Dust, an Elysian Tail

Having heard about this game for a long time, when it popped up in the Humble Bundle, I knew it was time to play through.

Dust is, basically, awesome.

If you’re a fan of side-scrolling platform action games then this will feel right at home. The easy to learn combat and cartoon style graphics put you at ease as you hack, slash and fly across the screen.

I didn’t find the game particularly difficult (was only playing it on medium); so if you’re an experienced gamer you might want to hike it up, but at no point did the ease of difficulty make me bored. I still failed at the platforming in places and the story is interesting and varied enough that I was hooked.

You are accompanied by a flying cat-squirrel that talks, and she (it?) provides comic-relief throughout. Fidget as it’s known, is oddly externally-aware that you are playing a game, and breaks the inclusion pact in several places. Still, it wasn’t hated and Fidget is a lovable character.

There are loads of references to other games, through the story and the gameplay. Hell you can release 12 well known characters from prisons and they all hang out and party in your house (while you’re out saving the world)

So in-depth are these references that there is even a secret based on the most cryptic part in Castlevania 2: Simon’s Quest, I’ll let you figure that one out if you don’t already know it.

Overall this was a hugely enjoyable game, I casually completed it in about 12 hours so it’s not a short story and would recommend this for everyone to play through.