It’s been teased for a while, but Cadence of Hyrule finally got released for the Switch this week. It blends The Legend of Zelda together with the gameplay of Crypt of the Necrodancer, and the result is a fun roguelike with a pretty kickass soundtrack. Here are some Cadence of Hyrule beginner tips to get you started, in case you’re having trouble with the game.
Fiddle With the Options
Before you start a new file, you’ll be able to tweak some of the gameplay options to tailor it to your preferences. Crypt of the Necrodancer pros will be able to bump up the difficulty a little if they’re looking for a challenge, especially since Cadence of Hyrule is way more forgiving than its predecessor.
For the newcomers, though, I recommend jumping in with the default difficulty, and with the Fixed Beat option off. This allows you to get acquainted with the core rhythm mechanics, where you’re supposed to make your moves according to the beat of the music. This means that every step you take, every attack and move you make has to be done according to the beat.
Enemies move according to the beat as well, which means that you can always predict their next move. Things get tricky later on as new enemy types get introduced, but this is the best way of playing the game.
However, not everyone’s great at keeping a beat, so if you just want to enjoy the RPG combat aspects of Cadence of Hyrule, you can do that as well. Just bring up the options menu and you can turn on the Fixed Beat option anytime you want.
In this mode, enemies will only move when you move, which turns this into a slower-paced tactical experience. You’ll have more time to think through your moves, and once you’ve gotten acquainted with all the different items and what they do, you can turn off Fixed Beat and start playing to the rhythm.
