In recent years video productions are constantly changing, where developers are committed to creating works with increasingly spectacular graphics, characterized by huge worlds rich in places to visit and explore in every corner, with the aim of leaving players constantly open.
Sometimes, though, you feel the need to stop and, when this happens, it is inevitable to turn back and take a look at the past, that past that guards some of our most beautiful memories, made of afternoons spent in front of the console with friends or in front of television watching our favorite cartoons. And it's just at these moments that something takes place in the most nostalgic players, that feeling that pushes in search of a title capable of recalling those happy moments of our childhood.
Duskfade, the last effort of the independent Spanish study Weird Beluga, he reminded me of a whole series of beautiful memories related to past afternoons with my brother to play, when every story, every character and every landscape of those games managed to arouse in us a sense of constant wonder.
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Duskfade is inspired by the past, but with a look to the future
Duskfade presents itself as a action-platform 3D that you squeezes the eye on the most famous and beloved productions of the early 2000s. The graphics, the explored worlds and the same protagonists strongly recall some of the greatest works of those years, and Weird Beluga herself does not make any mystery. The developer has in fact openly stated that he was inspired by these productions, with the intention of honoring them and, at the same time, of creating something personal dealing with deep and introspective themes.
Gears and watches go hand in hand with feelings
The protagonist of Duskfade, who players will accompany during his adventure, is Zirian, an orological apprentice who loves life and especially his family. Zirian lives with her sister Allied, with which he shares the passion for watches and everything he ticks, and with the grandfather, a master of great experience.
The story of Duskfade does not induce and it catapults us immediately in a vortex of feelings with a pinch of sadness. Zirian's grandfather fails and Allira, upset by the loss, closes in his room starting to arm with hands and gears to find the way to bring back the grandfather from them.
But something goes wrong in Allira’s work and, suddenly, the world falls into an endless night, succube of a huge Clock Tower from who knows where, towering threatening over the city of Ticchettopoli. It will be Zirian's task to free his sister from the tower and bring back peace, but he will not have to do it alone. In fact, like every protagonist who respects himself, Zirian will have a friend to count on., a little mechanical fuck created by the same Allira.
The weight of loss and the value of a companion
The first thing that strikes in Duskfade is certainly the colorful graphics and cartoon, but from the first few minutes of play I felt another element that the boys of Weird Beluga wanted to insert in their work, that is, very strong emotional component. Zirian and Allira are two young people at the beginning of their lives, at that stage in which everything is a discovery and where happiness accompanies the flow of days. The grandfather, however, fails and the two boys must deal with feelings such as loss and anguish. Zirian's journey is not only about saving his sister, but also accepting the disappearance of the grandfather and all those painful feelings that accompany the loss of a loved one. In these difficult moments, you often feel the need to remain alone with your own pain, while in others you seek the closeness of a trusted person with whom to share your thoughts.
And that's where he comes in. ♪Zirian's little travel companion.
In fact, at the beginning the two do not go particularly well and during the first part of the adventure we will witness to different beatings between the two, with Cucù often shaken and annoyed by the presence of Zirian, while the latter proves to be more slaughtered and, if we want, naive. Continuing in history, their relationship will grow and enrich itself, where the continuous fencing between the two will leave the place to mutual trust, transforming what initially seemed a complicated coexistence into a very deep bond.
The clockpunk that shapes the scenarios... and emotions!
Moving on to the most technical side, Duskfade always treasures the school of the 1990s and early 2000s, with colorful environments that are really a beauty for the eyes. In the game you can visit different worlds, each with its characteristics and peculiarities, with the clockpunk style to do by wire conductor, on which the various scenarios are then shaped.
Weird Beluga boys managed to create extremely evocative and evocative environmentsSome of them have aroused in me sensations of wonder and vertigo perfectly amalgamated among themselves. For example, in some areas there will be islands suspended in the void, with backgrounds ranging from light blue to darker blue and crystals that reflect their own light, with handpieces and clocks set within them in a masterful way. These views can create a sense of restlessness, but it is precisely this characteristic that makes them extremely fascinating.
On this point I want to make a small post: the game is clearly inspired by works like Kingdom Hearts and Jak & Daxter, but the particular scenarios just described reminded me in a very vivid way some environments Immortals Fenyx Rising, title of adventure registered Ubisoft published in 2020.
A simple but effective platforming
As already mentioned, in Duskfade you can visit different worlds, where the small town of Ticchettopoli, with its inhabitants Nuvoliani look nice and particularly vaporous, it acts as a central base. Here you can go during the game to buy accessories and upgrades for our Zirian.
Of course, in the game world there are enemies, also characterized by a particular and quite unique design. Let's remember the gameplay of Duskfade is quite linear and enemies usually appear in specific points rather predictable, i.e. within real mini arenas. The access routes, with the appearance of the enemies, close with glass walls, which will break and free the passage only after defeating all the threats present.
I played in easy mode (yes, I admit it!) and the level of challenge offered by common opponents is not very high and in the long run can be a bit repetitive. Even the combos that Zirian performs with his sword-lancetta are not particularly epic and sometimes, even using the pointing system, it is easy to miss the targets. Despite this, Fights are fun and thriving defenders with Zirian's sword-lancetta is particularly satisfying.
The challenge level rises considerably with bosses, where the clashes are much more challenging. In fact, it will not suffice to mulinare fendenti to the right and to lack, butwe will have to use the head and cunning to defeat the monsters and, above all, exploit arenas using our skills to win.
Pure platforming sections are simple but very rewarding and fun, especially thanks to the skills ofjump, double-high and “high with momentum” (as I call it, but that can be defined as a sort of Long jump) that we can carry out with our protagonist. The mechanics of movement are precise and very fluid and can be combined with various elements that we will unlock continuing in history, such as the ramp and the possibility of sliding on some species of rails that we will find scattered in the world of play.
The only observation I feel about is the lack of a map, aspect that has made me difficult to return to my steps to retrace areas already explored and collect the various collectibles and objects left behind. I admit that I am not very fond of backtracking, just because my sense of orientation is bad, and without a map to give me support I miss very easily. Of course this is my limit, but I think that the presence of a guide to the various areas would facilitate me in the company. The game has a rather marked backtracking component, because many collectables can be collected only after obtaining certain skills of Zirian, who will unblock continuing in history.
Last note, Duskfade is not dubbed in Italian, but the translation of subtitles is definitely well done and manages to involve players in dialogues, especially those between Zirian and Cucù.
Conclusion
With Duskfade the boys of Weird Beluga showed how passion, creativity and love for video games they can give life to something capable of breaking in the heart of us players. Duskfade is a small but poetic tribute to the great works that have created and told the story of the platformer, to those pillars of the genre that shaped its personality and made it fall in love entire generations.
At a time of the videoludic panorama where breathtaking graphics and often empty stories are on the agenda, Duskfade takes us to a safe port, a place to come back and have fun, but also to be overwhelmed by the sweetness and magic of the past.
About the Author
Biography
- Articolista di KotaWorld.itRecent Articles
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