Castle Crashers

Old school beat-em-ups were awesome. Though the basic gameplay was as simple and linear as it got, playing the game over and over with friends would seem a fresh experience every time. Though there have been a lot of games in recent times that tried to bring back that feeling through revamped versions of the classics, or by imitations, none have been as enjoyable as Castle Crashers.

Right from the time you begin this game, you know it's gonna be a fun ride. Castle Crashers is completely done in 2D with hand-drawn sprites, which gives it that old-school feel. It gives you an option to start the game using four-player multiplayer right from the beginning, which is an early indication that you're not really meant to play this game alone.

When it comes to storyline, you really don't have much of an indication of what exactly is going on or what your motive is behind fighting hordes of enemies, but with a game this straightforward, you really don't care about the whys.

The gameplay is completely action-based, dividing your moves into fast attack, strong attack, jump, use items and magic. There's no puzzle solving here to slow down the pace. As long as you're in the level, you're fighting.

But that doesn't mean the game gets repetitive after a while. There are mini games and boss fights throughout to keep things fresh. Plus, you have the option to upgrade your character's skill and moves with the experience points he earns through the levels, adding more depth to the gameplay.

If leveling up isn't enough for you, there are also weapons and animal orbs spread through the game for added stats or abilities. Weapons can boost your strength or agility, but at the same time they may lower another stat like defense. Animal orbs give you a pet that follows you around (one pet at a time). Each pet has its own ability, like fetching hidden fruits, attacking enemies, etc.