How often do you see a game intentionally design to troll with the player? A game in which it feels like there’s someone behind the screen doing whatever’s possible to piss you off, but in a somewhat entertaining manner? Maybe once in a blue moon? Well, how often do you see a game like this, but paired with a simple, but still competent rhythm-based gameplay loop, with a licensed soundtrack to boot? I doubt you have ever seen a game like Konami’s Super Crazy Rhythm Castle.

In Super Crazy Rhythm Castle, you (and, optionally, up to three more local friends) play as a little cartoonish being venturing inside a castle ruled by what I can only call a massive d***head. The ruler of the place is there to imprison and troll whoever is stuck in there. The gameplay loop is then comprised of venturing inside the titular crazy castle, looking for rooms where you can collect stars after completing a favor for the ruler. The favors are usually comprised of simultaneously playing a rhythm game whilst completing puzzles, such as collecting money from a pit, unlocking doors, and so on. The ruler will constantly change rules as you play a section, so you’ll never be fully prepared.

This is what makes the game so unique, fun, but also, a bit tiresome after a while. There’s always something new that the castle owner will throw at you while you’re just trying to enjoy an unknown, but catchy tune (unless you’re playing a level based on the Castlevania soundtrack, for example), but the trolling becomes tiresome after a while. It’s like dealing with a spoiled brat: funny at first, irritating after a while.

Thankfully, Super Crazy Rhythm Castle‘s writing and humor mitigate some of these issues, as well as its decent art style. It’s nothing out of this world, but it’s charming, with lots of sections combining visual stimuli with neat audio elements (such as walking on top of a giant piano, playing notes as you go). Nothing in this game’s artistic department completely stands out, but it works really well.

I would also like to point out that, being a party game of sorts, Super Crazy Rhythm Castle is not the absolute best fit for a PC, for instance. The game is completely playable and massively enjoyable by yourself, but if you really want to experience the sheer lunacy of its tantrum-based gameplay loop, make sure to grab it somewhere else, where local multiplayer is better supporter. The Switch, for instance, would be ideal.

I can’t be harsh on it, though. Super Crazy Rhythm Castle has its fair share of issues, namely on how its strongest selling point, having to deal with a tyrant with a childish tantrum, can also be one of its most frustrating aspects. It’s a fun rhythm game if you’re in the same mental vibes as itself. If so, you’ll be able to enjoy a very unique mixture between Guitar Hero and Overcooked, covered in some cute visuals and random sense of humor. It might not be the best party game out there, but it certainly is one of the more unique titles to be released in recent times.

Graphics: 7.0 Its visuals are carried by a unique art style, mixing a bit of cel-shading with colorful polygons. It’s not amazing, but it gets the job done.	Gameplay: 7.5 A mixture of rhythm-based gameplay with task and puzzle solving. Think of it as Guitar Hero and Overcooked had a baby. Weird? Yes. Does it work? Kinda.
Sound: 8.5 Being a rhythm game with licensed music, the collection of songs in here is quite good, even if they are all completely unknown. The remixes of Konami classics are the highlight.	Fun Factor: 7.0 It alternates between being quirky and utterly irritating. I have to say it’s really unique and humorous, even if it does outstay its welcome after a while.
Final Verdict: 7.5

Super Crazy Rhythm Castle is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, PC and Switch.

Reviewed on Intel i7-12700H, 16GB RAM, RTX 3060 6GB.

A copy of Super Crazy Rhythm Castle was provided by the publisher.