Dust: An Elysian Tail Reviews

[h3] I want a Fidget Doll, too! [/h3] [i] Have to respect the solo developer's dedication. [/i] A little on the short & shallow side, gameplay-wise, as to be expected, but still fun and Good - in spite of its weirdness, which only served to make me smile and laugh at it all. it's a little futzy on a modern computer, though - Probably a better experience on consoles, which it was originally made for. [hr][/hr] It isn't timeless, but it still holds up pretty darn well.

Damn it's been almost exactly 2 years since I finished and I haven't reviewed it? It's a good game, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Felt like I was playing games as a little kid again. Unfortunately it's been to long since I played to remember much, but fortunately I intend to play through it again, so, maybe I'll update the review once that's done.

The game is a cute little RPG platformer, but IMO is a bit expensive at full price. Wait for it to be on sale, and then you can't go wrong.

Amazing game! Great story, great quests and overall fun! Loved every minute of it.

I've played this game through a few times, and occasionally find my thoughts drifting back to it. It's an incredible story, the art is beautiful, and though the combat can sometimes feel a little clunky it's still a lot of fun. 9/10.

For some reason on this version, it just doesn't let me throw projectiles with Fidget. The default button does nothing, and no matter what I change it to it still does nothing. I loved this game during my childhood and desperately want to play it on pc. Does anyone have the answer? Am I just being stupid in some way?

I found this game through an Instagram post about how Stampylongnose's Minecraft skin has been a Minecraft version of the bat character (Fidget) from this game the whole time.

This is one of those games that makes you feel like a kid again, and despite its aspects that have not aged well, it's still a fun time. It's a bit on the easier side, but not every game/metroidvania has to be difficult. The gameplay is very fluid, the cartoony artstyle is extremely unique, and the music is fantastic. The story is simple, but again, feels like a game that you'd love as a kid, and it's still a pretty good time as an adult. I don't really have much else to say about the game. It's old, flawed, but has its charm and I think for what it is, I liked it a lot and would recommend to anyone.

A surprisingly good Metroidvania game. I'll be honest, I really wasn't expecting much from this game when I first played it all those years ago on the Xbox Live Arcade. I saw some good reviews, and thought, "What the hell. I'll give it a shot." Little did I know how much fun I was going to have. Once you figure out how Fidget synergizes with Dust's spin move.... oh man... the game goes from OK to FUCKING AWESOME. And the different abilities that Fidget gets just adds more fun. I personally enjoy the fire one the most, but really they all work well. Then there's the Metroidvania element which is fine. Pretty much what you would expect: go to an area, can't get to certain area yet without ability, leave the area, get new ability, come back, get that item. Basic stuff. It works. Nothing out of the ordinary or truly amazing there, but it didn't need to be. It's fine. It is of course largely helped by the music. Some Metroidvania developers seem to underestimate the importance of music in their work - a good soundtrack can carry even the crappiest of Metroidvania's, and Dust does deliver some bangers. I wouldn't say the music is something you absolutely have to go out of your way to listen to, but it is good. I like the Cirelian Trials theme and the Blackmoor Mountains theme the most. Much like the exploration aspect, the music is fine. Really, what you're coming to Dust for is that awesome combat. Later on in the game when you are just trying to get to Max Level, it's so fun to just go from screen to screen and build your combo up as you just essentially fly over all the enemies and let Fidget lay waste to them. It's awesome. That feeling of "I have conquered this game." If I were to take points off Dust for anything, it's the lackluster end-game content. There isn't really much to do once you beat the game. Sure, you can go back and finish some side quests, complete the Cirelian Trials, find some easter eggs, yada yada yada, but there isn't an additional mode to unlock or additional costumes or anything. I like the art-style of the game, so it would have been nice to see at least some alternative costumes, but alas, nope. In terms of difficulty, the game isn't that punishing. Even on Hardcore mode, the most times I died were just from falling into spike pits or other environmental hazards. The combat is more just a matter of keeping a good balance of your spin-to-win move and Fidget's abilities. This game is a fairly easy play. I recommend Dust whole-heartedly. If you like Metroidvanias, your tastebuds will be satiated. If you like Disney-ish anthropormorphic art-styles, your eyes will be charmed. If you like cheese-y combat systems that make you feel awesome, you will have a lot of fun here. Check it out.

In a world of metroidvanias, it was great for it's time. It's only good now. The animations are great, the flow fantastic, but the upgrades your character gets are oddly spaced. The leveling system makes the game feel like a breeze, but then again it was meant for literal children. If we ignore the furry factor and some overly dramatic moments which don't quite land, you get yourself a cute little story worth playing.