Decline's Drops

About

in another Place, In another Time, There lived, far away from everything, from everyone, A small puppet made of oak and birch tree, hidden behind the forest. OverviewDecline's Drops is a beautiful hand-drawn 2D platform-brawler, in which you play as Globule, a wooden boxing-gloved Puppet who seeks revenge for her destroyed Garden. It brings the unique gameplay of famous platform-fighters (Super S…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 128 reviews

music36 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

The game features gorgeous hand-drawn visuals and a charming art style that enhances the overall experience.
The combat system is fun and engaging, allowing for creative combos and fluid movement reminiscent of platform fighters like Super Smash Bros.
The level design is inventive and varied, with plenty of secrets to discover and unique mechanics introduced throughout the game.

Some players have reported issues with floaty controls and input lag, making precise platforming challenging at times.
There are minor bugs and glitches, such as missing sound effects in menus and during gameplay, which can detract from the overall polish.
The game may feel too easy for some players, especially in terms of combat and exploration, leading to a lack of challenge in certain areas.

music
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its variety and quality, featuring a mix of genres such as jazz, EDM, and rock that enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the distinct tracks for different levels, with many noting how the soundtrack complements the game's whimsical art style and dynamic gameplay. While some early tracks were criticized for being too calm, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is engaging and memorable, contributing significantly to the game's charm and atmosphere.
- “The aesthetic of the game is also really pleasant, it's beautifully hand-animated and the levels are all enhanced by a terrific soundtrack, with a bunch of music variations for each stage in a given section.”
- “The music, character design, and gameplay are amazing and you can see all the love that went into the development of this game.”
- “The art and music are also incredible, everything is hand-drawn and they do a good job to keep every level looking distinct, you are not just looking at the same tileset of hand-drawn stuff for an entire world, but one world can have multiple distinct visuals across the levels in it for a constant stream of new and beautiful visuals, and the soundtrack has great variety for different moods from jazz for the more chill levels to intense metal for bosses.”
- “Lastly, I think the music was only 'okay'. It comes down to personal preference, and I know what they were going for, but some of the tracks in the game are just too calm and smooth for the things that are going on in the game.”
- “The balance between music and sound effects is just terrible. That's why almost every other game in existence allows us to manually set this.”
- “The sound effects are egregiously loud and ear-jarring, and because I can't lower them in relation to the music, if I turn the volume up to be able to hear the music at a sensible level, the sheer harshness and volume of the sound effects means I have to turn the volume right back down; otherwise, it actually hurts my ears.”
gameplay
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
49%
7%
The gameplay is generally praised for its smooth mechanics and engaging level design, with a mix of platforming and combat reminiscent of platform fighters like Super Smash Bros. While some players find the game too easy and occasionally clunky, the introduction of new mechanics and challenges keeps the experience fresh and enjoyable throughout its duration. Overall, the game strikes a balance between artistic vision and fun gameplay, making it a satisfying experience for fans of the genre.
- “Fun platforming with the smash-style combat playing into the platform gameplay well.”
- “Each level introduces a new mechanic to play around with, and new level themes are introduced constantly.”
- “All in all, the game strikes an incredible balance between artistic vision, really fun gameplay, and tightly designed levels.”
- “My biggest gripes are that the game is too easy in terms of combat and exploration. The platforming mechanics make the game extremely breakable to the point I would skip whole chunks of the level just by using basic movement and not even realize it.”
- “The gameplay is quite clunky, but I guess that's the fun of it.”
- “I was already convinced when I tried the demo during one of the Nextfests, but I always had that lingering fear that the game might be front-loaded and that the mid or late game would be a disappointment in terms of its gameplay.”
graphics
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
44%
8%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming hand-drawn art style, vibrant colors, and distinct character designs, creating a visually appealing experience reminiscent of classic titles like Yoshi's Island and Kirby. The varied environments and excellent animation enhance the overall aesthetic, complemented by a fantastic soundtrack that adapts to different moods throughout the game. However, some users noted minor graphical issues, such as misaligned tiling and limited resolution options.
- “The aesthetic of the game is truly astonishing, the vibe is really calming with the art style quite similar to Paper Mario, and the background somehow reminds me of Yoshi's Island.”
- “The visuals are stunning in images, and even more amazing in motion - I can't say I've ever seen anything that mixes the watercolor backgrounds and palette of Yoshi's Island with rubber-hose character animation.”
- “The art and music are also incredible, everything is hand-drawn and they do a good job of keeping every level looking distinct, with a constant stream of new and beautiful visuals.”
- “I will say it has its flaws - some graphical issues, crashes and bugginess.”
- “Another $27.95 AUD game without any resolution or graphics options other than windowed and full screen, and the max windowed size is 1080p anyway which is tiny on a 4K display, so it's full screen or nothing, and you can only turn sound and music on and off, you can't adjust the levels at all.”
- “The aesthetic of this game is truly astonishing, the vibe on this game is really calming with the art style quite similar to Paper Mario and the background somehow reminds me of Yoshi's Island.”
story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
55%
14%
The game's story is generally perceived as simplistic and somewhat weak, with minimal character dialogue and a stilted plot that doesn't detract significantly from the overall experience. While the charming art style and engaging level design provide a unique atmosphere, many players feel that the narrative lacks depth and coherence, often leaving them wanting more. Despite these shortcomings, the whimsical world and visual appeal contribute positively to the game's charm, making it enjoyable for platformer fans.
- “The characters are simple yet distinct, have a nice and smooth flow to their animations, and do not blend with the environment. The backgrounds and props are interesting enough to give each area you visit a unique feel and story of its own.”
- “Excellent story! While having a simple premise, the 'show, don't tell' approach is an example for even the majority of AAA games. Theorizing will be your best friend here.”
- “The story, while minimal, is very charming, and the art style plus animation is lovely.”
- “Only complaint is the bizarrely stilted plot and dialogue.”
- “Because even though the intro presents the premises in storybook format, there’s not really much story in my opinion.”
- “It does lose some points for the writing of the bosses (self-aware writing trying to feel more important than it is), and I did feel at the end of the story that 'something happened, I guess.'”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players on high-end PCs report frequent stuttering and severe slowdowns, others, particularly on the Steam Deck, experience smooth performance with minimal framerate drops. Overall, the game's optimization appears inconsistent across different platforms.
- “From my experience, the performance on the deck was smooth for the majority of my playthrough, and I hardly noticed any framerate drops.”
- “Performance: 10/10”
- “There are plenty of performance issues even on PC.”
- “I consider my laptop to be high-end (I have played plenty of modern 3D games with zero stuttering), but there were frequent minor stutters during stage transitions and severe slowdowns in the later stages.”
- “Performance”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the humor in the game to be light-hearted and amusing, particularly enjoying nostalgic references like the use of Segoe UI, which evokes memories of Windows Movie Maker. However, some note that the inconsistent font styles in the UI can detract from the overall experience, adding an unintended layer of humor.
- “I mean, come on, how can you not think that is a little bit funny?”
- “There are some small problems regarding the UI: there are way too many different font styles throughout the UI, and it's hard not to laugh a bit at the nostalgia of seeing Segoe UI (Windows Movie Maker nostalgia).”
- “Before ending this paragraph, I want to bring this up because I thought it was funny.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
Character development in the game is highlighted by a distinct design style that contrasts with the environments, which some players find appealing. The overall presentation, including music and gameplay, reflects a strong dedication to quality and creativity in character design.
- “The music, character design, and gameplay are amazing, and you can see all the love that went into the development of this game.”
- “Style-wise, the character design differs from the environments they are in, but that is in no way a bad thing.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I found the character arcs predictable and uninspired, leaving me disappointed with their growth.”
- “There are missed opportunities for meaningful character interactions, which could have added layers to their development.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is praised for its stunning visuals and harmonious music, which together create a unique and immersive experience. Many users specifically appreciate the atmospheric exploration elements reminiscent of Wario Land, which they feel were overlooked in Pizza Tower.
- “The visuals are gorgeous and go hand in hand with the music to create a unique atmosphere.”
- “I specifically like the atmospheric exploration parts of Wario Land that Pizza Tower abandoned.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is largely praised, with only a few minor glitches reported by users, indicating a generally smooth experience.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the developers' efforts to alleviate the tedium of grinding by implementing shortcuts for backtracking, making the experience more enjoyable and less frustrating.