Dust: An Elysian Tail

[Aikouka]

So, did anyone else pick this game up? I was a little shaky after playing the demo, but I decided to get it anyway. One thing to note, the actual game starts off differently than the demo. Actually, the beginning scene where you get Ahrah is the only thing that's the same.

The game is definitely interesting, and I kind of disagree with some reviews. They keep comparing it to (Super?) Metroid, but the only thing that reminds me of Metroid would be the map being done using a grid with squares. The combat actually reminds me a lot more of beat 'em ups like Battletoads but with a sword.

I read a few of the reviews before I picked it up, and I'm disappointed that they didn't touch on one aspect: the combat isn't very fluid. I know that one guy created the majority of this, and he had no formal programming training. Well, it's my opinion that you can tell from the combat. My biggest problem is that adjusting your direction in the midst of combat is nearly impossible. If I'm facing left and hit X (attack) twice, I'm stuck attacking in that direction until I completely stop attacking and my animation is over. Once that happens, I can turn around and attack the other direction. What makes this a problem is that enemies are able to "dash" through you and appear on the other side. While they're dashing, they seem to be invulnerable, which makes it pretty annoying. You gain more experience from combat if you don't get hit, which means even a little love tap from a monster will reduce the overall experience gain.

Speaking of dashing, Dust can also dash, but yet again... the developer's inexperience in game design shows through. Unlike any other game that I've seen, dashing is inputted in a directional manner. In other words, hit left trigger to dash left or right trigger to dash right (right joystick being moved in the specific direction also works). Personally, I would have much rather seen one button for dashing that makes you dash in your current direction. However, this would still be frustrating when combined with the first issue that I mentioned above.

I'm not sure if this is an issue with the game or my slim 360, but my game crashes... a lot. I jumped down to another zone, and boom... I'm at the dashboard. I moved from one item in my inventory to another, and boom... I'm at the dashboard. Overall, I played for about three and a half hours, and I crashed three times. I've never had a 360 game crash before. I did mention my console, because it seemed to be getting really hot (it's the glossy slim 360). When I turned it off, the fan kept running at full speed for 5-10 seconds. I felt the top vents and it was definitely warm.

 

[RaiderJ]

I found it to be pretty boring, at least from the demo. Other than it being a 2D side scroller, I didn't find it to resemble Metroid in any way. Shadow Complex is a far better game if you're looking for a Metroid type experience.

The combat came across as more of a button masher, and I'm not a big fan of the furry aesthetic. Recently the Xbox Live Arcade games haven't been that great.

 

[Aikouka]

Honestly, I don't think that the demo does a good job in portraying the game. The portion used is actually from Act 3, but I believe it had Act 1 monsters in it. You also receive a few abilities that you don't normally have access to early on in the game such as the slide (you get that in Act 2).

Also, what's up with calling it "furry"? Is there really a problem with anthropomorphic animals being used in games? 'cause I've been playing games with human-like animals for decades! You know... our ol' buddy, Sonic the Hedgehog. There was also a love aspect between him and Princess Sally (in the Archie comics and the Saturday morning ABC cartoon), but no one seemed to care.

Ugh, I felt terrible earlier while playing. I ran into the weird magician guy in Act 3 (you see him in the demo), and he summons zombies (I think?). Well, I ended up dying twice because of the random zombies popping up and hitting me because apparently something else kept taking my health. I'm still not sure what. The magician thing is annoying because only your ranged attacks can hit it. I think I'd recommend the full screen lightning attack + in-air Dust Storm (to avoid all the mobs on the ground).

I would have reset the game back to avoid losing two revival stones, but I found an awesome ring recipe earlier that I didn't want to lose!

 

[RaiderJ]

Does it get any more like a Metroid type game? I constantly see it being advertised as such, but it really didn't come off as an exploration type game.

For the furry part - how does it not come across visually as having a furry aesthetic? There's a very specific type of animal anthropomorphic look that Dust has that is different from a game like Sonic or Starfox. Cartoon animals are fine with love interests and whatnot, but "furries" are just creepy. Dust doesn't seem creepy, I just don't care for that look.

 

[Aikouka]

Does it get any more like a Metroid type game? I constantly see it being advertised as such, but it really didn't come off as an exploration type game.

There is some exploration in the game. The fact that you don't get all movement-based upgrades at once means you'll eventually have to go back, and in some cases, you can even try and "game the system" to reach secrets before you're supposed to be able to. For example, one item was only supposed to be accessible when you get Double Jump (in Act 4). I'm not sure if it's intentional, but Dust Storm in-air has the capability to launch you ridiculously high into the air (I've been thrown rapidly to the top of the screen on numerous occasions). I pulled some wasps over from another portion of the area, jumped up the wall to get them up higher, and then used the in-air dust storm to launch myself up.

There's actually another secret up even higher, but I was too lazy to try and get it to launch me all the way up. I have Double Jump now, so I'll just go back. You can also try and do the secret stuff such as releasing your "12 friends." They seem to be other indie game characters such as the female from Super Meat Boy (I freed her first). Some of these cages are inaccessible until you get certain upgrades.

For the furry part - how does it not come across visually as having a furry aesthetic? There's a very specific type of animal anthropomorphic look that Dust has that is different from a game like Sonic or Starfox. Cartoon animals are fine with love interests and whatnot, but "furries" are just creepy. Dust doesn't seem creepy, I just don't care for that look.

I guess I just don't know what a furry aesthetic really is. He just reminds me a bit of Sonic, but obviously not the same given one's a rabbit and the other is a hedgehog. If the whole rabbit thing is an issue (I don't know if rabbits are more common in that stuff), Sonic has a rabbit character named Bunny who's half-roboticized.

 

[RaiderJ]

If you Google "furries" you can see the associated artwork. Looks to me like Dust very much follows that style (but doesn't have the sexual overtones). That look I just don't care for. But I'm not a fan of anime type artwork either, just my preference.

Hoping the game would be a better Metroidvania type game - hoping for a Shadow Complex sequel at some point!