Demon Tides [REVIEW] – Making Wonderful Waves in 3D Platforming 

The 3D platformer landscape has long been ruled by some beloved mascots of the genre, making it rather tough for new challengers to make a splash. But every so often, a game comes along that absolutely nails the formula while carving out its own identity, and Demon Tides does just that. Following up on 2021’s Demon Turf, developer Fabraz has taken a confident leap into open-world territory with Demon Tides, and it’s an absolute blast, serving up some of the finest, most fluid movement mechanics we’ve seen in years. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

The tale kicks off with returning main character Beebz now ruling her own kingdom, but her peace is interrupted by a letter from her absentee father, inviting her to a place called Ragnar’s Rock. She rounds up her buddies for a good ol’ family reunion, but things go sideways straightaway when their ship is destroyed and Beebz finds herself caught in a messy war between her dad and a group of revolutionaries. Furthermore, the ocean has been corrupted by a perilous red coral, seemingly orchestrated by an antagonistic floating jester, so yeah, there’s a lot going on. The plot is surprisingly deep, and whilst I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s always enthralling, it’s got more than enough going on to keep players interested well into the later hours. 

Where Demon Tides truly shines is its phenomenal platforming. It is a masterclass in player manoeuvrability, and unlike other games that slowly drip-feed skills, this one hands you Beebz’s entire moveset straightaway. You can dash, wall-run, and hover… all those sorts of things, but the real magic happens when you combine her transformation abilities. You can morph into a bat to pull off a double jump and dive, switch to a Spin form to glide or drill downwards, and then hit the ground as a snake to rocket across land and water – chaining these abilities feels incredibly smooth and satisfying, giving you the tools to tackle obstacles in a uniquely enjoyable way. 

“Demon Tides has some small flaws, but they don’t stop the game from being an excellent platforming escapade that gives a glorious sense of freedom to the player.” 

Equippable Talismans push the mechanics even further, with these drastically altering your abilities, whether that’s by giving your snake form a rapid glide, adding an extra jump to your bat form, or simply creating a whirlwind on the ground for a massive boost. It all adds more and more depth to the platforming and how players can reach their goals through their own creativity, with Demon Tides ensuring players have the flexibility and freedom to tackle each platforming challenge however they please – Fabraz calls it ‘expressive platforming’, and you know what? It’s a great way to describe it, with no wrong way to approach any challenge in the game. Add to that the plethora of outfits you can unlock, and you’ll find plenty of ways to express yourself both cosmetically and through platforming. 

That said, it should be noted that the structure of Demon Tides has seen a massive overhaul compared to its predecessor. Instead of linear levels, you are dropped into an oceanic open world filled with an archipelago of diverse islands, and believe me, the sheer variety is staggering. One minute you are exploring ruined cities bobbing in the waves, and the next you are bouncing around tropical pirate havens or scaling offshore drilling rigs that feature random casino themes. Everything feels so much more expansive and varied than before, and with this a bigger and better sequel in so many ways. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

The game also has some brilliant quality-of-life features and accessibility settings, with players able to adjust the overall game speed, toggle invincibility, hide the UI, skip cutscenes, and even try out a first-person mode. Demon Tides is one of those perfect platformers to simply play around and experiment with, and these features do make it easier to treat the world like a playground. There’s also a custom checkpoint system where you can drop a flag practically anywhere to save your progress, provided you aren’t near danger or on a moving platform – very handy when facing a particularly tough platforming challenge. Add to that the ropes strung across the midpoints of tall vertical sections to save you from brutal falls, a dedicated collectible finder, and an optional graffiti system to leave messages for other players, and you’ll quickly find that Demon Tides goes a long, long way in ensuring player accessibility is at the forefront. 

That’s not to say that it doesn’t have its flaws, though. The boss battles are a bit of a letdown, with some slow-paced affairs that relies on mindless dodging rather than utilising the brilliant movement system found elsewhere in the game. The camera can be a bit wonky too, occasionally losing track of the action and throwing things amiss when you’re trying to pull off some pixel-perfect platforming. And honestly? Whilst the game looks great, I LOVED the aesthetic of the first game, so it’s a shame that the game doesn’t carry the same stylish sense of flair. 

Developer: Fabraz 
Publisher: Fabraz 
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed) 
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2585890/Demon_Tides/