Conventional depictions of demons usually conjure images of terrifying, winged monstrosities or the grotesque fiends found in Doom: The Dark Ages. However, Arc System Works’ latest twin-stick shooter, Damon and Baby, subverts these expectations. The titular protagonist isn’t a nightmare made flesh; he’s essentially an ordinary guy with horns who has been begrudgingly tasked with childcare duties for a toddler he’d rather ignore. Their shared odyssey is a thrilling, action-packed journey, even if certain mechanical hurdles occasionally dampen the momentum.
Damon’s reluctant guardianship begins at the request of a deceased priest who entrusted him with the girl’s safety. This responsibility is quite literal: Damon teleports wherever he hurls the child, a mechanic that is as central to traversal as it is to dodging incoming fire. While Damon aspires to rise from a mere Demon King to a “Super Demon King,” the game quickly humbles him. In a sharp bit of visual wit, a hierarchy chart reveals that Damon’s current “King” status is actually the lowest rung of hellish society.
The duo travels through sun-scorched desert outposts, opulent estates, and a fog-shrouded rendition of Phoenix, Arizona. As they fend off legions of adversaries—some truly hideous—the narrative explores the mystery of the child’s significance and Damon’s gradual transition into a paternal figure. Heartwarming moments, such as Damon decorating their trailer with a toy for her or the child calling him “dad,” provide a touching contrast to the carnage.
With the toddler strapped into a carrier on Damon’s back, the duo navigates a relentless gauntlet of firefights. Damon’s arsenal starts with a reliable, albeit weak, infinite-ammo pistol, but the real power lies in the machine guns, shotguns, and RPGs found throughout the world. While ammunition for these heavy hitters is finite, it is fortunately plentiful enough to keep the action moving.
The loot system consistently introduces weapon variants with distinct modifiers. One might find a high-impact machine gun for single targets, while another fires splitting rounds ideal for crowd control. I found myself favoring a devastating spread-fire shotgun that could clear basic mobs in a single blast. However, this fluid combat occasionally stutters during boss encounters. While these adversaries—ranging from dapper werewolves to skyscraper-scaling lizards—are visually striking, they often lack mechanical depth.
Victory over bosses is often achieved simply by standing still and dumping magazines into them while occasionally jumping to avoid a telegraphed strike. The intensity of these fights is further undercut by the lack of a dedicated healing button; players are forced to constantly pause and navigate the main menu to consume food, which disrupts the flow of battle.
As the campaign progresses, inventory management becomes a significant chore. Between hoarding healing items and collecting surplus firearms to sell for gold, players spend an excessive amount of time in menus. Financial management is equally vital, as activating essential fast-travel points requires a hefty sum of currency, necessitating a loop of returning to town to sell loot and cook better healing items, like burgers.
Physical navigation can also prove frustrating due to the fixed isometric camera. While it works beautifully for wide-open vistas, it falters in claustrophobic interiors. The “peeling” wall effect, meant to keep Damon visible, often obscures vital exits. I spent several minutes lost in an early mine level, only to realize a supposedly solid wall contained the path forward; I simply had to hurl Damon at the invisible doorway to progress.
Despite these occasional visual hiccups, exploration remains a core strength. Though not explicitly labeled as such on its Steam page, Damon and Baby breathes the spirit of a Metroidvania. Many paths are gated by specific abilities, encouraging backtracking once new powers—like a combat-effective dash—are unlocked. For those who enjoy scouring every shadowy corner for secrets, the game offers substantial longevity.
Much like the bond between the demon and the child, Damon and Baby grows on the player over time. While the clunky inventory system and camera frustrations are real, they are ultimately outweighed by the sheer satisfaction of the core combat loop. Eradicating demon hordes remains a consistently exhilarating pastime.
Damon and Baby is available now on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. This review was conducted on Nintendo Switch 2 using a prerelease code provided by Arc System Works.
Source: Polygon
