Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda Reviews
Cadence of Hyrule is a fresh approach to the classic 2D Legend titles that looks and sounds amazing, but it doesn't last long.
Developer Brace Yourself Games has knocked this one out of the park, making something that feels like a perfect follow up to their wonderful Crypt of the Necromancer, but also manages to perfectly capture the magic innate to a full, first-party The Legend of Zelda title.
If you are a Zelda fan, then this should be a no brainer. Anyone who likes great music, fun gameplay, and action RPGs should also pick this up.
Still, I had doubts as the game got closer to release, like maybe it would be too hard or too disparate from regular Zelda, but after spending a fair bit of time with it, those doubts washed away. This isn't Link to the Past; it's something new and different. Cadence of Hyrule successfully earns its place in the pantheon of Zelda adventures by carving a distinctive rhythmic path that brings new ideas to the series while also hitting the right nostalgic keys.
Cadence of Hyrule features incredibly appealing visuals and music as well as a gameplay dynamic that's fresh and exciting.
Cadence of Hyrule came as a huge surprise to me, as I can’t stand roguelikes and have been thoroughly disappointed by Zelda games over the last ten years, even though it’s actually one of my favourite game series. However, Cadence of Hyrule is far more of a classic Zelda experience than one might expect and, I would argue, even more so than the last two main entries in the series.
Review in German | Read full review
For fans of Crypt of the Necrodancer, I can highly recommend Cadence of Hyrule. It might be a bit easier, but the music and rhythm-based combat are as good as ever. If you’re a fan of 2D Zelda and are open to giving it a go, feel free to pick it up or try the demo first. However, you shouldn’t expect a classic Zelda experience, even if the overworld map feels a bit like one. The dungeons in particular – with the exception of the IQ Temple – differ quite significantly from the norm.
Review in German | Read full review
Cadence of Hyrule is one of the best Zelda spin-offs to ever appear on a console. Brace Yourself Games can be proud on this achievement as it manages to combine the music elements of Crypt of the Necrodancer with Zelda.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
So here we are at the conclusion. Is Cadence of Hyrule a great game? Hell yes. Is it a good ZELDA game? HELL. YES. Is it the best Zelda spin-off game? I don’t think you could ever top it, to be completely honest.
It’s everything a Zelda spinoff demands: wisdom in design, courage in concept, and power in music — culminating in the one of the most epic video game crossovers this side of Hyrule.
A different yet familiar Crypt of the Necrodancer experience with a Legend Of Zelda skin that may take some time to get used to, but is worth it in the end.
Review in Greek | Read full review
Originally conceived as DLC for the game’s Switch port, the franchise’s catalog of celebrated musical compositions and Nintendo’s unusual interest in lending its crown jewel to an indie developer quickly turned Cadence of Hyrule into a standalone entry that somehow manages to combine the best of both worlds.
Cadence of Hyrule is a fantastic mix of two great series: The Legend Of Zelda and Crypt of The NecroDancer. It takes the best elements of both properties and marries them perfectly into what I’d consider an instant classic.
Borrowing from Crypt of the Necromancer's DNA, Cadence of Hyrule is a fantastic fusion between roguelike and rhythm with beautiful visuals, sharp gameplay, and a soundtrack fans the world over will love.
Brace Yourself Games, creators of the rhythm-based dungeon crawler Crypt of the NecroDancer, have been given the keys to the kingdom of Hyrule, imbuing the signature gameplay of the original while mixing in all the characters, locations and melodies you love from the Zelda universe. What results is a clever blend of action and music that might be the best Zelda spinoff in history.
"The legend of disco dancers."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Like the best roguelites, when it works it's great: when you do a good run, Cadence of Hyrule makes all its pieces work together --it sounds good.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Crypt of the NecroDancer invades the world of The Legend of Zelda in such faithful way, it easily becomes a Zelda game itself. With an addictive gameplay and a lot of replayability, Cadence of Hyrule is a must-have for every Nintendo Switch.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Cadence of Hyrule is the Legend of Zelda and Crypt of the NecroDancer crossover we never knew we needed, but now that it's here, we want the song to go on forever. Brace Yourself Games' expert handling of the Zelda property is commendable. Here's hoping we get an encore with some DLC.