Catacomb Kids is the Dark souls of the roguelike 2D platformers. If you mess up just a little bit in this game, it punches you in the gut and kicks you in the teeth. Randomly generated catacombs and randomly made characters make the game infinitely fun. Right now Catacomb Kids is in Early Access, but there is tons on different variants in the game. (Weapons, shields, armor, potions, catacombs layouts, and different types of magic.) Right now there is only two classes with more on the way in future updates. Along with all the single player features, there is a verses mode with eight different arenas, but there is only local co-op and verses an AI. The only bad thing that I can say about this game is that there is no setting for changing the difficulty.

• Versus mode
  
• Randomized catacombs
  
• Randomized playable character
  
• No game breaking glitches
  
• Great controller support
  
• No performance issues
  

• Can be too hard for some
  
• Very unforgiving
  
• Barely any display options
  

Catacomb Kids is a brutally fun roguelike game, but it could be too hard for some people. It really needs a difficulty setting. Catacomb Kids has almost unlimited replay value because it has randomly generated playable characters and catacombs. In the end, Catacomb Kids is 100% worth a buy even in Early Access, and there is more content on its way to make this game worth it even more.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohZhqOxoIm0
-HiPFiRED


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This is a strong recommend from me; even at an Alpha stage of development. The procedurally generated dungeons and the statistically random generated characters add endless variety and unique situations.

Brutal and unforgiving. Expect quick deaths if you do not have appropriate reaction speeds; the random generator can create incredibly difficult to traverse trap rooms. One nice touch right from the beginning is the ability to “re-roll” by entering the exit from the previous floor.

There are too many gameplay elements to explain, but the attention to detail in the weapon-type combat, spell-type combat, and ailments is very refined and filled with variety, even at an Alpha stage. The level up upgrades (Rainbow Orb); if you survive long enough to make it to these coveted items, they will allow you to use attribute upgrades like parrying, free-running, reduced damaged from traps, plus many more expanded as you obtain more orbs.

I am very excited to see the game develop further, to see more classes, and see how refined the gameplay between them comes. To be honest, the two class system works for me currently, but having more, it would be interesting to see. I for one, would love to see a miner-like character.

a grumble cut my arm off, so i picked it up and ate it to show him what kind of ♥♥♥♥er he was messing with

Even in an unfinished and beta-like state Catacomb Kids delivers a fun and unrelenting hardness that I've seen no othergame deliver. However this isn't a game anyone can just grab and pick up on as the learning curb is rather big. The game is extremely unforgiving but once you get a grasp where you are making your moves can be really fun. Great for those who want an experience that change again and again!

I have been playing this game for 15mins. It's hilarious!

The controls are very good and responsive, which is a must for this type of game...
Because it's also unforgiving.

Not because it's stupidly unforgiving, but because there's just SO many unexpected ways you can interact with items... and die.

Now, onto some of my favorite deaths:

#1 I manage to jump and swim across a pond full of piranaes.
- Haha, look at them. They're biting and still looking at the edge of the water, mad that I managed to make it across!
*Piranae picks up speed and jumps out of the water into my face* X_X

#2 Hmm, a pounding trap... let's see if I can activate it using my slime!
- Yes! Ah crap, now the trap is glued to the bottom of the shaft, preventing me from passing...
- I wonder if I can unglue it by jumping on it and hitting the chain repeatedly
- Oh oh, its unstuck and coming back my way X_X

#3 Sweet, I just killed this orc thing.
Let's loot it!
- Ooops, I ate it. Only the bones remain.
- Okay, what's up with these bones... let's eat them too?
X_X Died from choking on the bones.

10/10, would die from choking on bones again.

Despite my (currently) low play time, rest assured I've put at least 30 hours into earlier kickstarter-exclusive builds. This a simply fantastic roguelike platformer. To me, it feels like a combination of Spelunky and Super Smash Bros in a fantasy environment.There are four big selling points I'll discuss below. TL;DR: Very fun, fluid movement, challenging skill based combat, incredible variety of organic environmental interactions, and all play styles are equally supported

The thing that initially drew me to this game is the way the player moves throughout the environment. It's the smoothest system I've ever played with, and traversing the environment is not just a means to an end, it's a pleasure. The only gripe I have with it is there are occasionally environmental hazards you can't protect against, but they're few and far between.

This game is extremely difficult, make no mistake. In my opinion, not all of the stats are as balanced as they should be; it's very difficult to survive hits from Grumbuls (humanoid enemy, think orc) early on, and getting good will definitely take practice. That said, the combat is very fun. Killing the enemies is always satisfying, and your deaths feel horribly brutal, but never unfair. The magic system is very intuitive and is useful both in and out of combat.

The third and perhaps biggest selling point for me is the interactions that happen organically in the world. For instance, within the game there are poisonous mushrooms, boulders, pools of water, and fire magic. Let's look at the interactions possible between these four objects. If there are fish in the water, a mushroom can be thrown in to leak poison into the water and weaken the fish. Using fire magic, you can burn up the mushroom and it's poison cloud to safely pass. Using the same magic, you can super heat the boulder, and hit it into an enemy to deal extra damage and potentially set them alight. If you need food in a pinch, you can heat the rock, push it into a pool to boil the water, and then throw in the mushroom, which will cook and become edible.

The final aspect is that this game supports playing essentially however you want. In many roguelikes, leveling up is based on getting experience from fighting enemies, completing objectives, and so on. In Catacomb Kids, each floor has a leveling orb, which, once picked up, allows the player to level up once. Nothing else matters, as long as you get the orb, you can level up. That means if you want to play by dodging dangerous situations with teleportation magic, no problem. Want to slaughter everyone you come across? Cool. Tackle the levels however you want, because you won't be punished for skipping rooms and opponents like you would be with an EXP system.


Overall, it's a very fun and unique experience that I think is absolutely worth $16 in the current state. The developer is very communicative as well, and does weekly Dev streams on Twitch.

Edit: I forgot a HUGE aspect (equal playstyle representation), so I've updated the TL;DR and added the section.

There was 4 of us to begin with

We entered the dungeon, came out of the door one by one, the first to go met his fate when an axe swinging back and forth from the ceiling almost cut off his head, he rolled under it just in time, went off the edge because of his roll, and straight into some spikes off the side of the edge

There were 3

The Second to go had found a fancy chest, but it was to dangerous of an area to open it in, he grabbed the chest and brought it with him until it was safe, but the first gap he came across he tried to jump, he fell into spikes AND triggered a pressure plate which sent a hammer flying down and squishing his already dead body.

There were 2

He opened the door confidentally while i stood back watching him, he rolled into the room and was surrounded by tons of monsters and met his maker

There was me

I had 1 health, i rolled through a bunch of monsters, opened a door and before the monsters could get through i closed it, i was safe, i found a dead body, and i was screwed any other way so, i ate the body in hopes food would help me heal, i started eating anything edible i could find until i found a skull, i shrugged, bit into it, and choked on a bone.

There were none

This game is very unforgiving and hard to get used to, but very rewarding if you play well, i give this game in its current state an 8/10

I can't express how happy I am that this game has finally made it to steam. I missed the kickstarter so I have been twiddling my thumbs and biting my nails in anticitpation since the day I first saw gameplay. This game hits all the sweets spots when it comes to my criteria for rouge-likes. Lot's of random/procedural goodness, stats, classes, weapons, enemies, clever traps, etc. There is even a brilliant implimentation of some basic physics built into the game which you must strategize with and use to your advantage. The aspect that really makes Catacomb Kids stand out are the small details that add comlexity to such a simple platformer, for example, I discovered that when you are weilding a magic dagger of electricity, jumping into a pool of water will (for now obvious reasons) f***k you up. Another neat mechanic is your food pallet. Eating certain combinations of enemy corpses will have varrying effects. There's tons of small details like these that just gives the game charm and character.

Overall I'm super excited to see how things will progress and just how active the devs will be. The price is a bit steep but I don't regret buying the game. In it's current state it is 100% playable and the most fun I've had with a game this year. My pros/cons:

Pros:
-Hard as nails (in a challenging/fair way)
-Proceduraly generated goodness
-Great pixel-esque graphics and wonderful sound
-Controls are really tight and dialed in (playing on a 360 controller)
-Good varriation of weapons/loot/potions
-The one boss that I've made it to was really badass
-Lots of depth in the game mechanics and strategizing is a must
-The exploding trap is really clever and I've never seen it in another game

Cons:
-As of right now the level layouts and room/combinations repeat quite a bit
-At first the menu and gameplay were really confusing and the tutorial was buggy and confusing as well
-Only 2 classes at the moment (obviously I know this will change)
-Spells are fairly limited as well
-Minor game mechanics that need tweaked/balanced
-All the other expected buggy things/ lag spikes that come with an Alpha build

Twenty minutes into Catacomb Kids and I've died approximately twice every minute. Completing the tutorial alone saw my death toll rise into high double digits. With over three hours under my belt, I'd say I passed the 100 milestone some time ago.

Catacomb Kids is malicious. I'm not a skilled gamer, but I'm experienced enough to pick up a few universal tricks. This game cares nothing for that; if you go in overconfident, you're going to be humbled. Any bravado will be wiped clean as you're forced to learn the ropes from the very basics. It's difficult not to reference the Souls series, though I'm loathe to as it resembles it in spirit only, but it's still an apt comparison. The game may be a seething, malevolent entity but it's not at all unfair.

You have every means possible to succeed, even from the very beginning. The variety of classes possess myriad skills and equipment, while leveling offers increased stats and perks. Your melee swings must be timed but they're reliable and spells provide valuable effects from a safe range. Your repertoire is further boosted by agile rolls, boost jumps, throws and Mario-style head-stomps. On top of this, you can find loot all over the dungeon to increase stats, quaff or hurl at unfortunate enemies.

The danger you face is all-pervasive. You have your usual mobs which so far have been pretty standard aesthetically but their behaviour helps mix the action up. Slimes cling to surfaces and charge when they spot you, bats will pester you from the sky and bands of goblins will gang up but flee when over-powered. Empty rooms are no reason to let your guard down though; there are minute details revealing traps all over the level. Tiny, pixel-thin tripwires will trigger a flood of gas once broken leaving you a couple of seconds to flee before it ignites, setting the room aflame. Pressure plates will send massive weights crashing to the floor and hidden spikes will pierce you if you get close enough. The sheer variety of ways you'll be dispatched is enough to ease the blow when you're once more incinerated, devoured, flattened, stabbed, poisoned, decapitated etc.

The controls are a little wonky to begin with, at least with keyboard (no mouse necessary). I can see it improving greatly with a gamepad but there are currently some issues the developer plans to address so I've not tried it myself. Of course, I'll update the review once I've had a chance to test it out. There are three main buttons alongside the directional keys but apart from some initial confusion, it works well enough. Later skills, magic and items have appropriate hotkeys; it's all very standard and can be reassigned easily. Once you've adapted to both the control scheme and the mechanics themselves, all the initial issues have resolved.

It's one of those lovely Early Access experiences that could easily function as a finished product but that's not to say that it wouldn't benefit from the months of work ahead. I've had one instance of graphical glitching but nothing game-breaking, so far at least. There are clear plans to include extra content, with entire menus exhibiting future items and the class system promising more than the inital two types. It certainly could do with a little more of everything but what's here already is a solid product. It's hugely playable in its current version, which at least helps ease the worries that comes with all my EA titles.

I'm a roguelite/roguelike fanatic and the recent resurgence of the genre has been my personal "Golden Age" but I'm not blind to the flaws inherent in the formula. Catacomb Kids might not sidestep all those pitfalls but it works with what it has to be both unique and exciting. As such, this is easily one of my highlights even in its current iteration. It's one of those games I'll be genuinely enthusiastic to see updated so I can find what's been added.

It's an absolute delight to discover and explore both the environment and the mechanics. After all, a game where you can beat a goblin to death with its own severed arm can only be so bad, right?

Prepare to die! MANY times. This game is all about making wise decisions at a rapid pace.
Do you fight that skeleton or stealthily avoid it? Do you jump that lava chasm or hope for another way around?
With a little bit of luck and experimentation. You will learn tactics to survive and overcome your enemies. Using the traps of the Catacombs against them. Spells, and random magical loot also help in survival. Nonethless though, it all can end quickly as one mistake can spell your doom. Catacomb Kids is an unforgiving game.

I made a video preview to show off some of the features and gameplay of this game!
http://youtu.be/YnXjCRh635c
I hope you enjoy!
Martyr

A genuinely fun, if unforgiving, roguelite platformer, Catacomb Kids is a seemingly simple game with excellent gameplay, good atmosphere, and a really neat soundtrack. It is still very much an alpha at the time of this writing, so I would recommend waiting if you're concerned.

This game is unforgiving. Although no mouse support, gamepad support is present and I am yet to try this. Controls can be remapped, especially as jump on Z is annoying.

Like the top review, A LOT of funny playthroughs have happened in my short play time.

1) You can jump on things to kill them. I jumped on a poisonous mushroom to destroy it... which launched me into a swinging trap. No more leg. I landed in a lake with pirahnas. Dead.

2) Ate a troll thing. Survived. Ate another troll thing. Got poisoned. Ate is bones. Choked and died.

3) Drank a clear potion. Turned into a block of ice and died.

4) Drank an orange potion. Poisoned and got killed by a flipping bat.

Many ways to die.

Before the review, I'd like to say this is my first time reviewing any game, and I have been hyped for this game since 2013, so this review may be slightly biased.

Where to start... most things about this game are excellent! The controls are excellent IF you use a controller (I'll get into that later), the enemies are really fun to fight, the combat feels pretty nice, and mechanics are what makes this game stand out.

About the controls, I say it's excellent with a controller because the keyboard is a little weird, however that's just my opinion. It's not unmanagable though, and if you prefer keyboard, go for it!

The enemies are really interesting, since the grumbles, which are the main enemies, tend to have a lot of health, however are easily predictable. The slimes, goos, and byats are all easy meals, which is great. When you descend deeper, more types of enemies start to appear, making the game a little more difficult each floor.

The combat is something that made this game really great. With blocking, rolling, parrying, and dismemberment, you have tons of options. There are a variety of melee weapons, aswell as tomes for those who prefer the mage class. Speaking of tomes, the spells in this game are each unique, and are all good in their own way.

The mechanics, however, are what makes this game what it is. For example, you can heat up a boulder using a fire spell, then push it into water, pick up a poison mushroom and cook it, ridding the poison and making it safe to eat. You can beat enemies to death, create distractions, or activate traps or switches with JUST a rock! You can melt balls of slime or goo, and consume them for health, or use them as weapons against grumbles by blinding them. You can knock over torches and create a fire, burning enemies in the vicinity. Plus how each kid is randomized with different traits just adds more variety to this game!

That's the end of this review. Keep in mind, this is my first one, and it may not be clear. If you're interested in difficult, but fun rogue-likes, you'll definitely want to pick this game up. 9/10.

This game is tough. Like it will rend you a new behind, tough. It tests your intelligence, skill, and overall ability as you fight the myrid of opponents the Catacombs have to offer. I am new and have been killed by a slime 6 times and by falling into darkness that lead to spikes 4 times. Despite the deaths I still want to play, it is that kind of game, the kind that keeps pushing you down but regardless you keep getting back up. The developer Fourbitfriday truely has put his love in this game. So if you like platformers that have RPG elements and are very difficult going in, then this game is for you. I myself shall continue to explore those Catacombs and fight the Grumbuls and other monsters it has to offer.

Freaking tough game to play. I love it so much. It's developing at such an awesome rate and it's looking better and better with each update. WORTH EVERY PENNY I SAY

One of the most detailed, polished and simply fun "Rogue-Lite" games out there even in it's early stages. I genuinely think it can compete with the likes of Spelunky and Binding of Isaac if it continues to be developed like this.

Edit: I have been a kickstarter backer and have been playing the alpha for much longer than what is visible on steam.

I backed this on Kickstarter, so I didn't pay the full $16, but I would if I had to. Worth every cent, I knew this game would be awesome when I first saw it, and now that I've been able to play it, I have been proven right. I know that a lot of people are wary of early access games, as they should be, but this one is 100% worth it. The developer is kind and quick to fix issues, and the game truly speaks for itself. It's very challenging, but so much fun. Great game, highly reccommend.

Tough, unforgiving, and death is often. Rewards players who think about their surroundings instead of rushing head-first into the room full of baddies. I'd say it was worth the wait.

Catacomb Kids is a real-time roguelike platformer that draws more than a few cues from Spelunky, but approaches the genre in a manner all its own, resulting in a game that mashes roleplaying elements with platforming and inevitable death with a suprising degree of depth and tact.

Fromt the start, Catacomb Kids serves up a generous helping of character diversity, with two (and eventually six) different classes to choose from in the beginning, and an infinite pool of randomly-rolled characters with entirely different starting stats and equipment within each class, not to mention a randomly-generated appearance and name, just to reinforce how different each of your runs will be. Even in the game's current incarnation, the Bully and Poet classes offer an entirely different gameplay experience from the start, and even then, a vividly different experience depending on whether your chosen victi-er, "hero" is, say a clumsy, hammer-wielding powerhouse, a sneaky spear specialist, or a notorously messy eater who apparently realy likes daggers.

It only gets deeper from there, as progressing through each dungeon will yield such familiar roguelike experiences like identifying randomized potions, looting and eating fallen foes (for health and stat bonuses- there is no "hunger" stat), and learning your choice of spells from whichever magical tomes happen to be lying about. There is no "experience," either, at least in the traditonal sense, and level-ups are gained through locating a special orb that appears once per floor, meaning exploration takes the place of grinding, and combat is largely optional if you can navigate around it (unless you're interested in pilfering your fallen foes' gear and potions). Mind you, certain kids may possess a stat that enables them to gain experience in the use of specific weapons, but this is a circumstancial occurrence.

Each gained level nets you a point in a stat of your choice, followed by a character perk in that stat's as-of-yet invisible tree of skills, confering special abilities like charging your attacks, aiming your throws, and trampling your foes as you sprint through them, so by and large each of your runs will yield a very different character indeed.

It's almost sad, then, that for all this depth, each individual run is painfully short- and I use the term "painfully" on purpose. Like Spelunky, Catacomb Kids' levels have a single-minded interest in making your hapless dungeonman perish in whatever brutal way it can, sparing no expense in its "hidden deathtraps" budget, as well as pitting you against some fairly ruthless foes. Even mundane accidents like bringing electric-enchanted gear into the water, knocking over a torch and lighting the room ablaze, and choking on a bone while dining on your last meal will bring you down swiftly and mercilessly.

This is at once Catacomb Kids' primary appeal and its weakness- with no time limit for traversing each floor, players are free to take full advantage of the game's depth in fine-tuning their character's stats, equipment and spells to take their best shot at each obstacle as it arises, but ultimately, all that work can be undone in an instant, and more often than not, it will, over and over again, with individual runs rarely lasting more than a scant few minutes until players have built up some considerable skills (at which point, runs will -occasionally- last more than a scant few minutes).

For those who prefer a quick and visceral experience that doesn't feel like they're losing too much progress with each death, Catacomb Kids is an outstanding coffee-break game, and for those who want to feel like death is lurking around every corner and every moment of continued existence is a victory in itself, Catacomb Kids is a blissful challenge. However, for those who'd prefer to sit for an hour or two delving as deep into the dungeon as they can, Catacomb Kids' death-after-death-after-death gameplay grows stale rather quickly in its current two-class, one-environment state.

Still, to say this game has potential is an understatement- with an original and genuinely fun character progression system that's simple to comprehend and deep enough to play with at length, combat mechanics that are at once bluntly simple to learn yet intricately challenging to master, and a decidedly different character emerging with every run, Catacomb Kids has the makings of everything we love about Spelunky, The Binding of Isaac, FTL, and other genre-defining romps through random peril into the loving arms of near-certain demise.

If you've got a short attention span and a death wish, this game's definitely worth a play, and likely only getting better from here.

Already worth its price, no risk of early access disappointment.