Duskfade Reviews
Duskfade has some clear problems. The map design could have been better, especially in the earlier regions, where the lack of a map can make exploration confusing. The camera also has issues during combat, and the target lock does not always select the enemy we want. Regular combat is also quite simple, especially at the beginning, with limited variety in enemy attacks, while progression takes a while to unlock the tools that actually make the gameplay more interesting. To top it all off, the PC version reviewed here offers very few graphics options, almost none, and a port that leaves something to be desired in several technical aspects. Still, it is difficult to ignore the number of things I enjoyed during the campaign. Zirian’s movement is precise and becomes increasingly fun as new abilities are unlocked. The projectile parry mechanic, Chrono Shot, Pendulum, and different devices help transform the experience as we progress, while the bosses make good use of what we have learned throughout the journey. Exploration also has plenty to offer, with collectibles, secrets, upgrades, and areas that encourage players to return after acquiring new abilities. Visually, Duskfade is also very impressive. Its environments are detailed, colorful, and full of personality, while the characters have great animations and expressions. The soundtrack fits the adventure very well, and the voice acting helps make the cast more charismatic. The story is simple, but it works within the game’s premise, especially because of the personalities of Zirian, Allira, Tristan, Cuco, and the various characters we encounter along the way. In the end, Duskfade is an enjoyable adventure that takes a while to show everything it has to offer. It modernizes several characteristics of classic 3D platformers, while also repeating some familiar problems from the genre. I would have liked some systems to be more refined and for the PC version to have received more attention, but the precise movement, bosses, exploration, characters, and art direction make the journey worthwhile. I would mainly recommend it to players who enjoy 3D platformers and do not mind exploring a world that, at times, demands a strong sense of direction.
It is a dated and beautiful game, for worse, and often for better. Can I recommend it to a player without a strong cultural memory of games of the era this was inspired by? That’s a tough one. But for anyone who remembers Jak, Ratchet, iNinja, Sphinx and Tak among others, with Duskfade, Weird Beluga have bottled that nostalgia, warts and all, and it’s not overused or repeated. In short – they don’t make them like this anymore.
Duskfade is an adventure that wins you over through its heart more than the complexity of its systems. Despite some limitations in its combat, progression, and pacing, its delightful exploration, charming art direction, and charismatic characters make the journey worthwhile. It captures that wonderful feeling of classic 3D platformers and proves there is still room for adventures made simply to make us smile, explore, and keep playing. An indie that is absolutely worth your attention.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Duskfade is a charming love letter to PS2-era platformers that skillfully weaves nostalgic inspirations with fluid movement and a genuinely heartwarming story about time and moving forward. While its combat leaves a bit of room for improvement, Weird Beluga has crafted an exceptionally fun, vibrant adventure elevated by fantastic platforming and flawless camera control that genre fans will love completing to 100%.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The developers' passion can be seen in Duskfade. It is clear that they loved classic platformers and tried to re-introduce that feeling to a new generation of players, and they succeeded in many aspects, especially the level design which was flaw-free, the variety of environments in these levels, the joy of exploration within them, and certainly their distinctive visual and audio identity. On the other hand, the core of the game itself suffers from problems that are hard to ignore. Exaggerated jump physics, unpolished combat, and a bad Lock-On system are all things that directly affect what you will be doing the most throughout hours of gameplay. Despite completing the game 100% and enjoying exploring every corner of it, I was left with a continuous feeling that the game was just one step away from being an excellent platformer, and that step is polish, which unfortunately was not present enough. In the end, we have an enjoyable adventure for fans of 3D platformers, but it is not the experience that surpasses the games from which it inspired its ideas.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Weird Beluga delivers a Spanish adventure with the soul of PS2 and N64 classics, full of colour, exploration, emotionally charged bosses and a wonderful soundtrack. Duskfade does not simply honour the past; it builds something meaningful of its own.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
To be clear, Duskfade is a perfectly competent 3D platformer. Fans of the genre will no doubt find that there is some fun to be had with it. However, those expecting innovation won't really find it here. Basic combat encounters become dull pretty quickly, and platforming can be less precise than expected thanks to the protagonist's floaty jump making things far trickier than they need to be. Boss fights are a high point, with each encounter well thought-out, but Duskfade's world is nowhere near as intriguing to navigate as it first appears. There's not much in the way of exploration to be had, or secrets to find, and the game's largely forgettable cast and narrative do little to ensure Duskfade doesn't quickly fade into a distant memory once the credits roll.
Duskfade is a work of rare beauty and passion, capable of demonstrating just how vibrant the 3D action-platformer formula can still be when treated with respect and innovation.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Duskfade is a love letter to 3D platformers, especially those from the early 2000s. If you’re into that vibe and looking for a brand-new and modern game don’t waste any more TIME and dive into Duskfade.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The atmosphere is great, and the graphics are impressive across all platforms, including the Nintendo Switch 2. With a pleasant playtime of 12 to 15 hours, Duskfade is a great choice for relaxing evenings. Fans of Kingdom Hearts will also pick up on some references and immediately recognize the inspiration. Duskfade doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s still fun and brings back memories of the early 2000s—the PlayStation 2 and GameCube era.
Review in German | Read full review
Duskfade is not trying to reinvent platform games in 3D, and perhaps it is not necessary. A Weird Beluga is aimed directly at a generation marked by names like Jak and Daxter, Ratchet & Clank and Kingdom Hearts, but it manages to do more than simply reproduce that nostalgia.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Duskfade's wonder and whimsy will enchant you at the first half of its storybook experience, while its second half will pull the rug from under your feet and test your patience, and not in a good way.
Duskfade isn’t simply a love letter to the action platformers of the ’90s and early ’00s; it’s an ode to them, bringing their influences together so effortlessly that the result feels like something you’ve played before and something new and exciting at the same time. Weird Beluga has clearly spent years studying what made those games so special, but Duskfade never feels trapped by its influences. Instead, it takes those ideas and gives them new life, building a world and adventure that feels familiar without sacrificing its own identity.
Duskfade is a well-made 3D platforming adventure game, taking clear notes from larger titles in platforming controls, music, and character design. For all its impressive visual style and ease of control, it falls short of an engaging combat system, which sours the experience during enemy wave encounters.
"Duskfade is a delightful platforming adventure that wears its Kingdom Hearts inspiration proudly while carving out its own identity. With tight acrobatic platforming, satisfying combat, and a stunning art style backed by an unforgettable soundtrack, it proves to be a genuinely charming and rewarding experience."
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Duskfade was meant to be an homage to 3D platformers and PS2 classics, and I'd say it succeeded. It's a blast to play, and I loved losing myself in its levels to search for collectibles. If you're a fan of this style of game, there's a lot here for you to enjoy.
Duskfade is a well-designed 3D platformer sporting quite a few intense platforming sequences and only few less exciting stretches. The weakest aspect of the game certainly are the fights against small enemies, but luckily they typically only last for a short while and rarely stands in the way of the game's flow.
Review in German | Read full review