As some of you may recall, I wrote a review for a platformer named Decline's Drops a couple of years ago, and I loved it! Well, now the developer, Le Moulin aux Bulles, has given me the chance to play their latest title, Dash 'n' Drops (which I'll refer to as Dash from here on out). The game is currently in early access and functions as a spin-off of Decline's Drops.
Because the game is in an early stage, I'll focus on the gameplay and my hopes for the title's future. Dash features a brief opening story cutscene that introduces the protagonist, Globine, whose journey takes place during the events of Decline's Drops. Beyond that initial setup, narrative details are not yet accessible.
Alrighty, let's dive in and see how this game compares to its older sibling!
Gameplay:
Dash takes the core gameplay of Decline's Drops (or DD), which is a platformer with a strong emphasis on a deep combat system similar to Super Smash Bros. Control is intuitive, allowing you to chain combos together with basic attacks before executing powerful smash attacks to deal massive damage and send enemies flying comically across the screen.
However, unlike DD, Dash is not a traditional platformer where you progress stage by stage like its sibling game. Instead, Dash is a roguelike inspired by Smash. The primary option is "Dash Mode." Before starting a run, you select a few initial moves for Globine to use as you enter a stage. As you explore the open levels, you need to collect memory discs that assign new moves to your buttons or combo inputs. These discs grant abilities based on enemies or, more frequently, familiar faces from the previous game. The new moves you collect often come with unique properties, such as spawning fire upon activation, trading attack speed for higher damage, and other distinct effects.
As you enter a stage, you are given a mission that must be completed to open the portal to the boss. You have about five minutes to finish it before a dragon head spawns, which chases you down and kills you in one hit if it catches up. During a run, you are free to explore every corner, discover secrets, and defeat enemies. You will primarily want to hunt for droplets, as they permanently power up your various stats for that run while also acting as currency to purchase crucial upgrades. If you have ever played "Smash Run," you know exactly what to expect.
After you enter the teleport, you get a chance to shop and prepare yourself for the boss fight ahead. Regardless of whether you defeat the boss or fall in battle, you are rewarded with permanent experience points. These points unlock cosmetics and, more importantly, new starting playstyles and moves for future runs. As you play more of Dash Mode, you will also unlock mini-games and a survival mode where you fight off waves of enemies and navigate various hazards.
Pros and Cons:
Let's start with the cons: if there is one thing that will become the biggest challenge for the developer to balance, it is definitely the roguelike elements. Currently, Dash has fairly little variety when it comes to move combinations. I would even go so far as to say they make very little difference to the core gameplay, with only a few exceptions, and the same can be said about the levels. The first stage has a few variants; however, navigating the different layouts never feels smooth or satisfying. In fact, on one run, I got a layout that lacked secret doors and contained virtually no treasure chests. When it came time to power up, I found next to nothing, leaving me severely underpowered against the boss and causing me to get crushed. It is frustrating when a loss feels outside your control; the stage layout simply made progress impossible regardless of player skill.
What makes a great roguelike memorable is the ability to combine random builds for a wide variety of synergies, which ensures every run feels distinct from the last.
Compared to Decline's Drops' handcrafted levels and hand-drawn backgrounds, Dash currently feels like a mismatched mix of assets from the previous game. That isn't a bad thing per se, but it makes the procedural layouts in Dash Mode harder to navigate because they lack memorable landmarks. The levels also need to be a bit larger, with more shortcut options integrated into the randomization.
Another major issue is that unless you have played Super Smash Bros. and understand competitive terminology like "zoners" or "smashers," you will have a hard time figuring out what the move upgrades actually do. While you can learn through trial and error, the way information is presented to the player needs an overhaul.
Finally, controlling Globine feels a bit too floaty. Certain boss patterns require precise jumps to dodge tight attack sequences, but more often than not, I end up sliding into danger even after letting go of the joystick. (Perhaps that could be a playstyle in of itself and vice versa?)
Let's go over the pros: despite being a bit floaty, Dash takes all the fun aspects of DD's deep combat system and succeeds at giving you a high degree of control over how your character behaves as you discover new moves. While it still needs more variety, it already offers a solid baseline for creating interesting move combinations. There is a genuine sense of fun in trying to control a character who becomes increasingly chaotic as you upgrade her; it feels a bit like trying to tame a wild horse.
The soundtrack is catchy and easily lovable, just like that of its predecessor.
Overall, there is a good amount of content to dive into right now, so it isn't a game you will finish in just an hour. Dash encourages you to improve with every run and helps you discover your preferred playstyle from the options unlocked as you level up.
Finally, Globine is charming and becomes even more expressive as you power her up.
Closing thoughts:
Dash 'n' Drops is in the early stages of its lifecycle, and while it currently has a few flaws, I ultimately had more fun than frustration with it. Considering its low price point, the game offers far more than you might expect, even in its current state. Given how fantastic Decline's Drops turned out, I have full faith that the developer will continue to refine Dash 'n' Drops into a memorable experience down the line.
At its core, Dash 'n' Drops is both a chaotic mess and a beautifully controlled one. Sure, there are balance issues, but nothing that stops it from being a blast to play. If you enjoy action-heavy games in short bursts, it costs very little to give this one a fair shot. It is well worth a look, even in Early Access.
VERDICT: Recommended
Reviewed on PC
Review Copy was Provided
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