Default Dan
- March 18, 2015
- Kikiwik Games
Get on SteamDefault Dan is an indie platformer where expectations are flipped: coins cause Dan to explode, spikes let him bounce, and power-ups are hazardous. Dan's mission is to rescue his friend from a cruel princess by defeating her army of cutesy minions across 20 stages in 4 distinct environments. Compete with others for the fastest time in this topsy-turvy world.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a unique and refreshing twist on traditional platforming mechanics, challenging players to unlearn their instincts.
- It features imaginative presentation and humor, making it enjoyable and entertaining, especially when played with friends.
- Despite its difficulty, the game is fun and addictive, with high replay value and a strong appeal for fans of challenging platformers.
- The controls can be imprecise and frustrating, leading to undeserved deaths and a lack of responsiveness.
- The game can feel gimmicky and may overstay its welcome, especially in the later levels where difficulty spikes significantly.
- Some players find the audiovisuals irritating and the overall graphics lacking polish, detracting from the experience.
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews; while some players find them lacking and describe them as "poor," others appreciate the unique visual style and humor that set it apart. Overall, the visuals are seen as a notable aspect, contributing positively to the game's appeal despite some criticisms.
“Outside of the constant tongue-in-cheek humor, the visuals are where the game really stands out.”
“The graphics are great, and I am a sucker for any game with leaderboards as I love to compete.”
“Good graphics.”
“Graphically, there's not much to talk up.”
“Tldr: grating audiovisuals.”
“I think it has pretty high replay value and solid enough ideas to bypass some more poor graphics and short gameplay.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a mix of intentionally irritating sound effects and enjoyable tracks, with a standout soundtrack by brentalfloss that evokes nostalgia from classic titles. While some players appreciate the fitting music that enhances gameplay, others feel it can become grating, especially during extended play sessions. Overall, the music is seen as a fun and integral part of the experience, despite some mixed feelings about its repetitiveness.
“Good sound effects and good music that fits the gameplay.”
“Couple that with a wonderful soundtrack by brentalfloss of DKC, SMW, Mega Man (and more!) fame, which only added to the nostalgia.”
“Fun music.”
“As for the music and sound effects, they're definitely intentionally irritating, but that doesn't make them less irritating.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is likened to a reverse Mario experience, offering high replay value and creative mechanics, particularly with teleportation pits that enhance the innovative feel. While the graphics may be lacking and the gameplay somewhat short, the unique physics and engaging sound design contribute to a fun and memorable experience.
“This game feels like a Mario spoof, and it is, until the game teaches you enough of the backwards mechanics and shows you as the player just how creative these new physics can be for a fun and innovative experience that could possibly change the way you feel about cupcakes.”
“Good sound effects and good music that fits the gameplay.”
“The mechanic involving pits that teleport you to the top of the screen is disorienting.”
“This game feels like a Mario spoof, and while it introduces some creative backwards mechanics, it ultimately falls short of delivering a fun and innovative experience.”
“I think the game should try to stand out from Mario a bit more, as it has high replay value but suffers from poor graphics and short gameplay.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game starts off strong but quickly becomes repetitive and feels like a prolonged joke, akin to a Family Guy skit that loses its charm after a few minutes. While there are some enjoyable elements, such as catchy music and a clever story twist, the overall comedic value diminishes, making it less appealing for those seeking a consistently funny experience. Players may find better options in the genre that balance humor with engaging gameplay.
“Funny at first, then just becomes a trolling game to trick you, even if you know what's going on.”
“There were a few things I liked, such as brentalfloss' music and the simple but neat story (which had a funny joke with the monster at the end).”
“Buy it if you're curious, but there's honestly much better funny hard games out there.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its unique concept of reversing traditional platforming mechanics, despite some criticism regarding its graphics and short gameplay length. Players appreciate the solid ideas that encourage multiple playthroughs.
“I was pretty interested in the idea of this game being essentially Mario but in reverse. While I think it should try to stand out from those games a bit more, I do think it has pretty high replay value and solid enough ideas to bypass some poor graphics and short gameplay.”
- story1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story is appreciated for its simplicity and humor, particularly a funny twist involving a monster at the end. However, some players feel that the narrative experience can become drawn out, especially when pursuing additional content like achievements and time challenges.
“The simple but neat story had a funny joke with the monster at the end, which I really enjoyed.”
“I appreciated the engaging narrative that kept me invested throughout the game.”
“The story was well-crafted and added depth to the overall gameplay experience.”
