Dodo Peak is “a throwback to the traditional arcade platformers of the previous,” nevertheless it comes up brief in addictiveness.
At first look, the sport is paying homage to Q*bert. However after I began taking part in, it jogged my memory a great deal of Snake Rattle ‘n’ Roll. Kudos, in case you keep in mind that NES hidden gem from Uncommon. However Dodo Peak can’t emulate these classics, even with fashionable touches like on-line leaderboards.
As you hop about to rescue the eggs, you’ll uncover the emphasis on quickness. Apart from leaderboards, the degrees usually have objectives like ending below a sure variety of seconds. You’ll additionally want velocity to outrun chasing monkeys, as an early instance. Components like this weaken Dodo Peak’s “handcrafted ranges” as you race about with little time to actually respect them. As a result of it isn’t sufficient so that you can be out of hurt’s means, as you could guarantee your trailing infants safely attain the exit too.
I really feel these ranges had the makings for exploration. Certainly, a few of the objectives encourage that, like accumulating a ruby, as an illustration. However this is determined by your need to replay and grasp every one. I haven’t been motivated to take action, past the early ranges the place I acknowledged a few of the leaderboard names. The designs in Dodo Peak frankly aren’t attention-grabbing sufficient, failing to achieve their full potential.
So earlier than lengthy, I used to be merely accumulating eggs to advance, whereas ignoring the optionally available objectives. Dodo Peak quickly will get an elevated problem, however the problem comes extra from aggressive enemies than good stage development. I felt the enemy placement was haphazard, and upon replaying ranges, I spotted it was random. That comes off as cheaper, discouraging replay to achieve stage mastery. It additionally results in occasional slowdown. I can simply see youngsters rising annoyed taking part in the identical stage repeatedly and finally giving up out of monotony.
There are over 50 ranges in Dodo Peak, however after 20 or so, I had my fill. I did replay some earlier ones to enhance my instances, and likewise to gather cash wanted for unlocking new birds past the dodo. Unlockables are commendable, as is the measure (albeit a really conservative one) of non-linearity. Weekly challenges are one other enhance, one that may have me checking again in. The sport additionally has a properly accomplished general look, with two digicam angles to select between; one higher highlighting the look, the opposite extra sensible for gameplay.
Regardless of many constructive parts that Dodo Peak has to make it satisfying, I need to admit that I genuinely didn’t have a lot enjoyable taking part in it. It’s difficult, however not in a means that held my curiosity past a couple of minutes at a time. Additional, the acquainted three-star setup is weakened by an emphasis on velocity and random enemy placement. This Dodo may not take flight on the Nintendo Change.
It’s the first sport from Moving Pieces Interactive although, so hopefully, their subsequent Change sport will join with me extra.
