Damsel

Damsel is an engaging, challenging platformer that has a little something for everyone. It may get too hard too early for some people, but mastering the mechanics is incredibly rewarding.

71%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

music, replayability

73% User Score Based on 52 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 12 reviews

Platforms

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About

Damsel is a single player arcade platformer game with a horror theme. It was developed by Screwtape Studios and was released on October 19, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Cause distress in this challenging fast-paced action platformer. Experience a dark cartoon world come to life as frenetic gameplay meets comic book visuals and storytelling. Dash through beautiful arenas vanquishing vampires, rescuing hostages, disarming bombs, hacking servers and much more.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews

story8 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

Damsel features a gorgeous art style and engaging comic book aesthetics that enhance the overall experience.
The gameplay is fast-paced and fun, with a variety of mechanics that keep players coming back for more.
The game has strong replayability with weekly challenges, leaderboards, and a motivated development team that frequently updates the game.

The lack of proper controller support makes the game unplayable for many, with significant lag in controls when using a mouse and keyboard.
The objectives can feel repetitive, with many levels offering similar challenges and a lack of a compelling story.
Some players find the game frustrating due to clunky controls and confusing mechanics that hinder the overall enjoyment.

story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
57%
12%
The game's story is described as lacking a clear beginning and end, with some players finding it insipid and disconnected from the gameplay. While there are mentions of beautifully crafted levels and comic book art, many feel the campaign resembles a series of game types rather than a cohesive narrative. Overall, the story mode is considered short and may leave players wanting more depth and connection.
- “Great story”
- “A swath of wonderfully crafted levels stitched together with a beautiful comic book art story.”
- “[clever story with comic graphics, easy to learn combat, fun for everyone]”
- “The story has no clear beginning or end.”
- “I don't know... because what I was expecting was some kind of storyline, and maybe that's coming, but the 'campaign' really feels and is presented like a bunch of game types.”
- “There isn't much in the way of a story.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
29%
21%
The gameplay in Damsel is fast-paced and engaging, featuring unique levels that introduce new mechanics and enemies, keeping the experience fresh despite some repetitive objectives. However, the game suffers from a lack of clear explanations for its mechanics, and the quick-time events can disrupt the flow of play. While the challenge may escalate quickly, mastering the gameplay is rewarding, complemented by an excellent synth-wave soundtrack.
- “No two levels feel familiar, and while objectives repeat, it feels different as they add new mechanics and enemies to the mix.”
- “Damsel is a really cool platformer with enough interesting mechanics to keep you playing.”
- “Along with strong gameplay, Damsel offers an excellent synth-wave inspired soundtrack that gives the player a perfect background track while they slip, slide, and shoot through the levels.”
- “It's confusing because most of these disparate game mechanics are not properly explained.”
- “The QTEs are all based on the same principle, and in most cases, all it does is hinder the second-to-second gameplay.”
- “Despite providing an interesting premise, the game is held back by its art style and frustrating gameplay.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
39%
15%
The game's graphics receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style as captivating and reminiscent of iconic cyber aesthetics, while others find it lacking in coherence and depth. Players appreciate the finely tuned controls and action-packed levels, but some express frustration with technical issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as a highlight, though not without their criticisms.
- “Fun game, great art style.”
- “It has finely tuned controls, levels that have enough action that makes it practically pointless to own a chair, and an art style that leaves you in awe.”
- “The campy cyber aesthetic harkens to a love child between They Live, From Dusk Till Dawn, and Akira, while its combat shamelessly alludes to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's rip-'n-tear fun in its protagonist, Damsel.”
- “I did not vibe with the storytelling, art style, animations, or controls.”
- “Despite providing an interesting premise, the game is held back by its art style and baitful gameplay.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game's music is widely praised for its energetic and engaging synth-wave soundtrack, which complements the fast-paced gameplay and enhances the overall experience. Reviewers describe it as "rad" and "kick-ass," making it a standout feature that appeals to fans of arcade-style games and speedrunning.
- “Along with strong gameplay, Damsel offers an excellent synth-wave inspired soundtrack that gives the player a perfect background track while they slip, slide, and shoot through the levels.”
- “With a kick-ass soundtrack and a dazzlingly handcrafted environment, Damsel's 80s b-film camp, simplistic controls, and fluid combat make this a must-have for any prospective speedrunner and arcade junkie.”
- “The game features a pumping synth soundtrack that is rad as heck.”
- “The game touts itself as being fast paced (unless you are qte'ing or accidentally shooting scenery), arcadey (except when it's constantly not), single player game (yes), set in a cartoon world (that I know nothing about), with a pumping synth soundtrack (the music is rad as heck).”
- “With a kick-ass soundtrack and a dazzlingly handcrafted environment, Damsel's 80s B-film camp, simplistic controls and fluid combat make this a must-have for any prospective speedrunner and arcade junkie.”
- “- bangin' soundtrack”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
Damsel offers strong replayability, primarily due to the diverse options available for players in each level, allowing for varied playstyles. The inclusion of an arcade mode further enhances this aspect, encouraging players to revisit the game for new experiences.
- “Strong replayability, especially with arcade mode.”
- “The main replayability of Damsel comes from each level giving the player a plethora of options for how they want to play.”
- “- strong replayability (especially with arcade mode)”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's vibrant comic book-inspired visuals significantly enhance its atmosphere, providing players with intriguing insights into the unique world of the protagonist, Damsel.
- “The awesome comic book-inspired look of the game helps create a great atmosphere, providing hints about the world in which Damsel lives.”