DAMON and BABY Reviews
I fell in love almost instantly with Damon and Baby. It was a complete surprise, and I think Arc System Works has hit it out of the park, despite being known more for their fighting game entries. It shows they aren’t a one-trick pony, with ArcSys’s arc as a developer perfectly emulated in Damon and Baby as the game too constantly evolves throughout its somewhat poor pacing, both in the gameplay and the story. The game is a jack of all trades, and while it doesn’t master any, Damon and Baby makes for a rather entertaining time. It once again shows that developers don’t always need the biggest budgets and all the AAA bells and whistles to create an endearing and fun title.
Damon and Baby is a game which is just sort of fine. It can be fun to play, but it just feels a bit repetitive most of the time, and neither the combat nor the story are engaging enough to really keep you locked in. I don't think it's a bad game, per say, but I do think it can be a bit dull, and that's just as bad a lot of the time.
Quote not yet available
DAMON and Baby from developer Arc System Works contains a bevy of fun gameplay elements across different genres that work more than they don’t. The action can get a bit frustrating at times, but big multi-tiered maps, interesting weapons, and a cooking system help to push past that frustration. It’s a good game that has a lot to offer players.
Quote not yet available
Its use of familiar mechanics in a novel wrapping and the enticing aesthetic and presentation do help to smooth out some of the rougher edges mentioned above. At present, I'm hovering around a lukewarm recommendation, but check out Nintendo World Report dot com closer to the game's March 25th release date for a final score update. In the meantime, DAMON and BABY does have an eShop demo with progress that carries over to the full game, so check out for yourself how it feels to play as this devilish cute duo ahead of launch.
It has a highly unconventional premise yet everything in DAMON and BABY works so well together and it's super-charming to boot. 👶
Fighting game legend Daisuke Ishiwatari has made his debut in the top-down shooter adventure genre. While clunky enemy AI, hitbox issues, and lackluster sound are disappointing, the game successfully blends top-down shooting with the deep exploration of classic JRPGs and the fun of platformer adventures. I look forward to seeing further improvements through the announced update roadmap.
Review in Korean | Read full review
Damon and Baby is a niche action adventure that mixes satisfying gunplay, layered exploration, and RPG progression with uneven storytelling and frustrating quality of life shortcomings. While Arc System Works successfully pivots away from its fighting game roots with a rewarding sense of discovery and tense combat encounters, inconsistent pacing, intrusive technical quirks, and clunky inventory design prevent the experience from reaching its full potential.
Damon and Baby is a game designed to pave the way for Arc System Works to explore uncharted territory. It’s a project that takes the team out of its comfort zone, intended to provide valuable experience and, from there, serve as a guide for developing new games. I find it interesting that Daisuke Ishiwatari isn’t confined to a single genre and is opening up new avenues for the company. Unfortunately, this new venture has encountered many setbacks.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
There is a solid idea and foundation here that needs to be massaged more in future attempts. DAMON and BABY has some cool ideas, but ultimately, is not a fun trip to heaven.
DAMON and BABY is a short and fun adventure that's really worth playing. It doesn't abandon its own identity in order to imitate anything else, staying on the side of healthy inspiration — which is what any good game inspired by something does and should do.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Damon and Baby is a risky and interesting proposition for Arc System Works, but honestly, the game doesn't quite live up to the hype presented here. While the game is fun at the beginning, the systems and gameplay loops become tedious and waste all the potential they could have explored.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
It’s an admittedly messy game, with way more gameplay elements and influences than it should have had, but Damon and Baby is still a fun time. It’s just too damn charming, with a fun roster of characters, pretty good dialogue, and a ton of fan service for Arc System Works aficcionados. Just learn to be a bit patient at first, as the game feels a bit too unfair and bloated before you level up a few times. Once the first few hurdles are past you, you’re in for a surprisingly fun ride, one I wouldn’t mind seeing more of in the future. With the appropriate quality of life fixes, of course…
Damon and Baby is the kind of game that doesn't try to be grand, but hits the mark where it truly counts: the fun. Despite clear flaws—especially regarding the lack of direction, quality-of-life decisions, and certain systems that demand more from the player than they should—the game holds its own thanks to its fluid gameplay, charm, and constant sense of progression. If you enjoy twin-stick games featuring character progression and exploration, this is an experience well worth your time.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
While I admire what Daisuke Ishiwatari and his team set out to achieve with DAMON and BABY, the resulting work is weighed down heavily by poorly designed levels and unsatisfying combat. There are fleeting moments of charm to be found within its story and cute art style, but they are just as quickly diminished by a myriad of mechanics that fail to cohesively coalesce.
DAMON and BABY will be a key cult success this year. It has a lot of heart, a great message, remarkable combat, an enthralling world, funny characters and scenarios, it’s different, and genuinely challenging (especially if you play the game wrong like I did). More than any other game this year so far, this one made me smile the most and there’s great value in that when the times are tough and it’s hard to find other reasons to smile. This game absolutely deserves its time in the spotlight.
Damon and Baby has some solid qualities, such as its core gameplay and narrative/setting, but its repetitiveness and confusing map design hold it back from reaching its full potential. I think a couple of additional mechanics and a couple of gameplay tweaks would go a long way for this one, as what’s there is decent, but could be better.
Damon and Baby is a good little game quite nervous to the multitude of different enemies that you should not take as a Die & Retry. Here to die is to return to the title screen (which is a little tedious) and start again at its last backup. The characters are endearing, and the gameplay nice even if it could have been a little more fluid and nervous. Still the problems of cameras or hitboxes that, however, can not spoil a nice journey.
Review in French | Read full review