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.

Guacamelee is probably one of the most fun co-op games I’ve played of late. Both challenging and rewarding platforming and an interesting and varied combat system lead me to this conclusion.

The co-op works really well, bringing 50-hit multi-person suplex combo’s into boss fights and precarious platform jump-fighting while dodging projectiles to the story portion. The fights become a lot funnier and more chaotic and the platforming becomes more difficult as in many places it requires good timing between the 2 of you. (There is a get-out on the platforming though, Super Mario Bros Wii style where 1 person can bubble up and bypass anything you don’t like or find too difficult).

There are no real tutorials in the game, a very brief introduction to a new move, and then the level and environment around you utilizes that and previously learned moves together in order to teach you how to use it. This in many places gives a feeling of accomplishment upon clearing the screen.

There are myriad retro gaming references throughout (I’m sure we missed quite a few subtle ones too) which make you crack a smile whenever you come across them.

The story is different and interesting, the writing is humorous and entertaining and the main characters encourage you to keep playing and then put up a decent fight when they stop running away. Each fight is different and the patterns are quite quick to learn so you don’t feel it slows down the pace of the game which is generally pretty fast and action packed.

There are some side quests along the way, no tracker of any kind, in fact, not even a true notification that it is a quest sometimes; just a conversation with an NPC that sounds suspiciously like they want you to fetch something for them. There are also collectibles that boost your health (Heart container) or stamina (sugar skull) which encourage you to stop and grab them as you zip on past.

Overall this game is a great for co-op and I’m sure is good fun even if you’re flying solo, highly recommend you play this if you get a chance. Similar games would be Shank / Mark of the Ninja.