Review #069 – Duskfade

Duskfade is a great PlayStation 2-era action-platformer that gives off early-to-mid 2000s nostalgic vibes. It's not necessarily the most remarkable game—it doesn’t have any particularly stand-out gameplay mechanics or memorable narrative moments—but everything is just solidly made. I can’t think of anything I outright dislike.

Gameplay mainly revolves around platforming through a whimsical world with a lot of hack and slash combat, both of which are pretty fun. You’ll unlock a handful of cool combat and traversal abilities that take clear inspiration from other similar games, like the rail-grinding mechanic straight out of Ratchet & Clank. You’ll also see items of interest in the distance but can't obtain them until you come back with a new ability, Zelda-style.

It very much feels like a game from 2003, almost as if you’re playing through a modernized, Spyro Reignited Trilogy-like remake. I grew up with this type of game so its relatively basic design never stopped me from having a very fun time jumping and slashing my way through its whimsically gorgeous world. It makes me so happy that the indie game space has allowed these types of throwbacks to continue on.