Rising Dusk

About

"Rising Dusk" is a Platformer game that offers both single-player and multi-player modes, set in a beautiful 16-bit meets Studio Ghibli art style. Explore the eerie realm of Yokai, inspired by Japanese folktales, over 20+ levels of rice fields, castle towns, and hot springs. Resist the urge to collect coins in this anti-coin collection game, and uncover hidden items, secret exits, and more in your quest to help Tamako return home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 52 reviews

music30 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful pixel art and a charming soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
It introduces a unique puzzle mechanic where players must avoid collecting coins to progress, creating engaging and thought-provoking gameplay.
The levels are well-designed with various themes and secrets, encouraging exploration and replayability.

The game suffers from occasional glitches and hitbox issues, which can lead to frustrating gameplay moments.
Boss battles are underwhelming and lack the excitement and challenge expected from a platformer.
The lack of clear explanations for items and quest objectives can lead to confusion and a trial-and-error approach.

music
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
31%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its immersive and atmospheric qualities, perfectly complementing the beautiful pixel art and engaging gameplay. Reviewers highlight the unique Japanese-inspired soundtrack, which enhances the overall charm and thematic design, making each level feel distinct and memorable. While some parts of the music may not resonate as strongly, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a standout feature that significantly enriches the gaming experience.
- “The music is absolutely phenomenal and gives the game a very immersive surreal atmosphere, especially when combined with the visuals and the consistent thematic design.”
- “Also, as the other reviews mention, the soundtrack is fantastic; it's worth playing this game just to listen to the music in each environment.”
- “Because of that, the only thing I could ask for is the soundtrack: it was a Kickstarter bonus that, had I known about this game when it was being developed, I would have backed to receive.”
- “Each and every level manages to feel fresh and new, in no small part to its music.”
- “Every level is distinct, with its own music and sense of place, and lots of different mechanics and structural setups.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
70%
10%
The gameplay of "Rising Dusk" is centered around a unique anti-coin collecting mechanic, where blocks disappear based on the number of coins collected, creating engaging and thought-provoking puzzles. Each level features distinct themes and mechanics, complemented by tight controls and a beautiful aesthetic, although some puzzles may lack depth and clarity. While the game offers a fun and casual platforming experience, it occasionally suffers from glitches and unrefined mechanics in certain areas.
- “This game is beautiful to look at, the soundtrack is great, but most importantly the gameplay is engaging and fun.”
- “A fun, and casual platformer with a neat anti-coin collecting mechanic that allows you to play each level a different way.”
- “'Rising Dusk' is a clever and surprisingly deep puzzle platformer that takes a simple mechanic (parts of the level disappear when you collect a certain number of coins) and uses it to create very interesting challenges.”
- “Noticeable glitches every few levels; the tanuki are way too mechanically unrefined in comparison to how demanding at least one puzzle is, which requires you to manipulate them to progress.”
- “They try to incorporate the game's existing mechanics into the fight, but totally fumble it, and it just becomes a relatively easy, lukewarm momentary pseudo fight.”
- “It could maybe stand to explain a little more; I'm still not sure how some of the things I've been collecting work, but the mechanics are pretty smart.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous pixel art style and vibrant, charming visuals that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the adorable character designs and the cohesive thematic elements that complement the gameplay, creating an immersive atmosphere. The combination of beautiful graphics and a phenomenal soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “I don't know why this game doesn't have more reviews... it is charming all around, from the graphics to the music to the characters.”
- “This is a super unique youkai-themed puzzle platformer with absolutely gorgeous graphics and an amazing soundtrack.”
- “The game has a vibrant art style, the pixel art and animations are great, accompanied with a very good soundtrack and collectibles to find.”
- “Don't let the graphically awkward large numbers on the blocks deceive you.”
- “Undeniably, part of why lies in the graphics.”
- “That aside, the visuals!”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
67%
25%
The game's story is criticized for its lack of depth and clarity, with players noting that quest items and their purposes are poorly explained, leading to a disjointed experience. There are no engaging interactions with folklore characters or a compelling narrative progression, resulting in a story that feels absent and uninspired. Overall, the storytelling is seen as the game's greatest weakness, failing to evoke the emotional resonance of its inspirations.
- “Like a grand story of old, Rising Dusk is a game that evokes the same emotional output as those with which it drew inspiration from.”
- “The game explains very little to the player, and several things such as quest items and usable items are totally unexplained.”
- “The greatest weakness of the game though is the lack of any story.”
- “No conversations with interesting, quirky folklore characters and no weird child in a fantasy world plot unfolding from level to level.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its phenomenal music and evocative sound effects, which create an immersive and surreal experience. The combination of vibrant visuals and thematic design enhances the distinct personality of each level, making the overall ambiance captivating, especially for fans of yokai and pixel art.
- “The music is absolutely phenomenal and gives the game a very immersive surreal atmosphere, especially when combined with the visuals and the consistent thematic design.”
- “The sound effects are all perfectly evocative and the music is uniquely atmospheric and absorbing.”
- “The levels are full of animation and movement, giving each area a distinct atmosphere and personality that screenshots don't do justice.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be enjoyable rather than tedious, attributing this to the game's charm and engaging challenges. Even when faced with difficult tasks that require multiple attempts, the experience remains refreshing and rewarding, making the pursuit of treasures feel less exhausting.
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences noticeable glitches every few levels, which detracts from the overall stability. Additionally, the mechanical refinement of the tanuki characters is lacking, particularly in relation to the demanding puzzles that require precise manipulation.
- “Noticeable glitches every few levels; the tanuki are way too mechanically unrefined in comparison to how demanding at least one puzzle is, which requires you to manipulate them to progress.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Rising Dusk" is praised for its ability to evoke deep emotional responses, reminiscent of classic storytelling. Players feel a strong connection to the narrative, highlighting its impactful and resonant themes.
- “Like a grand story of old, Rising Dusk is a game that evokes the same emotional output as those with which it drew inspiration.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its excellent optimization of unique gameplay mechanics and nostalgic references, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Great optimization of its gimmick and homages.”