will help out the player for rupees. Minigames to play which can be quite fun. There are even rhythm challenges, and finding all of the pieces of heart. All in all, they add to the game and make it one heck of Zelda adventure.
This game also adds an interesting component, called Diamonds. Diamonds are always there even when the player dies. They can be used at special stores, and can only be obtained from chests and clearing areas of all enemies. It’s nice to gather a large sum of them and buy items to help the player on each revival.
If players are looking for extra challenges they will want to open up all of the chests. The areas each hold a chest and some might just be simply opened by killing all of the enemies. Some require the player to win and take no damage, or to win under a time limit. But the rewards are great if the player clears the challenges!
The game itself is also one that is procedurally generated. This is seen in the first menus of the game as players are given a list of ways to begin the game. Player’s can figure out what seed they are playing and then replay it if they want. It allows for easy speedrunning, which many will certainly be down for.
I wasn’t sure how different the world would be so I started the game again and was astounded at how it changed. The areas that were once quite free were now blocked by trees and rocks. While obviously not the same for everyone this certainly made the second playthrough that much more different.
It’s really cool to see a Zelda game that is built for speedrunning. If played through, players can finish the game in five hours, but obviously, it can take longer. It’s a game that doesn’t take too much time, but one that can also give the player many hours of fun especially with replays. The game is always different so players will be excited to see how their journeys will differ.
There is also a fixed beat mode which should make the game easier on people without rhythm. In this, mode the enemies simply move with the player which makes it easier on a whole. In this mode player’s will actually need to have a little more tact, as the enemies will respond accordingly.
Players can also take part in daily challenges where they will have one life. If they lose they can’t take part in the challenge again. It’s an interesting idea and one that works particularly well with a game like this. Will the player be up to the task?
Fixed beat mode will also make the game like a classic Zelda adventure. It is nice to simply play through this game as it does really play like a classic Zelda adventure. It is nice to have the ability to play as the player would like to do so. Plus playing it in Fixed Beat Mode basically adds another run through if you’ve already beat the game in classic mode.
This game is great because it can also be played with two players. Hacking and slashing through Hyrule Link and Zelda is a fun way to pass the time. Plus it should make the game a tad easier because if one player is alive they can easily revive the other hero. The game itself might be fun but playing with a friend always ups the ante.
The remixes are also really good, there is something electric about them. There are about 25 different remixes in this game and each one is just so good. I wouldn’t have expected to like them so much, but they are still as classic as the originals.
Cadence of Hyrule is a rocking indie game and one that all Zelda fans should at least give a chance. This game isn’t too highly priced and offers hours of play. If fans want to they can download it right now on the Eshop and enjoy exploring a musical Hyrule.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided