The Behemoth has quickly become one of my favorite dev teams in the gaming industry. Known for its charming 2D titles and the delightful art of Dan Paladin, the San Diego-based studio stole my heart when it released Castle Crashers, an addictive side-scrolling brawler in the vein of Turtles in Time. The multiplayer-focused, online-enabled game is scheduled to launch for the PlayStation 3 in 2010, at which point I will forsake all responsibilities, including yardwork, laundry and badger castration. Instead of walking 10 feet to my toilet, I will rely on a blue plastic party cup, clearly marked “not apple juice” in blue marker. Better make that black marker.

From time to time, I like to drop by the Dev Blog of Development to see what the indie darling is cooking up. Though much of the studio’s focus has shifted to its next title, Game 3, there is at least one more bit of Castle Crashers DLC in the pipeline. The recently revealed Necromantic Pack will feature two new characters, a fresh animal orb and two additional weapons, one of which will be a freaking chainsaw. This of course proves my theory that King Arthur and his knights used chainsaws to drive back the Decepticons during the Middle Ages. And my seventh grade history teacher said I was crazy. Who’s the chucklehead now, Mr. Johnson?

No word on a date or pricing as of yet, but if I had to guess, I would say it will cost 160 Microsoft Points – same as the King Pack – and release sometime between now and eternity. Not really much of a soothsayer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

As for Game 3, development is ongoing, with the release scheduled for 2010. That’s rather vague, but something is better than nothing. Well, unless that something is a stick in the eye. I would rather have nothing. The platformer will offer both cooperative and competitive modes, including one where players must collect coins dropped by a gold whale, and then deposit them in a flying safe. It’s a pretty nutty concept, but that’s how The Behemoth rolls. The studio seems to let its collective imagination run wild, a truly refreshing approach to game development that undoubtedly facilitates standout experiences. You gotta respect a company that flaunts an obese, sedentary farm fowl as its mascot.

Game 3 is merely a placeholder name, so expect it to change prior to launch.

2010 will be another stacked year at retail, but I advise you to keep an eye on the downloadable scene as well. I am really excited about both Castle Crashers and Game 3, but with the emergence of titles like Fat Princess, Shadow Complex and ‘Splosion Man, there’s no telling what kind of experiences will be revealed in the near future.

Source: The Behemoth

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