Dusty
- November 8, 2024
- El Palo Games
Get on Steam"Dusty" is an archaeological adventure game where players, as the titular character, explore a hidden world in ruins, jumping between canyons and landslides, and interacting with flora and fauna. The game features intricate light technology and puzzles in ancient mechanisms and language, which players must solve using their cane and notes. The game encourages players to record their discoveries in a notebook, progressing the story as they delve deeper into the mystery of a lost civilization.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful art design and a pleasant aesthetic, creating a relaxing and cheerful atmosphere.
- Puzzles are well-crafted, providing a good balance of challenge without being overly frustrating, making for an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- As a free game, it offers more content and quality than many paid indie titles, making it a worthwhile experience.
- The game suffers from performance issues, with some players unable to achieve stable frame rates and lacking graphics options.
- Many players encountered bugs and navigation problems, leading to frustration and the need to restart the game frequently.
- Some mechanics, particularly the jumping and vaulting, feel floaty and imprecise, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- gameplay15 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring effective stick mechanics that contribute to engaging puzzles and a relaxing atmosphere. While the responsiveness is praised, some players noted initial challenges with floaty controls, particularly in jumping mechanics, which could benefit from refinement. Overall, it is recommended for fans of the genre, offering a cheerful and enjoyable experience.
“The stick mechanics worked well, and gave rise to some interesting puzzles.”
“It is so nice to play, to watch, to explore, and the vibes it gives during the whole gameplay are so relaxing and cheerful that it made me smile at the end.”
“In conclusion, I highly recommend this free gem; it is a very good title with successful gameplay, and I recommend it for all lovers of the genre.”
“I will note that it took a moment for me to become invested in the experience because I was initially put off by what felt to me like floaty movement and lack of 'snap' to the controls, particularly around the jumping/vaulting mechanic.”
“As this mechanic is employed so frequently, tightening that up would make this a real joy to play.”
“As someone who loves puzzle games, I recognized cube-on-button technology from Portal, power core transfer (the light mechanic) from The Turing Test, and magnetic repulsion and attraction from the likes of Relicta.”
- graphics9 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- -11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some users praising the pleasant artwork and overall aesthetic, describing it as beautiful and enjoyable. However, performance issues are a significant concern, as many players report struggling to achieve 60 fps and lacking customizable graphics options. Overall, while the visuals are appreciated for their simplicity and charm, technical performance detracts from the experience.
“The artwork is pleasant.”
“Graphicals and music are beautiful.”
“The puzzles, music, and overall aesthetic were so pleasant to experience!”
“Atrocious performance; I can't even get 60 fps in some areas, and there are no graphics options to turn off unnecessary settings.”
“The graphics are subpar, making the game feel outdated and unpolished.”
“Textures are low quality, and the overall visual presentation lacks detail and depth.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting poor performance that struggles to maintain 60 fps in certain areas and a lack of customizable graphics options. Despite the appealing visuals, there is a consensus that the Unreal Engine could benefit from further optimization to enhance overall performance.
“Atrocious performance, can't even get 60 fps in some areas and there are no graphics options to turn all the unnecessary settings off.”
“Performance with Unreal Engine that could be further optimized.”
“The visuals are good, pretty enough to be fun to look at, and simple enough to not be a big resource eater with unoptimized 'ultra realistic' graphics that so many big studios seem to put way too much stock in these days.”
- music6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beauty and successful soundtrack, contributing positively to the overall aesthetic. However, some users noted that the sound design could use improvement, slightly detracting from the experience.
“The puzzles, music, and overall aesthetic were so pleasant to experience!”
“Graphicals and music are beautiful.”
“Although the soundtrack is very successful, the game suffers a little from its sound design.”
- story5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The story of Dusty revolves around a captivating mission where the protagonist is guided by a friendly creature while solving engaging puzzles and uncovering the mysteries of a lost civilization. Players can earn achievements related to progression and optional actions, but choices made do not significantly alter the overall narrative, ensuring a cohesive experience that keeps players invested until the end.
“The story was interesting enough to keep me hooked and want to see how it ended, uncovering the mysteries of a lost civilization.”
“On Dusty's mission, he receives help from a small and friendly creature which shows him the route to follow, though Dusty has to solve puzzles along the way - these are neither trivial nor impossibly obtuse, and which can open up apparently blocked paths.”
“The nine achievements in Dusty are for progression, collecting items, and optional actions, none of which affect the continuation of the story.”
“The nine achievements in Dusty are for progression (two of which cannot be missed, and two are for a decision that has to be made - choosing either does not mean replaying the whole game to get the other); collecting items (one), and optional actions (four, none of which affect the continuation of the story).”
“On Dusty's mission, he receives help from a small and friendly creature which shows him the route to follow (though Dusty has to solve puzzles along the way - these are neither trivial nor impossibly obtuse), and which can open up apparently blocked paths.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users reporting significant bugs and an unfinished experience, while others claim that recent updates have resolved these issues, allowing for smoother gameplay. Overall, the game's stability appears to vary widely among players.
“What I experienced was one level of a buggy, unfinished, unnavigable landscape.”
“Very, very buggy.”
“Many of the negative reviews mention a buggy, unplayable game.”
