The Crusades were a brutal time. They're even worse if you've been handed down a horrible family curse that causes you to pass between the real world and a hellish alternate dimension. Denz and Estaban, the two warrior protagonists of publisher Atlus' The Cursed Crusade know these facts firsthand. Their co-op adventures through various European cities are brutally violent, difficult, and occasionally fairly demonic.
But what if dual wielding swords doesn't save your skin? If you're feeling overwhelmed, you can hop into an alternate dimension where you're significantly more powerful. Staying in there too long is dangerous, though, as it drains your health rather quickly. It's all about finding the balance between stopping yourself from being overtaken and not using the painful power too much.
As it takes a lot of cues from Demon's Souls, The Cursed Crusade isn't exactly easy. We died on several different occasions in our demo, and our co-op partner had to struggle his way over to us for a revival. But even being near-dead doesn't score you a reprieve. Death literally bears down on you, and you have to make sure he doesn't get to you before your buddy does. It's an interesting and challenging take on the revival system that's become so pervasive in co-op titles since the original Gears of War.
With a deep skill tree, quick combo-based combat, and a huge world to explore in the often ignored 12th century Europe, The Cursed Crusade promises to be a solid co-op title for the hack 'n' slash aficionados.
Jun 15, 2011
