We talked about a remarkable shift in his career path in our recent developer interview with Dr. Kucho!, where we also touched upon his latest project, Moons of Darsalon. We had a chance to test the PC-exclusive game as well, and here are our thoughts.
Moons of Darsalon is an ambitious action-platformer developed by Dr. Kucho! Games that takes place on the different moons of the planet Darsalon. In this game, players take on the role of a rescuer who must navigate treacherous terrain, fend off enemies, and protect teams of darsanauts who have become lost during mining missions.
One of the standout features of Moons of Darsalon is its advanced platformer AI, which includes dynamic terrain detection, jump force calculation, light sensitivity, and inter-NPC communication. This makes for a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience that keeps players on their toes while adding to the immersion factor – something that’s strengthened by your ability to issue voice commands to control companion NPCs. Additionally, Moons of Darsalon boasts dynamic ground destruction and creation, as well as full interactive and realistic liquid physics, which contribute to the game’s overall sense of realism and believability in ways you wouldn’t expect from a game with a distinctly ‘retro’ look.
Another highlight of Moons of Darsalon is its unique render pipeline that combines modern lighting, 2D sprites, and 3D models pixelated in real-time consistently and with a restricted color palette for an authentic retro feel. The CRT filter adds even more to the retro aesthetic, making it feel like a classic game from the 80s or early 90s. It makes for a game that’s a bit more demanding on your PC than the average indie retro platformer, but there’s nothing here that a modern system won’t be able to deliver. A while some of the animation could be smoother, this is a great looking indie game.
Some players may find the gameplay to be on the challenging side, particularly when multiple mechanics are being combined in a short timeframe or when later levels pile on the pressure where the challenges become more intense. The combination of Worms-like destruction and Lemmings-like puzzle gameplay wrapped in a sci-fi platformer setting is excellent though, so stick with it and you’ll enjoy it – especially if you have fondness for the games that inspired it.
Overall, Moons of Darsalon is a well-designed and challenging action-platformer that offers a unique and immersive experience. With its advanced platformer AI, voice commands, and dynamic terrain and physics, it’s a game that will keep players engaged and entertained for hours on end, and while it may not be great for those who are looking for a more casual gaming experience it’s a blast for those with passion for the 8-bit/16-bit classics – and we haven’t even mentioned the excellent soundtrack yet.
Score: 7.8/10
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