Moons of Darsalon is a type of uncommon platformers that immediately captivated me. Whether or not they be extra about puzzle fixing, adventuring, or arcade motion, platformers are inclined to contain a gradual construct into what they’re about. Moons of Darsalon begins with its foot on the fuel and doesn’t let up.
The premise is that groups of darsanauts (thus named as a result of they’re exploring the moons of the planet Darsalon, one assumes; as if we’d have moonstranauts or marstranauts) have turn out to be misplaced of their missions. As is the way in which, you’re a lone Buck Rogers-esque pilot despatched out to rescue all of them. This includes touchdown in harsh environments, finding the entire lacking darsanauts, and main them to the security of their bunkers.
The issue is that the darsanauts are fairly silly. They will’t discover the most effective route from level A to level B with out specific directions. They don’t acknowledge hazard. They’re afraid of the darkish and received’t transfer when the lights exit. As such, you’ll want to steer with specific directions, preserving them protected all of the whereas.
At first, this isn’t too onerous. Darsanauts are straightforward to search out as you discover a moon’s floor, and so they’ll usually tag alongside behind you till one thing (darkness, a chasm, your instructions) makes them cease. When that occurs, you’ll want to determine allow them to progress. If it’s darkness, shine your flashlight. If it’s a chasm, push a field or rock for them to leap all the way down to. If it’s your command, that’s possible since you made them cease at a particular level to set off an environmental puzzle mechanism or to maintain them out of hurt’s means whilst you blast an enemy.
Instructions are simply assigned by way of the D-pad to each darsanaut in vary: comply with, keep, transfer left, transfer proper. The issue (which is important, after all, with the intention to have a sport) is that they’ll preserve following that command even when widespread sense says in any other case. Welcome to our AI future, children.
So, whilst you’re making an attempt to destroy the enemies, open paths, and clear up the puzzles that lie earlier than you, any variety of darsanauts behind you want fixed babysitting with the intention to keep alive. The gameplay is hectic, it’s nerve-wracking, and it’s tons of enjoyable.
It’s additionally fairly onerous, relying upon your targets. I used to be in a position to virtually all the time push by way of a stage on the primary strive, even late within the sport. Doing so whereas finishing the bonus aims is one other story. Holding the entire darsanauts alive? Tough. Taking completely no harm? Even tougher. Finishing the extent inside the designated time restrict? Nicely nigh inconceivable. And while you begin to unlock jetpacks and moonbuggies, issues go utterly off the rails.
Fortunately, until you or the entire darsanauts die, you’re not punished for any of your failings. So, you’re free to take on a regular basis you need to determine issues out or simply drive/fly round these bonkers moons.
And sure, they’re bonkers. The extent designs in Moons of Darsalon are visually charming and conceptually intelligent, making every a surprise to discover even when the motion doesn’t actually offer you an opportunity to soak up all of it. The graphics are retro, certain, however they’re additionally fairly dense and energetic, and might be altered to realize the antiquated show of your selecting.
This denseness does, sadly, create a platforming downside. Ledges and partitions are sometimes onerous to discern, making timed jumps and grabs troublesome to drag off. The controls are additionally a bit gradual and unwieldy (seemingly purposefully based mostly on the sport’s meta jokes about growth choices). For probably the most half, this isn’t an issue. However while you’re wrestling with enemies, darsanauts, and confined environments at one time, you don’t need to even be wrestling together with your Pleasure-Con.
Additionally the dense however pixelated graphics typically making it onerous to discern the gameplay objects from the background when taking part in in handheld mode. Stage completion is rather a lot simpler on the large display screen of your TV.
However these are my solely complaints. All the pieces else in Moons of Darsalon works to close perfection. It’s constantly enjoyable and continually humorous. The retro strategy is completely executed each visually and aurally. And have I discussed the music but? The eShop will inform you it’s “based mostly on MOS 6581 (SID) chip from 1982.” I don’t know what that’s, however that received’t cease me from arguing, “You haven’t heard Ravel’s Bolero till you’ve heard it based mostly on MOS 6581 (SID) chip from 1982,” on the subsequent Cleveland Orchestra fundraiser*. Additionally, 8-bit speech synthesis hasn’t sounded this good because the Intellivoice final advised me, “That was oooooon taaaargit.”
So, yeah, I enormously loved Moons of Darsalon, as would any puzzle/platform fan with a humorousness and penchant for retro design and gameplay. It helps when you’re additionally a sci-fi buff, as there’s a lot in right here to spark nostalgia. The sport might be irritating at instances, and that can possible forestall me from ever making an attempt to 100% the aims. However the first time by way of was a blast, and it’s virtually as a lot enjoyable to observe others strive it for the primary time. Moons of Darsalon is my first nice Change sport of 2025.
* Full disclosure – I’ve by no means been to a Cleveland Orchestra fundraiser.
