Introduction

When I heard Crimson Capes was a 2D pixel art game, my mind went to a strange place. I’m a fan of the genre, but I feel too many titles lean heavily on nostalgia and pseudo-retro gameplay without bringing much new to the table. Still, after seeing some images, I decided to give it a try. Did developer Poor Locke create a truly magical sword-themed experience? Does Crimson Capes prove the 2D genre isn’t oversaturated, or were my earlier concerns justified? Let’s find out in my review of Crimson Capes for PC.

Gameplay

Crimson Capes feels like a fusion of Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Dark Souls, and Castlevania. You play as a Guild member—able to swap characters as you progress—tasked with slaying anything that stands in your path. You quickly learn that wildly swinging your sword won’t get you far.

The controls are simple on the surface: quick attack, heavy attack, guard, item use, and a special ability. But the depth lies in how you use them. Enemies guard, counter, and reposition, meaning each battle requires attention and rhythm. Light and heavy attack combinations might work on minor foes, but bosses and elite variants demand proper counters and defense breaks. Mastering this rhythm became one of my favorite parts of Crimson Capes.

You can unlock combat skills at rest areas, where you also swap Guild members and fast travel. Learning new abilities and chaining moves—like a charged attack flowing into a heavy special—never got old. There’s rarely a single correct strategy for bosses, and that flexibility adds replay value.

Exploration leans heavily into the Castlevania/Blood Omen side of things. The 2D map branches in multiple directions, hiding rare items, secret enemies, and alternate paths. The maps may look straightforward, but I often found myself discovering unexpected areas. Unlike some games where getting lost becomes frustrating, Crimson Capes ensures you’re almost always rewarded with combat or loot.

My one gameplay regret was not experiencing the co-op or multiplayer modes. Despite trying at different times, I couldn’t find active players. That may change over time, but for now, unless you have friends ready to jump in, expect a primarily single-player experience.

Graphics

Crimson Capes fully embraces its 2D pixel art aesthetic. At a glance, it looks like a relic from an older PC era, and that’s intentional. But dismissing it as “just old-looking” would be a mistake. Thanks to rotoscoping and subtle modern touches, the game carries a contemporary charm beneath its retro shell.

Environments are vibrant and detailed, and major enemies stand out with strong design work. While it won’t push your GPU to its limits, there are moments of visual flair—especially during magical attacks and large boss encounters—that genuinely impressed me. Mini-cutscenes evoke early ’90s PC titles, but with smoother presentation and without the painful load times or framerate issues of that era.

Yes, it looks old—and that’s perfectly fine. Poor Locke committed to the style and executed it well.

Sound

I wouldn’t call Crimson Capes’ soundtrack legendary, but it has highlights worth noting. Sword clashes and magical abilities carry weight, especially with headphones. Ambient tones fit each area well and prevent the relatively simple OST from becoming repetitive.

While I probably won’t revisit the soundtrack on YouTube, it complements the combat effectively and enhances immersion.

Story

The story is where Crimson Capes loses some momentum for me. Like many soulslike-inspired games, the narrative isn’t delivered in a straightforward manner. You follow Milon the Tempest—a witch hunter working under the Guild—who takes on missions others can’t handle.

There’s lore hidden in NPC dialogue and item descriptions, and on paper, the premise works. But I never felt fully invested in the narrative. While some players may appreciate its understated delivery, it didn’t drive me forward the way the gameplay did.

Overall Impression

Despite my initial hesitation, Crimson Capes impressed me. The combat is engaging and addictive, and the maps reward thorough exploration. While the story didn’t hook me, the gameplay more than compensated.

With multiple fighting styles, challenging encounters, and rewarding systems, Crimson Capes stands as a strong indie entry for fans of 2D soulslike experiences.

Conclusion

Crimson Capes is a solid game that appealed to me on multiple levels. As a die-hard Dark Souls fan and someone who grew up gaming in earlier eras, I appreciated how it blended both worlds. While it isn’t visually groundbreaking and the story didn’t fully grip me, the combat and exploration make it an easy recommendation.

For a modest price, Crimson Capes delivers a tough but rewarding indie soulslike experience that fans of the genre should seriously consider.

—Aaron