Rising Dusk
- August 3, 2017
- Studio Stobie
Get on Steam"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.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features beautiful pixel art and a charming atmosphere, heavily inspired by Japanese mythology.
- It offers a unique puzzle mechanic where players must avoid collecting coins to progress, creating engaging and thought-provoking gameplay.
- The soundtrack is fantastic, enhancing the overall experience and immersing players in the game's world.
- The game suffers from occasional glitches and hitbox issues, which can lead to frustrating moments during gameplay.
- Some levels feature auto-scrolling sections that can feel slow and tedious, particularly when players die and have to repeat them.
- The lack of clear explanations for certain mechanics and items can lead to confusion, making it difficult for players to fully understand the game's objectives.
- music24 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its captivating and immersive quality, perfectly complementing the beautiful pixel art and thematic design. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, enhancing the overall atmosphere and engagement of the gameplay, with each level offering distinct musical experiences. While some parts of the music may not resonate as strongly, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.
“The music fits the art perfectly and will get stuck in your head.”
“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.”
- gameplay15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a unique and engaging puzzle mechanic where blocks disappear based on the number of coins collected, creating a fresh twist on traditional platforming. Players navigate beautifully themed levels with distinct challenges and tight controls, although some puzzles may lack clarity and refinement. Overall, the game offers a fun and casual experience, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and a variety of settings that keep gameplay interesting.
“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.”
“Gameplay-wise, the game does like to mess with your mind a little.”
“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.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and vibrant pixel art style, which complements the unique Japanese mythological theme. Reviewers highlight the beautiful visuals and adorable character designs, noting that they enhance the overall immersive experience alongside the game's exceptional soundtrack. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in the puzzle-platformer genre.
“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!”
- story6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is criticized for its lack of clarity and depth, with players noting that quest items are poorly explained and do not enhance the narrative experience. There is a notable absence of engaging dialogue or character interactions, leading to a feeling of emptiness in the overall storytelling. Ultimately, the game fails to deliver a compelling narrative, leaving players wanting more from its folklore-inspired setting.
“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.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
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.”
“The game feels lifeless and lacks any real sense of immersion, making it hard to get invested in the world.”
“Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, failing to evoke any real emotion.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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. While some tasks may require multiple attempts, the experience remains refreshing and rewarding, making the effort feel worthwhile.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game experiences noticeable stability issues, with frequent glitches occurring every few levels. Additionally, the mechanics involving the tanuki feel unrefined, particularly in challenging 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.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find "Rising Dusk" to evoke deep emotional responses reminiscent of classic storytelling, effectively capturing the essence of its inspirational sources.
“Like a grand story of old, Rising Dusk is a game that evokes the same emotional impact as those from which it drew inspiration.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization of unique gameplay mechanics and clever homages, enhancing the overall experience.
“Great optimization of its gimmick and homages.”
