An amazing twitch reflex platformer, perfect for touchscreen. With incredible graphics, soundtrack and gameplay reminiscent of Super Meat BoyAn amazing twitch reflex platformer, perfect for touchscreen. With incredible graphics, soundtrack and gameplay reminiscent of Super Meat Boy and Celeste, Daggerhood is instantly up there with the other great platformers of recent years.
GAMEPLAY GENRE / SUB-GENRE:
Platformer / Twitch Reflex
STORY GENRE / SUB-GENRE:
Fantasy / Medieval Pixel Art
GAMEPLAY
Whether intentional or not, the control scheme and level design are perfect for touchscreen. With no virtual thumbstick, the permanent on screen buttons for left/right/jump/dagger mean that it’s totally possible to play this game with wanting to snap your phone in frustration. Everything is so finely tuned and precise that you know you made every mistake yourself. Respawn times are quite short which is perfect when you want to jump straight back in, but can be a little slow in a couple of levels.
Instead of character upgrades, Daggerhood uses in-level items to trigger timed environment or character modifications, which keep the control scheme familiar and consistent with no new buttons to learn.
There’s a clear challenge system for completionists that leaves no mysteries, just repetitious fun trying to nail the perfect run. The three challenges in each level can be completed In separate runs and are; find five treasures in each level, find a ‘hidden’ fairy before it disappears and then finally earn three stars with a speed run. The variety of each challenge means that attempting the next goal for each level feels like a fresh start with a new approach required on familiar territory. It rarely feels tedious to attempt all challenges back to back. Challenges can be attempted without fear of missing a hidden item or needing to come back to previous stages with new abilities (Zelda-style). Each level has the same challenges and clearly lets you know which of them you’ve completed.
STORY
If you weren’t a fan of the evangelion style psychological drama In Celeste, then Daggerhood’s story is for you; a couple of intro splash screens at the start and then you’re pushed down a hole.
GRAPHICS
Uncompromising pixel-art that has none of the shortfalls of other games in the same style. Screen movement is silky smooth and there are no sprites or other objects that break the consistent aesthetic by existing outside the pre-established grid of pixels.
SOUND
Nostalgic 8-bit style soundtrack and sound design. Probably the weakest element of the game, which is more of a compliment to the rest rather than a negative for the sound. Some sounds feel a little ‘not quite right’ but quickly become familiar, without anything that stands out as particularly grating or annoying. The music is simple, with a single looping track for each of the five worlds that doesn’t restart on respawn, so there’s no need to fear that ‘Groundhog Day’ moment each time you die and start again.
SUMMARY
A brilliant platformer that has plenty of content for completionists, and yet is still fun on easy mode if all you want is a bit of entertainment waiting for the bus.
For all the things that could make a twitch reflex platformer terrible on a smartphone, Daggerhood has none of them. All of the elements of the game culminate in a truly enjoyable experience.
It’s not absolute perfection, but damn close. 9.9/10… Expand
