What is it?
Demon Tides is a 3D platformer set in an open world; the sequel to Demon Turf. As a young demon called Beebz the player explores islands in a fantasy world, navigates tricky platforming sequences and fights enemies.
Is it player-friendly?
The game has some good player-friendly features, but parts of the game are not. The controls are skittish and the dashing and jumping is hard to get right making precise movements hard, and precise movement is essential to advancing in the game. The game does have an invincibility option, but this isn’t helpful enough when the platforming is so difficult. The checkpoint system where you can set up a checkpoint wherever you like is nice and will alleviate some frustration. The game can be unclear on what you are supposed to do and where to go to be able to advance. Using the d-pad in the menus is not possible. When pausing the game the music does not pause.
Is it any good?
The art style and graphics are both excellent, the game and its characters have attitude, the music is fun, and the game’s world is large with lots to explore and do. The game also has some – on paper – good difficulty settings with an invincibility option (applying to combat, not falling and some environmental hazards) and a generous checkpoint system. Despite all this, however, the gameplay is flawed – it is just too difficult. Besides generally skittish controls the wall-jumping mechanic is impossible to pull off consistently, there are too many tight ledges and small platforms and too many hard to judge jumps and timing based jumps and sequences, resulting in falling, failure and frustration. If you are good at games and have supreme hand-eye coordination skills and reflexes, and if you like 3D platformers, this could very well be a game for you. If you are a normal or casual player chances are you will find Demon Tides frustrating.
Peter Öberg
A review copy was provided.