Moons of Darsalon is a type of uncommon platformers that immediately captivated me. Whether or not they be extra about puzzle fixing, adventuring, or arcade motion, platformers are inclined to contain a gradual construct into what they’re about. Moons of Darsalon begins with its foot on the gasoline and doesn’t let up.
The premise is that groups of darsanauts (thus named as a result of they’re exploring the moons of the planet Darsalon, one assumes; as if we’d have moonstranauts or marstranauts) have change into misplaced of their missions. As is the way in which, you’re a lone Buck Rogers-esque pilot despatched out to rescue all of them. This entails touchdown in harsh environments, finding all the lacking darsanauts, and main them to the protection of their bunkers.
The issue is that the darsanauts are fairly silly. They’ll’t discover the perfect route from level A to level B with out express directions. They don’t acknowledge hazard. They’re afraid of the darkish and received’t transfer when the lights exit. As such, you’ll want to steer with express directions, conserving them secure all of the whereas.
At first, this isn’t too arduous. Darsanauts are straightforward to search out as you discover a moon’s floor, and so they’ll typically tag alongside behind you till one thing (darkness, a chasm, your instructions) makes them cease. When that occurs, you’ll want to determine the best way to allow them to progress. If it’s darkness, shine your flashlight. If it’s a chasm, push a field or rock for them to leap right down to. If it’s your command, that’s possible since you made them cease at a particular level to set off an environmental puzzle mechanism or to maintain them out of hurt’s approach whilst you blast an enemy.
Instructions are simply assigned by way of the D-pad to each darsanaut in vary: observe, keep, transfer left, transfer proper. The issue (which is critical, in fact, as a way to have a recreation) is that they’ll maintain following that command even when widespread sense says in any other case. Welcome to our AI future, youngsters.
So, whilst you’re trying to destroy the enemies, open paths, and resolve the puzzles that lie earlier than you, any variety of darsanauts behind you want fixed babysitting as a way to keep alive. The gameplay is hectic, it’s nerve-wracking, and it’s tons of enjoyable.
It’s additionally fairly arduous, relying upon your objectives. I used to be in a position to virtually all the time push by means of a degree on the primary attempt, even late within the recreation. Doing so whereas finishing the bonus targets is one other story. Maintaining all the darsanauts alive? Tough. Taking completely no harm? Even more durable. Finishing the extent inside the designated time restrict? Properly nigh not possible. And if you begin to unlock jetpacks and moonbuggies, issues go utterly off the rails.
Fortunately, except you or all the darsanauts die, you’re not punished for any of your failings. So, you’re free to take on a regular basis you need to determine issues out or simply drive/fly round these bonkers moons.
And sure, they’re bonkers. The extent designs in Moons of Darsalon are visually charming and conceptually intelligent, making every a marvel to discover even when the motion doesn’t actually provide you with an opportunity to soak up all of it. The graphics are retro, positive, however they’re additionally fairly dense and energetic, and might be altered to attain the antiquated show of your selecting.
This denseness does, sadly, create a platforming drawback. Ledges and partitions are sometimes arduous to discern, making timed jumps and grabs troublesome to tug off. The controls are additionally a bit gradual and unwieldy (seemingly purposefully primarily based on the sport’s meta jokes about improvement choices). For probably the most half, this isn’t an issue. However if you’re wrestling with enemies, darsanauts, and confined environments at one time, you don’t need to even be wrestling along with your Pleasure-Con.
Additionally the dense however pixelated graphics typically making it arduous to discern the gameplay objects from the background when enjoying in handheld mode. Degree completion is rather a lot simpler on the large display of your TV.
However these are my solely complaints. All the things else in Moons of Darsalon works to close perfection. It’s constantly enjoyable and always humorous. The retro method is completely executed each visually and aurally. And have I discussed the music but? The eShop will let you know it’s “primarily based on MOS 6581 (SID) chip from 1982.” I don’t know what that’s, however that received’t cease me from arguing, “You haven’t heard Ravel’s Bolero till you’ve heard it primarily based on MOS 6581 (SID) chip from 1982,” on the subsequent Cleveland Orchestra fundraiser*. Additionally, 8-bit speech synthesis hasn’t sounded this good because the Intellivoice final informed me, “That was oooooon taaaargit.”
So, yeah, I vastly loved Moons of Darsalon, as would any puzzle/platform fan with a humorousness and penchant for retro design and gameplay. It helps for those who’re additionally a sci-fi buff, as there’s loads in right here to spark nostalgia. The sport might be irritating at occasions, and that can possible forestall me from ever attempting to 100% the targets. However the first time by means of was a blast, and it’s virtually as a lot enjoyable to observe others attempt it for the primary time. Moons of Darsalon is my first nice Change recreation of 2025.
* Full disclosure – I’ve by no means been to a Cleveland Orchestra fundraiser.