Duskfade [REVIEW] – A Wonderful Tribute to Classic 3D Platformers

If you grew up with a PlayStation 2 controller glued to your hands, constantly hunting down random trinkets, and beating up all sorts of goons in colourful ways, you’re going to adore Duskfade, with the charming 3D adventure nailing the vibe of the collectathons you’d have spent hours playing back in the 2000s.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Duskfade sees players stepping into the shoes of Zirian, a young lad trying to process the recent passing of his grandfather. Things go completely pear-shaped when his sister Allira gets trapped inside a massive clock tower that abruptly rips through their reality… sounds like the perfect recipe for an adventure, right? Teaming up with a mechanical bird named Cuckoo and facing off against a gloomy villain called Despair, Zirian has to break four chains across the world to save the day. It makes for a charming tale, and whilst it does explore some surprisingly touching themes of grief, the story keeps things light and approachable so that it never feels too serious.

Where Duskfade really manages to shine is in the gameplay. It’s a 3D platforming adventure in the most traditional (and appreciated) way possible, with it offering a sprawling, clockwork-themed universe full of massive jumps, foes to beat up, and the occasional boss battle, all whilst unlocking additional means of traversal as you progress. The grappling hook was a personal favourite, but honestly, there’s so much to play around with that it becomes a real joy to simply venture across the world and find all of the secrets hidden within it.

“Duskfade is a wonderful throwback that captures the pure fun of 3D platforming in the 2000s.”

The platforming also feels fantastic, and whilst I’ll admit I did have to get used to its somewhat floaty feel, it has a forgiving sense of momentum that makes navigating the environment a real joy. The platforming challenges feel challenging but fair, ensuring you’ll never feel frustrated whilst playing, whilst there’s plenty for more adventurous players to discover when they do veer away from the beaten path.

Combat is a bit more of a mixed bag. Players fight with a clock-hand sword and have some cool abilities to utilise (like slowing down the action after a perfect dodge or setting gear-shaped traps), and when it works, it scratches that old-school action itch perfectly. It just lacks any real depth, and if I’m being honest, the easiest route to success is simply mashing attacks and dodging where appropriate. Sure, that’s true of a lot of similar titles in the genre, but I wish it just offered that little *something* to help make it feel more distinct. With the combat controls (in particular the lock-on system) also having some clunky moments, it definitely stands out as one of the weaker aspects of the game.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The boss encounters, however, are a real highlight. They brilliantly weave tricky platforming sections right into the middle of the fight, ensuring they offer that bit more variety to keep them engaging throughout. There’s also a progression system in place that allows you to unlock extra abilities that really strengthen combat during the latter hours of the game’s roughly 14-hour adventure… it’s just a shame that they don’t unlock sooner, because they really do make a difference.

Visually, Duskfade is an absolute treat, especially with the brilliant world design that feels bold, dark, and creative, reminding me a lot of the likes of the more original worlds in the Kingdom Hearts series. The bold use of colour and striking atmospheric lighting make every new area a real joy to discover, and backing all this up is a wonderful soundtrack that consistently hits the mark.

Developer: Weird Beluga
Publisher: Fireshine Games
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Website: https://fireshinegames.co.uk/featured/duskfade/