I have, and I presume always will be, an absolute sucker for the traditional dynamic duo mascot Platformer. I grew up with the big hitters like Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter, and Banjo Kazooie. However, the sad fact of the matter is that we were spoiled back then, and since then, it’s been a real drought as far as these games are concerned.
Few have tried to capture the magic of the PS2 golden era, and even fewer have actually succeeded in this modern era. But that wasn’t going to stop Weird Beluga from giving it a go. Promising a game that is a love letter to all those games of that era.
It’s appropriate that this is a game centered on time being frozen, as it aims to be a time capsule for haggard old gamers like myself. Hoping to offer a feeling of wholesome, childish whimsy, with a hearty dose of nostalgia. A cocktail that I glugged down without a second thought.
Pint-Sized Pixar
Within the gaming space, having your game compared to the animation and charming movies produced by Pixar can be a bit of a kiss of death. Mainly because there is very little chance that any game will be able to achieve that level of universal mass appeal, visual excellence, or production value.
However, Duskfade seems to wear this Disney/Pixar comparison like a badge on honor, and sports it proudly because at no point in time does the game look like a second rate copy.
Whether you’re exploring the charming streets of Tick Town, the magical halls of the Clockwork Academy, or the glorious heavens of the Celestial Kingdom. No matter where you point Zirian’s gaze, it’s eye candy everywhere you look.
Aside from perhaps the Disney licenced anomaly Kingdom Hearts. A game that Duskfade feels like a love letter to in many ways. I don’t think there is any other title out there that manages to capture the magic that you feel sitting down for a wholesome watch of a classic Disney movie.
There’s no ties to Walt’s catalog of movies here, but it’s clear that the game has a lot of love for them. With a classic coming of age story, a villain that feels like a goofy nod to James Wood’s Hades at times. Not to mention a soundtrack that feels like a stone’s throw away from the vibe and feeling of the Kingdom Hearts soundtrack at times. With Tick Town’s track feeling especially like Twilight Towns, in my opinion.
All of this is to say that Duskfade looks and sounds immaculate. Offering distinct biomes to explore that deliver from start to end. A rich assortment of fun tracks serving as the anthem to your cozy collect-a-thon. Plus, a wealth of cosmetic unlockables if that’s something you’re into.
The only slight flaws in terms of presentation were some minor pop-ins when accessing merchant menus, and some minor choppiness during a very select few cutscenes. But, these are all tiny issues that can be addressed with a patch later down the line. All in all, Duskfade looks sublime, dragging the dynamic duo mascot Platformer into the modern age.
Straight To DVD
Existing within the world of Duskfade is a joy in so many ways, but I would be lying if I thought that the story that underpins everything you do is anything more than a paint by numbers affair. This is the one part of the game that does feel like a derivative ‘do it like Disney’ approach.
Duskfade looks sublime, dragging the dynamic duo mascot Platformer into the modern age.
Now, don’t get me wrong, it’s by no means a bad story. It’s just not a story for the ages, one that will tug on the heartstrings, or one that will live as long in the memory as say, the gameplay and the visuals on show.
What you’ve got here is a world inhabited by legendary clockmakers. Clockmakers that have through their actions effectively driven human life right to the point of extinction. A fate that essentially leads to your sister Allira seeking to stop time, and plunging the world into darkness and trapping herself in a big tower into the bargain.
Thus begins a pretty predictable story where you and a little robot bird companion must seek to free your sister, restore the world to it’s natural order, and find out more about these Clockmakers as you do.
Which essentially leads to a grander message that boils down to ‘time waits for no one’. Scenes like ‘your pet is dead, but the memories live on forever’. All underpinned by some very obvious plot twists that feel like as shocking a reveal as revealing that Miley Cyrus is, in fact, Hannah Montana.
Hallmark movie stuff, that is essentially what you’re getting here. All wrapped in a lovely Disney/Pixar aesthetic and feel. Shoots for heartwarming, ends up achieving a state of lukewarm.
But, in fairness, while it isn’t a rip-roaring story. It’s fair to say that no mascot platformer has ever really achieved narrative excellence. In fact, among its peers, this is one of the few that strives to be more than just a narrative push that gets you from A to B. In that context, Duskfade should be commended.
But by trying to tell a more nuanced and joined-up story, it begs to be critiqued as one. That said, if you’re coming to this one for a traditional platforming romp and don’t really care about the tale being spun, then this would move the needle too much either way for you.
The Successor’s Legacy
I mentioned that this game is a love letter to Kingdom Hearts. But perhaps even more so, it’s a love letter to the original Jak and Daxter game, The Precursor’s Legacy.
The similarities are plain as day, from the art style, to the movement kit, to the animations when you pick up a collectible. It feels like a time capsule back to 2001 from a gameplay perspective, albeit with a modern refinement that games during that golden era on the PS2 simply couldn’t have dreamed of.
I personally loved the movement and platforming in Duskfade, and this tight moveset only served to highlight how well designed each level is. Finding hidden collectibles was always a joy, and the levels were so densely packed that a discovery was always just around the corner.
Every fall or fumble genuinely felt like a mistake or misjudgement on my part rather than poor controls or movement mechanics, which is exactly what you want. But equally, the move tech was very forgiving as this is an accessible, wholesome affair.
Plus, alongside the game’s love for Jak and Daxter, it also pays homage to games like Ratchet and Clank, with grind rail sections that are fast-paced and intense. Grappling hook spots to bridge the gap, and little mini-games to collect certain collectibles like a Simon-Says game to unlock each music box.
There are so many great ideas within this game, all executed perfectly, that almost all pay homage to greats of the genre while also feeling like bespoke aspects of Duskfade that help it stand out from the crowd. A hard tightrope to walk, but one it does with aplomb.
The only major exploration issue I had with Duskfade is the inexplicable lack of a map throughout the adventure, with the game instead employing bell chimes that point you in the right direction. Something that works to an extent, but when you’re looking for collectibles or backtracking through earlier levels, it becomes very easy to get turned around.
The gameplay isn’t perfect, as I’ll get on it in just a moment. But from a platforming perspective, I truly couldn’t have asked for more from Duskfade. As this is one of the most satisfying, nostalgia-inducing, and competently made 3D Platformers of the modern era.
Kingdom Bits & Parts
Where the gameplay falls down, just a little for me, is when it comes to the game’s combat. It’s very clear that the game wanted to be a fast-paced hack and slasher, not too far removed from Kingdom Hearts. Heck, Zirian even carries a weapon that might as well be a Keyblade in the form of the Minuteo.
But, while that was the aim, the execution is just a touch lackluster. Combat serves it’s purpose and feels fine for the most part, but aside from some minor complexity through heavy attacks and armored enemies later on, as well as the addition of some gadgets on your end. It basically boils down to a mindless single button mash, breaking that trend only to dodge when you see red on screen.
The only time there is a bit of creativity when it comes to combat comes via the boss battles that break up the various biomes. Which essentially force you to master your newly acquired power to break the boss’ invulnerability, and then rinse and repeat until they go down.
It’s essentially the classic Crash Bandicoot formula for boss battles. Work out their gimmick, and then outlast them while repeating the solution over and over. I found myself mouthing ‘Ah, that’s cool’ the first time the gimmick was pulled out of the hat. But by the third cycle of a boss fight where you’re effectively doing the same thing, you’re sort of willing the whole thing to draw to a close.
Combat is perhaps the only area of this game where I would have expected a little more meat on the bone, as even for a mascot platformer that draws inspiration from Kingdom Hearts, and Ratchet and Clank, it all ends up feeling a little basic. Not to a detrimental degree, but you definitely feel like it’s more of a chore you need to get through to get back to platforming and exploring.
Reviewed on PS5. Review code provided by the publisher.
Duskfade is a glorious blend of noughties platformer ideals and modern-day polish. Offering sublime visuals, satisfying movement tech, and an addictive collect-a-thon experience that keeps on giving. Combat is a little basic, and the story also doesn't exactly push the envelope narratively. But overall, this is the closest thing I've played to a classic mascot platformer since Astro Bot. It's in the same league, and it wholeheartedly deserves to be.
Pros
- Utterly gorgeous visuals and brilliant soundtrack
- Satisfying platforming and exploration
- Some interesting boss gimmicks
Cons
- Combat is a little basic
- Story isn't much to write home about
- No map makes late game clean-up a chore
