It is likely to be Doom’s birthday right this moment, however its enthusiastic younger cousin Dusk is invited to the occasion, bunny-hopping out of early entry right this moment. They develop up so quick, and David Szymanski’s shooter has grown one other two episodes in measurement since its debut in August final yr, introducing new monsters and locations to kill them in, plus a remarkably enjoyable (if twitchy) deathmatch mode. The game has technically been full in early entry for a number of days now. I obtained to play the ultimate few ranges over the weekend and cherished them to bits. A launch trailer and my fast ideas on the complete game are beneath.
Dusk is its personal game, with its personal distinct really feel, however it could possibly’t be denied that it appears to be like so much like somebody put Quake, Doom and Blood in a blender and set it to ‘chunky salsa’. The game opens with you pulling your self off some meathooks to fillet a trio of chainsaw-wielding lunatics with a pair of sickles. Moments later you’re dual-wielding pump shotguns, combating fireball-tossing klansman lookalikes and demonic goats. Dusk is a quick, twitchy game that will get on top of things shortly and stays there virtually your entire manner. The weapons are enjoyable to shoot, the degrees are filled with secrets and techniques and the monsters get bizarre.
While I wasn’t completely offered on Dusk primarily based on its preliminary first episode and its principally rural environments, I did like the sensation of the motion and fight. The second and third episodes are the place the game hits its stride, although. The second one begins in navy and industrial complexes, earlier than switching as much as Silent Hill-esque metallic otherworlds. The third episode opens with a number of delves into Quake-inspired eldritch temples and catacombs earlier than going hog wild for a improbable, unpredictable last few phases, introducing one degree wholly devoted to a (actually) dizzying twist.
If I needed to grumble about something in Dusk, it could be that I’m nonetheless not completely offered on the ultra-chunky aesthetic. Enemy fashions and environments are imaginative, however a bit of rougher than even the unique Quake. Still, it implies that mappers can go nuts with monster-spam as soon as the deliberate degree editor (named Dawn) is launched. I used to be additionally a bit of disillusioned that the upper issue settings simply make you die quicker, as a substitute of blending up any placements and spawns, however that’s only a private bugbear. Still, can’t complain concerning the soundtrack – it’s dynamic, chuggy guitar aggression all the way in which.
I solely grumble as a result of I like me some old-school FPS’in, and Dusk nails it ninety-five % of the time. I simply want there was extra of it. It’s not an enormous game, and its ranges will be bounded by with stunning velocity. They’re constructed to be replayed, explored for secrets and techniques and even speedrun although, with a number of ranges having intentional sequence-breaks. Who wants a key when you’ll be able to bunny-hop off a rooftop and go crusing previous a locked, gated wall? I’m desperate to see what individuals can do with the editor as soon as it’s out, however for now I reckon this is among the finest 90s-style shooters since Overload introduced again Descent.
Dusk is out now on Steam and Humble for £12.60/€14.27/$16.66 (intelligent). Dusk is printed by New Blood Interactive.
