Dandara

 Switch
User Score
7.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 61 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 39 out of 61
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 61
  3. Negative: 11 out of 61

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  1. WereSuricat
    Feb 7, 2018
    10
    wow very cool game. never saw this game bedore its release ;) just love metroid style game, But this game go beyond with a full new way to play ... never on ur feet , no floor , no top ;) !! very cool concept !! and on switch its a dream come true. Perfect game to play on the way !!!
  2. fabiorogeryo86
    Feb 7, 2018
    9
    Dandara is a beautiful game. The soundtrack is satisfactory and the game desing is very interesting. At first you get a little confused with the controls, but once you learn it becomes easy. The game is inspired by brazilian culture and this is very cool. I played for two hours and wanted to play more.
    The game is perfect to be played on the Nintendo Switch.
  3. ScreenScraggy22
    Feb 19, 2018
    9
    This has honestly been the first metroidvania I’ve ever played, so I couldn’t compare it to any other of the same genre. I can say it as a very great game. The controls did feel weird and clunky at first but the more I played the more natural and easy the controls felt. The graphics are a beautifully done pixel art with great design. The soundtrack is actually one of the best I’ve everThis has honestly been the first metroidvania I’ve ever played, so I couldn’t compare it to any other of the same genre. I can say it as a very great game. The controls did feel weird and clunky at first but the more I played the more natural and easy the controls felt. The graphics are a beautifully done pixel art with great design. The soundtrack is actually one of the best I’ve ever heard. The level designs are great and the action is fun and well executed. Fantastic and very well polished game.… Expand
  4. RafaRice
    Jan 20, 2021
    10
    Dandara is an affordable option for players who are looking for a challenging metroidvania with a twist.
  5. Antharas
    Feb 8, 2018
    9
    Very good design game, nice soundtrack. metroid styles with some bonus. The developers wants to put some Art real design inside the game.
  6. danimic
    Feb 6, 2018
    9
    Creative controls, nice graphics and very good soundtrack.
    The controls seems weird at first but turn in to second nature after some practice.
    A very good achievement for a first game!
  7. robertomarin
    Jul 12, 2018
    10
    you start the game and you don't realize how close to one of the best gaming experiences you are.

    the games looks ok at the beginning but it grows as you level up. the levels are really challenging and the open world experience is well tuned. not for gamers that are used to tutorials inside the game, think on super metroid with a very creative – not fool like other clones –    you start the game and you don't realize how close to one of the best gaming experiences you are.

    the games looks ok at the beginning but it grows as you level up.

    the levels are really challenging and the open world experience is well tuned.

    not for gamers that are used to tutorials inside the game, think on super metroid with a very creative – not fool like other clones – environment and playability.

    a must play for nintendo lovers.    … Expand
  8. richp
    Feb 24, 2018
    4
    I like the retro style and the movement mechanic is amusing for about an hour but it goes downhill fast.

    The story is nonsense, the level design totally derivative (as are the bosses, the first one is actually M Bison's head!). The game throws cheap enemies at you and puts you in unwinnable positions which is something I can't stand and is inexcusable in a game that borrows the    I like the retro style and the movement mechanic is amusing for about an hour but it goes downhill fast.

    The story is nonsense, the level design totally derivative (as are the bosses, the first one is actually M Bison's head!). The game throws cheap enemies at you and puts you in unwinnable positions which is something I can't stand and is inexcusable in a game that borrows the Salt/Souls mechanic that seems so overused these days.

    I've no idea why it's reviewed so well.    … Expand
  9. Olhur
    Feb 17, 2018
    8
    The game charms with its cryptic world of few words, appealing art and music that will haunt you (and I would give the main theme as a great example of that). What would be a part of your love-hate relationship is the learning curve of the movement / fighting mechanics, which requires a lot of patience and be willing to sacrifice your good mood for the purpose of postponed satisfaction.The game charms with its cryptic world of few words, appealing art and music that will haunt you (and I would give the main theme as a great example of that). What would be a part of your love-hate relationship is the learning curve of the movement / fighting mechanics, which requires a lot of patience and be willing to sacrifice your good mood for the purpose of postponed satisfaction. But trust me, it is so much worth it.… Expand
  10. friggityfrank
    Feb 6, 2018
    9
    There are very few times I'll see a game and jump to buy it before reading any reviews first, and this was one of those times that most certainly paid off. Dandara was an awesome experience from start to finish. The gameplay, art, and music were all incredibly interesting and beautiful to boot. So much of the game carries a sense of serenity to it, and that atmosphere really brings homeThere are very few times I'll see a game and jump to buy it before reading any reviews first, and this was one of those times that most certainly paid off. Dandara was an awesome experience from start to finish. The gameplay, art, and music were all incredibly interesting and beautiful to boot. So much of the game carries a sense of serenity to it, and that atmosphere really brings home the story.

    Dandara (the player), enters the world of 'Salt' to free it from oppression. Its a pretty simple concept that fittingly pulls from the story of the actual Dandara, an Afro-Brazillian warrior who fought against slavery in the late 1600s. At several points throughout the game, the player will find themselves helping and freeing individuals from the control of oppression. While the story isn't super relevant to why this game is so good, its refreshing to see that it doesn't get lost just after the introduction to the game like some others have done.

    As far as gameplay goes, it is unique, challenging, and most importantly very enjoyable. Movement is restricted to jumping from white surface to white surface. Oh, did I mention the movement revolves around the fact there isn't any "gravity"? There is no definitive "up" or "down" in the game, and you'll often be met by the room rotating to fit your position. It can feel a little weird at times, but it feels seamless once you're used to it. The game also gives a sort of Dark Souls vibe. Not necessarily in difficulty, but with how checkpoints in it work. Every time you reach one and use it, that checkpoint will be where you respawn upon death. This is also where you'll be leveling up, as enemies drop "Essence of the Salt" which acts as sou- I mean exp. Also, everything you killed comes back. Sweet. Because of this, dying a fair distance from the last checkpoint can be pretty punishing. Combine this with rooms swarming with enemies, and you'll usually feel challenged throughout.

    While definitely proving to be difficult throughout the game, I will say that about 1/3 of the way through I felt a MASSIVE spike present itself. Hazards were fairly present leading up to this point, but the degree to which they increased felt almost unfair. Maybe I simply blitzed through too much of the game, but a welcome challenge quickly turned into frustration and more than one mental break to go guzzle down some ice cream. Once I got past this point though, the difficulty felt like it balanced out again.

    Another point to make about difficulty in this game is the map. While reading it, you'll find that the game doesn't pause and that there IS a definitive "up" and "down". I didn't find much issue in this, but needing to figure out your orientation relative to the map may be a struggle for some. It gave a sense of pressure if you decided to open it up with enemies present; Attempting to figure out where to go next while needing to do some quick thinking to find WHERE exactly that was.

    Overall, this game proved to be a very enjoyable and satisfying experience. I wish there were more boss fights as they were my personal favorite part of the game, but the enjoyment for most will come from the unique platforming and RPG elements that are usually absent from some other platformers.

    If you like 2d platformers, a sense of difficulty, and are down to play something that stands out from the rest of the crowd, definitely play Dandara. You won't regret it as long as you have some comfort food to get you through the rough parts.    … Expand
  11. DylzIsHonest
    Mar 10, 2018
    3
    It's bad. Don't get it.
    First off, the game is bloody beautiful. The Pixel Art is incredible, smooth and has a colour palette that's inviting and thematic. But it proves to be a social archetype because the moment this gorgeous creature attempts to do anything other than stand there and let us look at it, it gives us a solid reminder as to why it's vastly dumb.
    The movement system is    It's bad. Don't get it.
    First off, the game is bloody beautiful. The Pixel Art is incredible, smooth and has a colour palette that's inviting and thematic. But it proves to be a social archetype because the moment this gorgeous creature attempts to do anything other than stand there and let us look at it, it gives us a solid reminder as to why it's vastly dumb.
    The movement system is clever and the stage transitions are cute, I'll give it that.
    The enemies are basically designed and don't adhere to the theme of the game at all. Eye balls that float, dogs humanoids with spears. Snore.
    The camera rotates depending on where you are in the stage and although that's a cool gimmick now and then, the map doesn't rotate with it. If this was an idea for a difficult level, awesome. But no, it's throughout the entire game, making progression a **** chore and unsatisfying when you FINALLY get to where you need to go, because NOT ONLY is the map and your sense of direction a constant chore but the levels are designed to make the player backtrack through MULTIPLE stages before they can attempt GOING TO THE NEXT LEVEL!
    Let me explain to you how moving should work in a game: You want to go somewhere. You walk towards it. In this game you go through this: Opening the map, looking at the map, looking at the screen, back to the map again, exit the map, move to the area you want to go.
    Imagine you want to go to the kitchen but before you do that you had to open an app on your phone, select the kitchen door, ask for it's permission to go to your kitchen, close the app then go.
    It's not a puzzle it's a goddamn chore.
    I can't nail this on the head enough. The game's attempt at the usual modern gameplay of: "Failed attempt? Alright, start again." with difficult challenges like enemies or platforming challenges like Super Meat Boy, and converts it to opening **** doors. Gee wiz, how **** riveting.

    Do not spend your money on this game.
    Please.    … Expand
  12. TangoFan
    Feb 7, 2018
    10
    Só tenho uma coisa a dizer: Os neo-liberais piram!!!! ; ) jogo nota 9, to dando 10 pra fortalecer a galera do brasil......___......._____
  13. bennyslen
    Mar 1, 2018
    8
    Dandara is good

    Pro - I like the way she moves, it takes a while to get used to, but once you do you feel happy with the results - I like the soundtrack, even though there's not much variety - The Art is wonderful - Boss battles are a huge good point, all of them were nice and different. - The atmosphere of the game is incredible and weird - The progression system is good Cons    Dandara is good

    Pro
    - I like the way she moves, it takes a while to get used to, but once you do you feel happy with the results
    - I like the soundtrack, even though there's not much variety
    - The Art is wonderful
    - Boss battles are a huge good point, all of them were nice and different.
    - The atmosphere of the game is incredible and weird
    - The progression system is good

    Cons
    - I wish the story was as good as the environment is, but the story is xtremely simple.
    - The way she moves may and how hard the game is may be frustrating sometimes
    - The game is xtremely short    … Expand
  14. Reed618
    Aug 15, 2018
    9
    I saw some trailers for this leading up to its release and went in with high hopes. I most certainly wasn't disappointed.
    This may not be the prettiest game around but it's a hell of a lot of fun. A really unique and well designed movement system and a building sense of tension as you explore levels knowing that you could lose all of your acquired salt at any moment.
    Beating the final    I saw some trailers for this leading up to its release and went in with high hopes. I most certainly wasn't disappointed.
    This may not be the prettiest game around but it's a hell of a lot of fun. A really unique and well designed movement system and a building sense of tension as you explore levels knowing that you could lose all of your acquired salt at any moment.
    Beating the final boss with just one health bar left was really epic as well.
    I gave it a 9 instead of a 10 as there's very little story and the visuals, while nice, aren't going to blow you away. Still, I'd highly recommend this to anyone looking for a unique take on the metroidvania genre.    … Expand
  15. AllySky
    Sep 3, 2018
    5
    The game seems decent, and I am sure it's good but it could never stick with me, for some reason the pace or the presentation or maybe the game play itself just isn't for me, I could never get into it and kept finding myself putting down the game after ten minutes. Be warned that this game is a very unique and different metroidvania experience.
  16. ClinOton
    Feb 11, 2021
    0
    I was enjoying this game about 60% thru I believe. ( to be far this game is not a 0/10 perhaps a 7/10 or higher...given my current state of annoyance with the developers and the worst save point I’ve ever experienced in 100s of games beaten 0/10 currently feels right) Went down a pit and essentially landed on a save point in a part of the game that is more frustrating than words and givenI was enjoying this game about 60% thru I believe. ( to be far this game is not a 0/10 perhaps a 7/10 or higher...given my current state of annoyance with the developers and the worst save point I’ve ever experienced in 100s of games beaten 0/10 currently feels right) Went down a pit and essentially landed on a save point in a part of the game that is more frustrating than words and given my characters current status I feel ill equipped. There is no way to go back to a previous save point. I have beaten games such as Super Meat Boy, Super Meat Boy Forever, The End Is Nigh, Never Give Up on hard mode, Celeste, Color Jumper which is a beast of a game, Flat Hero’s gets extremely difficult, Mario Lost levels, Light Fall, The Kings Bird, Splasher, Axiom Verge, ect... I play some difficult games and Dandara is just miserably UNFAIR! So frustrated with this save point set up and how there is no way out of room and you essentially fall on a save point flag you cannot see. Most unfair c r a p I have ever experienced in a game. Angry! So what do I do now? The current set up I am expected to make it thru is too difficult for my skills and sanity and also its the type of difficult that simply is not fun. Just chaos and maybe I will make it out one lucky try. I am not a hack at games. Get good makes sense but this is not fun! This is just a complete waste of time at this point. Start over? Perhaps.… Expand
  17. Blaine
    Apr 24, 2019
    7
    Art style and gameplay are unique, huge props to the developers for trying something new!
    There are certainly some flaws here and there and I found myself dropping the game for a couple of months before getting back to it to finish it.

    If you like Metroidvanias it's definitely worth a shot.
  18. thryce3
    Jul 21, 2022
    6
    The main thing that makes this game stand out among the MANY other metroidvanias on the Switch is the control scheme. Instead of walking you aim and launch yourself to different surfaces. It takes some getting used to, but it leads to some interesting platforming and combat. Fortunately, much more of the former than the latter. Unfortunately, there are a couple of sections where youThe main thing that makes this game stand out among the MANY other metroidvanias on the Switch is the control scheme. Instead of walking you aim and launch yourself to different surfaces. It takes some getting used to, but it leads to some interesting platforming and combat. Fortunately, much more of the former than the latter. Unfortunately, there are a couple of sections where you are bombarded with waves of enemies and the controls aren't conducive to the quick reactions required. For most of the game this isn't a problem, but the last boss is brutally unforgiving. Difficulty spikes like this are always annoying, but the game doesn't prepare you at all. You're just expected to have mastered a skill you had little reason to use up to that point. It was so bad I very nearly gave up. Instead I gave in and used the in game "cheat" option that allows you infinite energy. It still took a few tries.
    Other than that, it's a well designed metroidvania with decent art design and a cool gimmick.
    Honestly it's hard to rate because it is probably a solid 8 out of 10 up until the end all but spoils everything. For that alone I can only give it a very cautious recommendation.    … Expand
  19. Pachuli1981
    Oct 27, 2019
    9
    Un excelente metroidvania con una manera de desplazarse y una estética que lo hace único.
  20. MedusaMadman77
    Mar 7, 2020
    4
    This game is a bit overrated. It's too difficult for all the wrong reasons. UPDATE: Went back to this and yeah, it's just not fun. I wouldn't drop more than a dollar on this.
  21. pizzanuggs
    Jan 30, 2019
    4
    I find this game totally unplayable.
    I was impressed by the pace displayed in the trailers, as well as the fantastically animated art work, but the final product is about struggling with its awful parameters.
  22. pmasterfunk
    Dec 9, 2020
    7
    So I just finished Dandara, and I feel a bit conflicted. There's a lot of stuff I like, but at the same time I found the game occasionally infuriating.

    The pixel-art graphics are great, the levels are varied and have personality. The enemy and boss designs are OK, not great. I did find it a bit strange that the first boss in the game is the humongous head of M. Bison. ¯_(ツ)_/¯ I    So I just finished Dandara, and I feel a bit conflicted. There's a lot of stuff I like, but at the same time I found the game occasionally infuriating.

    The pixel-art graphics are great, the levels are varied and have personality. The enemy and boss designs are OK, not great. I did find it a bit strange that the first boss in the game is the humongous head of M. Bison. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

    I really like the way the story is presented, there are no large exposition dumps stalling the game. All the characters presented (they are fairly few and far between, however) all have a certain individuality that makes them unique. If there are weak points as far as characters go, the two final bosses are kinda bland. The story is intentionally made vague, and the way the story is told through small artifacts found on the ground in random places is intriguing, but I can't say I had any strong feelings about the big bad. The final boss was added in the "Trials of Fear" update, so story-wise it feels thrown in haphazardly.

    Though I usually don't care much about music in video games, I gotta say the soundtrack is amazing. I kept being surprised by the music, and every time it changed it was appropriate and fit the settings. Honestly one of the best OSTs I've heard in recent years.

    The gameplay is where things start getting a bit annoying for me. I'm probably kinda old by Metacritic standards, and Metroidvanias are nothing new to me. But I've never played a game with a movement mechanic like this. Technically, there's nothing wrong with this, in fact it's a really novel idea that works quite well for level design, which is for the most part very good.

    However, after almost 10 hours of playing this game, I still haven't gotten comfortable with the controls, and often end up jumping in the wrong direction. I didn't grow up with analog sticks, so this may be a good part of it, but it was a source of frustration for me. I've often jumped onto off-screen enemies when aiming for different areas. In areas with lots of flying projectiles and enemies, the difficulty spikes and I often found myself unable to aim properly to where I wanted to go, and the unforgivingly short invincibility time when hit often leads to successive hits, and things turn bad really fast. The very short range of the main attack can worsen things, and the shield never seemed to work for me, and especially special skill meter management can a pain.

    The last battle is also much more challenging than anything else in the game, and I can see people kinda giving up at this point. The second to last boss is not particularly hard, so the transition is pretty harsh. On the other hand, the final boss did stress me out more than any other game I can remember. If you're looking for intense gameplay, I guess this game has it.

    All in all, Dandara is a well-made, original, mostly enjoyable game. The story and themes are interesting and worth checking out, though some frustrating difficulty spikes may be enough to turn some people off.    … Expand
  23. GabFire
    Aug 10, 2020
    2
    Esse jogo é ridículo, por isso que tem para celular, realmente não valeu a pena de eu ter jogado isso.
  24. Samcelot
    Apr 23, 2020
    9
    Dandara is a must have. If you already played this game on a different platform beware, the switch controls do not make this easy. However the look and style of this game is right at home on the Nintendo console. I absolutely loved this game! Though I burned through the story in a matter of two days I honestly feel like this is a game that deserved to be re-played, and not just forDandara is a must have. If you already played this game on a different platform beware, the switch controls do not make this easy. However the look and style of this game is right at home on the Nintendo console. I absolutely loved this game! Though I burned through the story in a matter of two days I honestly feel like this is a game that deserved to be re-played, and not just for completionists. This games artwork, with its subtle hints to Brazilian mythology and not so subtle references to colonialism, are absolutely intriguing. We all expect a entertaining couple of hours from Raw Fury, but I’m more interested in seeing what Long Hat House might develop in the future.… Expand
  25. Daisuk
    Jun 20, 2020
    6
    I really wanted to rate this game higher, as it looks utterly beautiful, the music is fantastic and the gameplay concept very original - but unfortunately, it only stays fun for a few hours - it gets repetitive, and feels very limiting a lot of times - most upgrades don't really feel like upgrades at all, and there's just very little sense of progression. I think the main teleport mechanicI really wanted to rate this game higher, as it looks utterly beautiful, the music is fantastic and the gameplay concept very original - but unfortunately, it only stays fun for a few hours - it gets repetitive, and feels very limiting a lot of times - most upgrades don't really feel like upgrades at all, and there's just very little sense of progression. I think the main teleport mechanic would've been cool as a sort of weapon or mechanic added to a normal way of moving about, but being the sole method for moving around in the game does not do this game any favors, in my opinion. Picking it up to play in the end just felt more like a chore than actual fun, so I had to quit like halfway through.… Expand
  26. ophone
    Jan 22, 2023
    7
    At first glance a classic Metroidvania with nice pixel art and a well composed soundtrack.
    If there wasn't its innovative move-set for such a game, because you can't simply run like in other games of the genre, you have to hop from one salt covered platform to another, resulting in your character standing upside down sometimes.
    Unfortunately its move-set is also its biggest flaw, because    At first glance a classic Metroidvania with nice pixel art and a well composed soundtrack.
    If there wasn't its innovative move-set for such a game, because you can't simply run like in other games of the genre, you have to hop from one salt covered platform to another, resulting in your character standing upside down sometimes.
    Unfortunately its move-set is also its biggest flaw, because it's a good chunk less precise than in traditional 2D platformers.
    I managed to go through the game without activating cheats, except for the last boss, there the imprecise controls were the most blatant. Coming closer to the end of the battle, you need to move quickly, unfortunately the game registers badly the inputs from the controller.
    If controls were more precise, I'd have given the game a 9/10.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

67
#67 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Switch Player
    May 18, 2020
    60
    Although it boasts a gorgeous world, a surreal story, and some unique character designs, Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition ultimately fails to capture the freedom, urgency, and sense of exploration offered by other Metroidvania titles.
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  2. COGconnected
    Mar 31, 2020
    83
    There’s not much to dislike about Dandara. It certainly could be more accessible for newbies but any gamer that’s played a Metroidvania before should have an idea of what to expect. What’s unexpected is the totally cool and trippy traversal system. It might take some time to get used to, but it’s very intuitive. Dandara’s sharp level design and enemy encounters are memorable in a genre that is starting to get overcrowded. The story isn’t anything to write home about, but Dandara makes up for it with fun and challenging gameplay. Regardless of your platform of choice, Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition needs to be your next game.
    Read full review
  3. GamingTrend
    Mar 13, 2020
    95
    Dandara is an excellent game and I can’t believe I haven’t heard people talking about it. Its unique movement is accompanied by an equally unique world, soundtrack, and symbolic story that will fascinate lore nerds. While it’s controls may not support the precision combat asks of you, the Salt is definitely a world worth saving.
    Read full review
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