Crypt of the NecroDancer: SYNCHRONY Review Summary

Fun new characters, worthwhile DLC, and added online multiplayer are offset by frustrating imbalance, limited content versus Amplified, and paywalled multiplayer and mod support.

New Characters Are Fun: The new characters are widely praised for their unique and enjoyable playstyles. They add variety and make the game more enjoyable.

Online Multiplayer Added: Online multiplayer, including co-op and versus modes, is a major addition. It supports up to 8 players and uses rollback netcode for smooth gameplay.

DLC Worth Buying: The DLC is considered a good value, with high quality and technical execution. Many say it is absolutely worth it.

Modding Support Included: The DLC adds extensive modding support, including Lua mods and a modding overhaul. This greatly extends the game's longevity.

Quality-of-Life Improvements: The update includes numerous quality-of-life improvements that the game needed. These additions enhance the overall experience.

Unbalanced and frustrating new characters: New characters like Suzu, Chaunter, and Klarinetta have significant balance issues, such as low health, unforgiving mechanics, and awkward controls. These problems make them frustrating to play and often feel like mods rather than polished additions.

Limited content compared to Amplified: The DLC adds only a few characters, items, and quality-of-life changes, lacking new levels, story, enemies, or music that the first DLC had. This makes it feel like a New Game+ rather than a full expansion.

Paywalled multiplayer and mod support: Many reviewers criticize that online multiplayer and mod support are locked behind the Synchrony DLC, which they feel should be part of the base game. This decision is seen as a weird and greedy move.

Poor value for price: Reviewers widely agree that the DLC is not worth its price due to limited content and features. Many compare it unfavorably to the previous DLC, Amplified.

Dead and laggy multiplayer: Online multiplayer suffers from low player counts, making it hard to find lobbies, and frequent lag and server issues. It is only fun with friends but often frustrating due to these problems.

Multiplayer Supports Up to 8 Players: Many reviews highlight that the game includes online multiplayer with support for up to 8 players, though some mention a limit of 4 players. This feature is frequently praised and appears in multiple clusters.

Online Co-op and Competitive Modes: Players frequently mention online co-op and competitive modes as key features. These modes enhance the multiplayer experience and are available for various game activities.

New Characters, Enemies, and Modes: The game adds new characters, enemies, and modes, including online co-op and fights. This content expansion is widely appreciated by players.

DLC Includes Three New Characters: The DLC adds three new characters with unique weapons and abilities. This is a notable addition that expands the roster.

DLC Adds Items, Mechanics, and Events: The DLC introduces new items, mechanics, and events during runs, along with new characters, traps, enemies, and weapons. This adds significant variety to the gameplay.

Smooth Performance and Fast Loading: Players report that the game runs smoothly and loads instantly, indicating good optimization. This positive feedback is backed by clusters 1 and 3.

Server Lag Issues: Feedback mentions server lag, which can affect online play. This issue is highlighted in cluster 2.

Funky Online Functionality: The online functionality is described as funky, suggesting it may be quirky or unreliable. This is mentioned in cluster 5.

Essential for NecroDancer fans: Fans of Crypt of the NecroDancer strongly recommend the DLC, often describing it as essential or a must-buy. It is seen as a natural extension for anyone who enjoys the base game.

Great for online multiplayer: The DLC is highly recommended for its online multiplayer features, especially for playing with friends or randoms. It provides a solid co-op experience that many find worth the purchase alone.

General DLC recommendation: Overall, many reviewers give a strong recommendation for the DLC, highlighting its quality and entertainment value. It is praised as a worthy addition to the game.

DLC seen as good value: Many reviewers consider the DLC well worth its price, frequently calling it a steal or a great deal. This positive sentiment spans both full-price purchases and sales.

Synchrony and Amplified compared: Players often compare the Synchrony and Amplified DLCs, with some considering Amplified more worthwhile or suggesting a specific purchase order. Both are seen as complementary and beneficial together.

Community fair range: $19.99 - $29.99.

Reviews frame Synchrony's online co-op/versus multiplayer and mod support as the main fun drivers, with many players enjoying them right away; enjoyment is conditional on interest in multiplayer or modding, active lobbies, and willingness to pay for DLC-locked features.

Friction: Online multiplayer and mod support are locked behind the DLC paywall.; Online multiplayer population is described as dead.; New players buying mainly for multiplayer may not find it fun.; Solo-only players may see multiplayer and mods as poor value.; No new single-player enemy zones.; Multiplayer can be chaotic or unappealing for players who avoid co-op..

Unlock drivers: Online co-op and versus multiplayer modes.; Modding support and a new game engine.; New characters, enemies, and items.; Rollback netcode for smoother online play.; Cross-platform online multiplayer.; Playing with friends or scheduled lobbies..

Online Co-op Socializer: Online co-op/PvP, playing with friends or scheduled lobbies, embracing chaotic multiplayer. Motivation: Social cooperative and competitive play with friends, partners, or online lobbies. Stance: buy.

Singleplayer Purist: Vanilla solo play, avoiding online multiplayer and modding. Motivation: Solo rhythm-combat runs and new singleplayer content without multiplayer or mods. Stance: no buy.

Modding Tinkerer: Installing, creating, or exploring mods and custom content. Motivation: Customizing and extending the game through official modding tools and community content. Stance: buy.

Monetization: The reviewed feedback focuses on paid DLC that gates online multiplayer and mod support behind a paywall, along with complaints about DLC content value. There is no direct evidence of an in-game cash shop, real-money gacha, loot boxes, paid power, currency obfuscation, or pay-to-win mechanics. Under the scoring rules, traditional DLC and expansion monetization cannot by itself push the score above 20, so the game remains in the fair or low-monetization band despite the paywall criticism.

DLC content overview: The DLC adds new characters, weapon types, and features like online multiplayer. It is described as a substantial content addition for an early access game.

Online multiplayer and paywall: The Synchrony DLC adds online multiplayer for up to 8 players, but some reviewers feel it should have been in the base game and criticize it for being locked behind a paywall.

Early access development status: The base game and its DLCs are still in early access, with ongoing updates and bug fixes. This means changes and improvements are expected.

Mod support monetization: Mod support, including Steam Workshop integration, is included in the DLC, but some players object to mods being sold behind a paywall.

Long-awaited release: The DLC was released about 5 years after the base game's last update, and the game received a major revamp after a long hiatus. This revival has been highly anticipated by some.