NEW SPLASH PAGE FOR CASTLE CRASHERS: Check it out

UPDATE: CASTLE CRASHERS IS COMPLETE!!!

RELEASE DATE: AUGUST 27TH!

Cost: 1200 Microsoft Points($15USD).

This thread is about all things Castle Crashers, a side-scrolling old-school beat'em up for the Xbox Live Arcade developed by The Behemoth, creators of Alien Hominid.

The game was first introduced at the 2006 Comic-Con.

It was originally scheduled to be released in 2007, but was delayed to 2008 to include extra content.

The game is gorgeous in motion, and all hands-on impressions have been nothing but positive.

It recently showed up at the Penny Arcade Expo (PAX), and Arstechnica has a write up:
http://arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.ars/2007/08/25/pax-hands-on-with-castle-crashers

"This was the first time I’ve seen Castle Crashers in motion without a monitor in front of me, and it was every bit as gorgeous as stills of the art would lead you to believe. The animation is shockingly smooth and flowing, and each of the four colored characters has a personality (and special move) of his own. Moving about the levels is incredibly easy, and attacks are responsive whether by bow, blade, or magic."

Here is the original trailer for the game:

 

 

Besides being a 4-player Co-op adventure game, it also has a variety of competitive multiplayer modes. There are also almost 20 playable characters for these modes. Three of the play types have been revealed: Blades Vs., Bows Vs., and Chicken Fight.

The Blades and Bows Vs are straightforward free-for-all fights between the 4 players using only the specified weapons. The stages are also interactive, and there are plenty of power-ups to help keep you alive. The Chicken Fight sounds the weirdest. Players fight hand-to-hand over chickens which the player eats and it makes them larger and more powerful.

The final word from Arstechnica's hands-on with the game at PAX 2007: "Castle Crashers looks great and it plays great. The only problem? It’s not out yet. C’mon Behemoth, just release the game already. My Microsoft Points are waiting."

Links:

http://www.thebehemoth.com/

http://www.castlecrashers.com/

http://www.gametrailers.com/game/3041.html - Trailers/Gameplay clips

UPDATE(1): I've decided to add a clip of the multiplayer modes. Enjoy.

 

 

UPDATE(2): A link to Destructoid's PAX 07 hands-on of Castle Crashers:
http://www.destructoid.com/pax-07-hands-on-with-castle-crashers-41899.phtml

"Having experienced this much of the game, I have to now mention my one major complaint. One thing that drives me crazy about it. It's not out yet. I left PAX starving for more of this game. Were it available to me now, you wouldn't be reading this because I'd be sitting on my couch burning up the battery in my 360 controller. Whatever is holding this up, whatever is standing between this game and XBLA needs to die a swift death, because I don't know how much longer I can wait to play it again."

UPDATE(3): A recent press release (9/12) has Castle Crashers coming in early 08.

* “Castlecrashers” (The Behemoth). Arriving in early 2008 on Xbox LIVE Arcade,
“Castlecrashers” is the second title currently in development by award-winning
independent developer the Behemoth. The four-player RPG adventure will let
players hack, slash and smash their way to victory. “Castlecrashers” delivers
unique high-resolution illustrated visuals, including memorably hand-drawn
characters that are cute and menacing at the same time. Gamers can play with up
to three friends locally or over Xbox LIVE2 and discover mind-boggling magic and
mystery in the amazing world of “Castlecrashers.”

http://www.kauppalehti.fi/4/i/eng/releases/press_release.jsp?selected=other&oid=20070901/11895760389720⟨=EN
UPDATE(4): This is kinda late, but in the beginning of January, thebehemoth updated their website with some Castle Crashers info.

Castle Crashers has been consuming our lives for quite some time now, and although we've been relatively quiet with updates and news, we want everyone to know that it's looking amazing and it's coming this year. Sometime soon I will be able to jump on here and tell everyone a release date, but for now, 2008 is the official release date for Castle Crashers. Below is a little sneak peak of a VERY small portion of the world map. We're creating an entire world for everyone to experience, and hopefully enjoy. We appreciate your patience, as well as support, these past years as we work hard on releasing this title. As we head into February we plan to attend the annual Wonder-Con, held in San Francisco, CA. We will be showing our latest Castle Crashers build there, that may or may not contain some surprises for those who can make it out. Thanks and we love you all (not the weird kind of love either) !

http://www.thebehemoth.com/news200801.html#08

UPDATE(5): TheBehemoth will be at Wonder-Con with their most up to date version of Castle Crashers.

We've been getting some emails about our schedule for Wonder-Con this year. Here is the rundown for the dates, times, booth number for the show: Booth #539 Friday, February 22nd Saturday, February 23rd Sunday, February 24th We will be bringing with us the latest version of Castle Crashers, some merchandise, and if we can some type of enhancements for your breath (we'll explain more on this later). So if you can make it out to San Francisco during these days, please stop by and say hello to us, shake our hand, and tell us we're special.

http://www.thebehemoth.com/index.html

UPDATE(6):
• “Castle Crashers” (The Behemoth). “Castle Crashers” is the second title currently in development by award-winning independent developer The Behemoth, creator of “Alien Hominid HD.” The role-playing game (RPG) adventure will let up to four players hack, slash and smash their way together through a visually stunning hand-drawn landscape. “Castle Crashes” launches this summer.

http://www.xblah.net/2008/02/gdc-08-new-xbla-media-castle-crashers.html

UPDATE(7):

That alone would be fun, in most part thanks to the fact that the game can be played with four players cooperatively either online or off. Castle Crashers goes a step further by adding RPG elements to the mix. You can level up each color knight individually by gaining new experience points and buy new weapons and potions at a blacksmith between stages. As you work your way across the 20 stages in the game, you'll improve your character and gain new abilities as you become the ultimate colored knight. We got a quick look at the overworld map and saw that it looks like a basic version of what you see in games like Super Mario 3. You can travel to any unlocked levels at any time and stop by the blacksmith to spend some gold in between stages

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/853/853930p1.html

UPDATE(8):

Developer blog for Castle Crashers goes live with a video of the World Map!

http://devblog.thebehemoth.com/

 

UPDATE(9): New Unlockable Characters pic posted ... 22 Unlockable characters!!

 

http://devblog.thebehemoth.com/?p=34

UPDATE(10): Weapons List - Over 40 different types!

http://devblog.thebehemoth.com/?p=25

UPDATE(11): New level shown as developer creates it!

http://devblog.thebehemoth.com/?p=48

 

 

UPDATE(12): Animal orbs give players various bonuses and enhancements. There are 23 of them.

http://devblog.thebehemoth.com/?p=49

 

Small update: Link to a Castle Crashers flash game: http://www.maxgames.com/play/castle-crashing-the-beard.html

Small update: Beefy Mode shown

Cool, I´m gettin this 100%, there are way to few new cool mutiplayer beat´em´ups beeing made, this one looks priceless... no whait 800 points, how much is that in intergalactic credits ??? Doesn´t matter really, I need this game :)

I can't wait for this game, and I don't even have a 360. This will definitely get played on my friend's 360 though.

This is going to be the first downloadable game I buy when I get a 360, well unless they make something really, really awesome before that.

The side scrolling beat 'em up genre is sadly almost extinct nowadays. I was positively extatic when I heard Brawl was going to have a mode like this.

Alien Hominid is awesome and this looks even better. Castle Crashers is an immediate purchase for me.

Any idea when it's coming out? Hopefully early 08.

Probably my most anticipated XBLA title. I'm very happy to see the sidescrolling genre being revitalized with downloadable games...

Isn't it a little early for an anticipation thread for a game coming out in 2008?

Anyway, this game will be the best game on Xbox Arcade hands down once it comes out and should be godly co-op.

this game looks super fun. POWER RANGERSS lookalikes.. lol

This game looks so awesome. A must buy for me when I get a 360.

gah, double post.  second one is better.