Crypt of the NecroDancer
A rhythm-based roguelike dungeon crawler where you move to the beat of the music.
Where Crypt of the NecroDancer comes up1 episode or test
Ryan Clark wanted Spelunky's quick decisions in a turn-based roguelike, so he prototyped one with a one-second turn timer. Playing it, he felt a rhythm and set it to music, which became Crypt of the NecroDancer. The lesson: prototype a borrowed feel in a new genre and let the design emerge from playing, rather than waiting for the perfect idea.
- 1Want Spelunky's quick decisionsInside a turn-based dungeon crawler
- 2Prototype one-second turn timerRoguelike with one second per turn
- 3Play the testA rhythmic quality emerged
- 4Set the game to musicRhythm made music the obvious fit
From Mark Brown, Game Maker's Toolkit
What was said about Crypt of the NecroDancer
Ryan Clark found Crypt of the NecroDancer by prototyping a one-second turn timer. Ryan Clark wanted Spelunky's quick-fire decisions inside a turn-based dungeon crawler, so he built a roguelike prototype where you have one second per turn. Playing it revealed a rhythmic quality, which made it obvious the game should be set to music.
The idea came from building and playing the test, not from a flash of inspiration. Mark Brown of Game Maker's Toolkit draws the lesson that designers should not wait for the perfect idea: build something, listen to what emerges, and follow the avenues that work.
The Games That Designed Themselves
Ryan Clark wanted Spelunky's quick decisions in a turn-based dungeon crawler and built a roguelike with a one-second turn timer. He felt its rhythm and set it to music.
Ryan Clark found Crypt of the NecroDancer by prototyping a one-second turn timer. Ryan Clark wanted Spelunky's quick-fire decisions inside a turn-based dungeon crawler, so he built a roguelike prototype where you have one second per turn. Playing it revealed a rhythmic quality, which made it obvious the game should be set to music.
The idea came from building and playing the test, not from a flash of inspiration. Mark Brown of Game Maker's Toolkit draws the lesson that designers should not wait for the perfect idea: build something, listen to what emerges, and follow the avenues that work.
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