Dogworld
- March 18, 2021
- Lateralis Heavy Industries
Get on SteamDogworld is a single-player Science Fiction Shooter game with a compelling story and amazing gameplay. After a catastrophic event, you are launched to the surface world filled with talking dog-like creatures and must fight a rogue AI to save humanity. The game features pretty visuals, phenomenal music, various weapons, upgrades, secrets, and challenging platforming.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Reviews
- The game features tight controls and fluid movement, making platforming and combat enjoyable.
- The soundtrack is exceptional, with a variety of catchy chiptune tracks that enhance the gameplay experience.
- There are numerous secrets and hidden details to discover, adding depth and replayability to the game.
- Some players found the difficulty spikes, particularly with boss fights, to be frustrating and potentially off-putting.
- The weapon switching system can be cumbersome, making it difficult to change weapons quickly during combat.
- The final boss and ending sequence left some players feeling unsatisfied, as they felt rushed and lacking in closure.
- music47 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players highlighting its exceptional chiptune soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers describe the soundtrack as immersive, energetic, and a standout feature that complements the gameplay and world-building. Overall, the music is considered a major highlight, with many players expressing a desire to listen to it outside of the game.
“Great world to explore and a hell of a soundtrack to go with it.”
“The world building is immersive, visuals beautiful, music elevates it, doesn't get tired, is incredible (one of the only game soundtracks I've listened to a lot at other times).”
“The soundtrack is genuinely one of my favorite of any game ever, it's just banger after banger.”
“Still, if I haven’t missed anything, I didn’t hear the trailer soundtracks in the game, which was extremely disappointing.”
“My only major complaint with Dogworld is that while I recognize locations by level design and music, I never recall what distinguishing features the environment has aside from 'oh there's water' and 'oh this one has clouds'.”
“Dogworld is a game that knows what it wants to be; the gameplay, the story, setting and the self-imposed limitations of both the soundtrack and sound design (all produced on Game Boy) and the visuals (everything with 3 colors) all blend together to deliver a unique experience.”
- story31 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The story in Dogworld is often compared to Cave Story, featuring multiple endings influenced by player choices and a light narrative that some find lacking depth. While the game offers a solid experience with memorable characters and engaging backstory revealed through logs, the conclusion feels abrupt, leaving players wanting more. Overall, it balances fun gameplay with a decent story, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre, particularly those who appreciate Cave Story's influence.
“Simple, pure, satisfying fun gameplay with a great story that is in perfect balance.”
“Guns and dogs make for an epic game with lots of memorable characters and a solid story.”
“Dogworld is a game that knows what it wants to be; the gameplay, the story, setting, and the self-imposed limitations of both the soundtrack and sound design (all produced on Game Boy) and the visuals (everything with 3 colors) all blend together to deliver a unique experience.”
“The story feels a little light to me.”
“As soon as you beat the final boss, the story ends abruptly, as if the developer was in a hurry.”
“Overall, a great experience with good platforming, a mediocre story, and slightly unfun bosses.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its fluidity and depth, featuring engaging combat and platforming mechanics that include unique upgrades and a dynamic dodge-sliding feature. Players appreciate the balance of challenge and satisfaction, with a well-paced difficulty curve and a nostalgic yet modern feel reminiscent of classic titles. Overall, the game combines tight mechanics, a captivating soundtrack, and charming visuals to create a memorable experience.
“Really good game! I had a great time playing through it. The combat and platforming both have a deeper layer with the gun upgrades, sliding, and unique double jump methods that meld together incredibly well. It makes the gameplay feel so fluid and satisfying. I absolutely wholeheartedly recommend this game!”
“The game is paced very well, both in its difficulty curve and its story, revealing pieces of the backstory and new mechanics and weapons at just the right rate to keep you satisfied and on your toes.”
“The mechanics are great, and the difficulty increases in a way that makes me feel like I'm getting better at the game.”
“Apparently there's a 'true ending', but the gameplay isn't deep or well thought out enough to really warrant more time.”
“Overall it's lovely and charming, but there's a few quirks of design in both the gameplay and visual elements that take it down a notch or two.”
“Some areas also use similar building blocks like the later lab/mechanical areas which further compounds the environment issues I have.”
- graphics16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's graphics, characterized by a unique 1-bit black and white aesthetic with red accents, are generally well-received, with many players appreciating the immersive world-building and the simplicity of the pixel art style. While some environments may blend together due to the limited color palette, the visuals are complemented by a strong soundtrack and tight gameplay, creating a cohesive and engaging experience. Overall, the graphics may not be for everyone, but they contribute to the game's distinct charm and atmosphere.
“The world building is immersive, visuals beautiful, music elevates it, doesn't get tired, is incredible (one of the only game soundtracks I've listened to a lot at other times).”
“I love the music that's in the game, the simple pixel art style really stands out to me personally and I love it for its simplicity; it stands out in its own unique way, and the enemies and characters are all interesting too.”
“The gameplay feels very nervous and responsive, the tone is dark but manages not to be caricatural, the soundtrack is comprised of 100% heavy chiptune bangers, the visuals are beautiful, there is a great attention to details in every part of the design process.”
“- While level design is solid, due to the 1-bit art style, some environments just mesh together with those before and after it.”
“The visuals overall are serviceable, but I found the main character's sprite a bit bland, honestly.”
“+ Though the 1-bit black/white + red art style may give the game a relative bleakness, the level design and dialogue are well-crafted & things are easy to see with some caveats.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is praised for its feature-complete state, with recent updates enhancing performance and playability through bug fixes and tweaks. Additionally, the combat mechanics, including mid-slide turns, add depth and style, contributing to a more polished gameplay experience.
“Not only does this act as a dodge to add depth and skill to the side-scrolling platforming combat, but the player can perform mid-slide turns to add style and damage performance.”
“The version I played was feature-complete, with the only notable differences being a number of bug fixes and tweaks that have uniformly improved the game's performance and playability.”
“The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“I encountered numerous bugs that severely impacted my experience, making it clear that the game needs significant optimization.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a strong soundtrack featuring a variety of engaging tunes that complement the levels effectively, contributing to an immersive experience beyond the gameplay itself.
“Gameplay aside, the soundtrack pumps just as I expected; there are a lot of cool tunes that provide atmosphere for the levels.”
“The immersive environment and attention to detail create a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
“The haunting sound design and visuals work together to create an unforgettable atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
