History VideoGame / CryptOfTheNecrodancer

* {{Disco}}: Girlfriend Records' version of Zone 1-1's theme shows shades of this.

*** ''Coral Riff'' is a [[TentacledTerror giant octupus]] with a guitar for a head, and various instruments played by its tentacles, in a half-flooded arena.

* UsefulNotes/{{Synthwave}}: Girlfriend Records' soundtrack, inspired by 1980s SynthPop and NewWaveMusic.

* WhipItGood: The Whip (attacks in an L shape, like knights in chess) and the Cat o' Nine Tails (allows one to attack while moving).

* {{Blues}}: Deep Blues theme.

** The Monk, due to [[DeathByMaterialism instantly dying when touching a coin]] — when you've played for however long instinctively collecting gold, it's ''very'' hard to break that instinct.

** Danny B's soundtrack covers a lot of musical genres in itself: while the majority of Zones lean towards [[ElectronicDanceMusic EDM]], the second takes inspiration from HipHop, and the third alterns between {{Trance}} and HeavyMetal.

* MusicTropes: The game includes a huge variety of genres in its soundtrack:
** {{Blues}}: Deep Blues theme.
** {{Chiptune}}: Jake "Virt" Kaufman's soundtrack, as well as Chipzel's who combines this with EDM.
** {{Disco}}: Girlfriend Records' version of Zone 1-1's theme shows shades of this.
** ElectroHouse: A_Rival's soundtrack, combined with some {{Dubstep}} elements.
** UsefulNotes/{{Synthwave}}: Girlfriend Records' soundtrack, inspired by 1980s SynthPop and NewWaveMusic.

** GenreRoulette: The OC Remix soundtrack in ''Amplified'' offers a variety of styles by various artists.
** HeavyMetal: [=FamilyJules=]'s soundtrack and Death Metal's theme on Danny Baranowsky's soundtrack.
** HipHop: Fortissimole's theme, which can vary depending on the soundtrack. For example, [=FamilyJules=]'s version is RapRock.

** {{Trance}}: Zone 3-1's cold theme is influenced by this genre.

* TrueFinalBoss: [[spoiler:The Golden Lute, fought by Aria.]]

* '''Freestyle Retro''': A {{Chiptune}} remix by Creator/JakeKaufman aka "Virt", currently set as Uncle Eli's default soundtrack. Was originally a UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/PlayStationVita exclusive until it was added on Steam in a later update. ([[https://virt.bandcamp.com/album/crypt-of-the-necrodancer-freestyle-retro Base game]])

A third installment titled ''VideoGame/RiftOfTheNecrodancer'' is currently in development and is scheduled for a 2023 release.

A direct sequel titled ''VideoGame/RiftOfTheNecrodancer'' is currently in development.

** Final bosses: Played straight. The [=NecroDancer=] is fully invincible to everything except the Golden Lute, [[spoiler:the Golden Lute]] is fully invincible to everything except [[spoiler:Aria's dagger]], and The Conductor is just fully invincible (instead you must destroy her power sources, which take damage unconventionally).

* NamesTheSame: InUniverse example. Both the mole enemy and the mole boss in ''Amplified'' share the same PunnyName "Fortissimole".

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: According to early access builds, "Ghost" and "Thief" were the placeholder names of two playable characters that were never released. They seem to have been turned into the Ring of Phasing and Ring of Shadows items.

* AnAxeToGrind: The axe has been added as a weapon in ''Amplified''. It works similar to the rapier in that it allows you to thrust forward, but this time with an added wide-range benefit in exchange for the extra damage.

** King Conga's song is the only one in the game to skip a beat, specifically the eighth. In a game all about keeping your rhythm at all times, it can be hard to remember this. To make matters worse, loosing your groove chain will cause King Conga to get off his throne and attack early.

* AnAxeToGrind: The axe has been added as a weapon in ''Amplified''. It works similar to the rapier in that it allows you to thrust forward, but this time with an added wide-range benefit in exchange for the extra damage.

* MookBouncer: The Magic Monkeys in Zone 4 will force-teleport you to a random area of the level if killed after they grab you.

* TheAllSeeingAI:
** Averted/Downplayed. Monsters that haven't seen you (because they're too far away) won't move or attack. However, once a monster has seen you, it will continue to follow you if you move far away. Torches that increase your vision distance also make you more visible to monsters. The Ring of Shadows greatly reduces your vision but also makes it harder for monsters to see you. Some magical items/abilities let you see all monsters on the floor regardless of distance, but they also cause all spirits (and no other enemies) to be able to see you regardless of distance, which makes sense.
** Inverted outright with the Ring of Phasing, which lets you [[{{Intangibility}} move through walls]]. While inside a wall, almost every enemy in the game will immediately stand stock still, as they can't see you.

A direct sequel titled ''Rift of the [=NecroDancer=]'' is currently in development.

** One item in the game has an incorrect description: the Ring of War increases damage and knockback, but does not increase the number of enemies. Instead, it makes minibosses (but not bosses) tougher. It is unconfirmed whether this was a bug, or a balance decision where the description forgot to be fixed, etc.

** Mystery Mode in ''Amplified'' takes this UpToEleven by turning all items and enemies into question mark silhouettes that all look the same from one another. The only way to tell the enemies apart is to carefully watch for their patterns. However, for the items, you'll have to experiment on what you pick up, since the item won't be displayed on your inventory interface. The worst case scenario in this mode is a cheap death caused by picking up items that inflict damage like the Boots of Pain, since there is no way of knowing visually what the item looks like on-screen.

A sequel, titled ''VideoGame/CadenceOfHyrule''[[note]]Full title: ''[[OverlyLongTitle Cadence of Hyrule - Crypt of the [=NecroDancer=] feat. The Legend of Zelda]]''[[/note]] was released on June 13, 2019. A crossover with Creator/{{Nintendo}}'s ''Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda'' series, the game has Hyrule under the spell of a mysterious court musician named Octavo. With Link and Zelda under a deep slumber, the Triforce summons Cadence (who had recently managed to escape the crypt), to awaken the heroes and help the duo to stop Octavo's army of monsters and the pulsing rhythm that controls them.

A {{DLC}} prequel dubbed ''Crypt of the [=NecroDancer=]: Amplified'' was released into Steam Early Access on January 24, 2017, with the full release on July 12, 2017. ''Amplified'' adds a fifth zone, new items, and new characters.

** The Phase Knife goes through absolutely everything when you throw it, allowing you to damage an entire row of baddies at the same time. But since it goes through everything, including walls, you can't recover it. And unless you have the sheath, you're now weaponless.

* The 2022 3.0.0 update added No Beat Mode, which removes the beat counter from ''any'' character while it's active (similar to Bard). This means that characters who die if you miss a beat (Aria is specifically namedropped in the patch notes) lose one of their most frustrating aspects. It's also completely optional for players who feel it would make the game too easy.

* '''The Synthwave Cuts''': A UsefulNotes/{{Synthwave}} remix by Girlfriend Records, currently set as the Bard's default soundtrack. Was also originally a [=PS4=] and Vita exclusive until it was added on Steam ([[https://girlfriendrecords.bandcamp.com/album/crypt-of-the-necrodancer-the-synthwave-cuts Base game]]) ([[https://girlfriendrecords.bandcamp.com/album/crypt-of-the-necrodancer-the-synthwave-cuts-amplified Amplified]]).

*** ''King Conga'' is a [[Film/KingKong gorilla]] whose zombie minions dance in a [[VideoGame/DonkeyKonga percussive conga]] line before taking you on.

*** ''King Conga'' has his zombie minions dance in a conga line before taking you on, and is a [[Film/KingKong gorilla]][[note]][[ShoutOut who fights you]] [[VideoGame/DonkeyKonga on a percussive music]][[/note]].

** The soundtracks don't go easy on puns neither:
*** Many song titles from the soundtrack are some variety of pun: for example, 2-2 is "Grave Throbbing", 4-1 is "Styx and Stones", Deep Blues' theme is "Knight to C-Sharp", Fortissimole's song is called "[[Music/TheNotoriousBig Notorious D.I.G.]]", Dead Ringer's theme is "[[Music/{{Metallica}} For Whom the Knell Tolls]]", Frankensteinway's theme is "[[Music/LedZeppelin Steinway to Heaven]]", and the TrueFinalBoss theme is "[[spoiler:Absolutetion]]".
*** [[HailfirePeaks Zone 3]] tracks are separated between the ''cold'' and '''hot''' ones, and their names often reflect each other: 3-1 goes from "Stone Cold" to "Igneous Rock" and the list goes on and on.
*** The metal soundtrack renamed all the tracks, doubling the offer of puns: alongside Death Metal's theme becoming "Pyrodancer" and Frankensteinway's theme now being "[[Music/{{ACDC}} Steinway to Hell]]", the 3-1 "Frozen in Panic" now becomes "[[RhymesOnADime Scorched Volcanic]]" and the list goes on and on again.

* HyperspaceArsenal: Averted for the most part. Cadence can only carry one shovel, torch, set of armor, helmet, and pair of boots. (And she starts with just a shovel and a dagger.) She also starts off with only being able to carry one weapon (which can be increased to two weapons if she picks up a holster) and one consumable item (that goes up to two if she picks up a backpack, or an infinite number of consumables if she picks up a bag of holding — playing the trope straight).

* HurricaneOfPuns: Each of the bosses has their own punny name and theme music:
** ''Deep Blues'' plays his blues while sending his fifteen chess piece minions after you.
** ''Death Metal'' looks like the Grim Reaper and has a real fast theme as well.
** ''King Conga'' has his zombie minions dance in a conga line before taking you on, and is a [[Film/KingKong gorilla]][[note]][[ShoutOut who fights you]] [[VideoGame/DonkeyKonga on a percussive music]][[/note]].
** ''Coral Riff'' is a [[TentacledTerror giant octupus]] with a guitar for a head, and various instruments played by its tentacles, in a half-flooded arena.
** ''Fortissimole'' is a giant mole wearing golden armor that makes him look like a walking fortress. It's also a pun on the word ''"fortissimo",'' which, in music, essentially means "play at an obscenely loud volume."
** ''Frankensteinway'' is a stitched-together artificial creature that uses a steinway piano as its basis.
** The penultimate boss in Cadence's story, ''Dead Ringer'', is a suit of armor with a large mallet. The fight itself is a PuzzleBoss involving a set of bells placed throughout the arena. [[spoiler:Dead Ringer is also a very familiar face for Cadence.]]
** Nocturna's final boss, [[spoiler:''The Conductor,'' is an [[ShockAndAwe electricity-themed boss]] who also holds the Golden Lute. Now what's the leader of an orchestra called again?]]

** Many song titles from the soundtrack are some variety of pun. Some examples: 2-2 is "Grave Throbbing", 4-1 is "Styx and Stones", Deep Blues' theme is "Knight to C-Sharp", Fortissimole's song is called "[[Music/TheNotoriousBig Notorious D.I.G.]]", Frankensteinway's theme is "[[Music/LedZeppelin Steinway to Heaven]]", and the TrueFinalBoss theme is "[[spoiler:Absolutetion]]".
*** [[HailfirePeaks Zone 3]] tracks are separated between the ''cold'' and '''hot''' ones, and their names often reflect each other: for example, 3-1 cold track "Stone Cold" becomes "Igneous Rock" in its hot variation.
*** The metal soundtrack renamed all the tracks, doubling the offer of puns: for example, Death Metal's theme is now called "Pyrodancer" and Frankensteinway's theme becomes "[[Music/{{ACDC}} Steinway to Hell]]". Alongside the hot and cold answers of zone 3 tracks, they also rhyme with each other: 3-3 cold track "A Glacial Death" has for answer "A Dragon's Breath".

** ''King Conga'' has his zombie minions dance in a conga line before taking you on, and is a [[Film/KingKong gorilla]][[note]][[ShoutOut who fights you]][[VideoGame/DonkeyKonga on a percussive music]][[/note]].

** ''Fortissimole'' is a giant mole wearing golden armor that makes him look like a walking fortress. It's also a pun on the word ''"fortissimo",'' which, in music, essentially means "play at an obscenely loud volume."

** Many song titles from the soundtrack are some variety of pun. Some examples: 2-2 is "Grave Throbbing", 4-1 is "Styx and Stones", Deep Blues' theme is "Knight to C-Sharp", the TrueFinalBoss theme is "[[spoiler:Absolutetion]]".

%%* ActionBomb: Goblin Bombers and certain Gargoyles. Pixies also do this, but only when attacked.

%%* HandCannon: The Blunderbuss.%%ZCE

** {{Chiptune}}: Jake "Virt" Kaufman's soundtrack, as well as Chipzel's who combines this with {{Techno}}.

* ActionGirl: Most of the female characters, like Cadence, Melody, and Aria are able to destroy monsters with their weaponry.
* ActualPacifist: Dove, who has no weapons in her item pool. Her only means of self-defense is a flower which confuses enemies. Even her bombs do nothing more than teleport enemies. She even cries out in sympathy if a monster dies from a trap (though tricking them into doing so is a good strategy for the player).

** Melody and Aria, the other two main characters, have entirely different versions of the regular soundtrack; the former's are electronic/dubstep while the latter's are composed of drums and electric guitars.

** ''King Conga'' has his zombie minions dance in a conga line before taking you on, and is a [[Film/KingKong gorilla]] [[VideoGame/DonkeyKonga who fights you with music]].

** [[spoiler:Aria Awakened may spoil the fact that you actually do the dungeons in the reverse order with her.]]

* '''Aria's Ascent''': A HeavyMetal remix by [=FamilyJules=] (formerly [=FamilyJules7X=]), currently set as Aria's default soundtrack. Another soundtrack called "Aria Amplified" was released with the "Amplified" DLC update, alongside a remastered version of the full soundtrack (Ascent and Amplified) called "Aria Awakened". ([[https://familyjules7x.bandcamp.com/album/arias-ascent Aria's Ascent]]) ([[https://familyjules7x.bandcamp.com/album/aria-amplified Aria Amplified]]) ([[https://familyjules7x.bandcamp.com/album/aria-awakened Aria Awakened]]).

** ''King Conga'' has his zombie minions dance in a conga line before taking you on, and is a [[Film/KingKong gorilla]].

** {{Chiptune}}: Jake Virt Kaufman's soundtrack, as well as Chipzel's.

** HeavyMetal: [=FamilyJules7X=]'s soundtrack and Death Metal's theme.
** HipHop: Fortissimole's theme, which can vary depending on the soundtrack. For example, [=FamilyJules7X=]'s version is RapRock.

* MusicalSpoiler: As of the full version, it's possible to determine if a floor's Shopkeeper is in fact [[ChestMonster a Monstrous Shopkeeper]] by listening carefully to their singing.

* VillainSong: ''[[https://familyjules7x.bandcamp.com/track/dance-for-your-life-feat-jonathan-young-jack-fliegler-2 Dance for your Life]]'', a PowerMetal anthem sung from the [=NecroDancer=]'s POV. Sadly it can only be found on the Aria's Ascent soundtrack and never appears in-game.