It isn’t so much that the enemies are tough rather the game fails to go out of its way to inform you when your health is low. Leveling up Dust is imperative, as the game is definitely not a cakewalk on Normal difficulty. The crafting is a nice touch, but it feels pointless, as most items you obtain blueprints for are available in shops shortly after you find them. You can level up your character with skill points and equip them with armor, craft items and find blueprints to create new things. You would be surprised how much the narrative draws you in, including some entertaining fourth wall intrusions from Fidget.Īt its heart, Dust is an action hack and slash title that borrows elements from the cherished ‘Metroidvania’ style games as well as a dash of RPG. The game takes you on a journey encountering several characters, all based on various animals, which drive you to the main plot line. Sounds cliché I know, but it actually comes together nicely. You don’t know exactly who you are or why the sword chose you, but it is all part of your destiny. You start the game alone in a forest as you are lifted from your slumber by the duo. Your character in the game is Dust, a mysterious warrior that is awakened by an ancient sword named Ahrah and its protector Fidget. The quote “they saved the best for last” has never been more appropriate, as Dust is truly the shining beacon in this year’s collection.

The four titles released thus far have been far from revolutionary or memorable, with Hybrid being the only one garnering multiple positive impressions. Each year delivers at least one memorable game, if not more, and up until the release of Dust, I was starting to think this year was going to be different. Xbox Live’s Summer of Arcade has become a breeding ground for small titles to really shine bright.

Dust an elysian tail review metacritic