A Blast from the Previous
Moons of Darsalon is a little bit of a rollercoaster. It’s a type of video games during which you’ll be excited to attempt, earlier than being taken on a wild journey, popping out the opposite finish buzzing, trying again on the mad, mad trip that has simply performed out.
See, present an Xbox gamer a screenshot of Moons of Darsalon, and I’d suspect that the overwhelming majority would stroll away and not using a second look, delay by the extraordinarily retro vibes it provides. However present them with a video to accompany issues, perhaps the brilliantly created announcement trailer with super catchy theme song, and possibly the bulk would keep.
Give them a controller and permit them the possibility to take a seat down with Moons of Darsalon, and – a minimum of after a barely tough opening – much more will likely be prone to stick round.
Yep, Moons of Darsalon might not be essentially the most engaging of video video games, however there’s a hook discovered within the mechanics which ought to enchantment to many. A little bit of Lemmings this, and a few Worms that, all blended up with techniques, technique and madcap taking pictures, permits Moons of Darsalon the chance to ship one thing distinctive. And there’s little question it does precisely that. It’s silly, foolish, and infrequently irritating enjoyable too.
Guiding the Darsanauts
In Moons of Darsalon you will have one job, to navigate the stage forward, selecting up Darsanauts alongside the best way, safely dispatching them off on the base, normally discovered on the different finish of the extent. Guarantee a sure quantity arrive in a single piece, and it’s off to the following problem with you, as Dr. Kucho! Video games attempt to maintain you absolutely entertained with each step.
Which will sound standard, however Moons of Darsalon is something however. Very early on within the recreation you’ll uncover that LT is about because the bounce button by default (yep, bizarre in itself), however even that’s delivered to the participant in a enjoyable manner, fourth-wall breaking in hope that you simply belief what lies forward. And you need to, as a result of from there some properly crafted platforming performs out, blended up with additional mechanics that permit the sport to movement, to play in a different way every time.
A ‘Floor-Maker’ weapon will quickly be picked up, as will a Laser Gun, so you may create and destroy routes as you see match, crafting new platforms, taking them down as soon as used, ploughing forth with tunnel making and the like. A jetpack is an early stage piece of package too, while additional down the road come automobiles that, regardless that really feel barely dodgy to make use of, work properly within the grand scheme of issues. Combining concepts, components, abilities, gadgets, taking down enemies and taking advantage of teleports and so forth is the place Moons of Darsalon’s enchantment actually lands, all as you try numerous methods in hope of safely sending your Darsanaut associates to security.
![Moons of Darsalon Review 2](https://www.thexboxhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Moons-of-Darsalon-Review-2-640x360.jpg)
AI Companions and Difficult Aims
You get to command these AI guys too, all executed by way of the D-Pad. Getting them to ‘Observe’ and ‘Wait’ feels very Oddworld in how it’s dealt with, while at instances it’s higher to allow them to movement left and proper, making certain that they’re at all times in your sights, inside attain of your command calls and all-important flashlight. Principally they navigate obstacles properly too, making jumps which can be simple to deal with, holding again if they will fall to their loss of life, stopping of their tracks if they will’t see a protected route by. However at instances issues do go awry, and we’ve seen our followers sometimes get caught or mistime jumps, RIP stones rising from the bottom as they fall.
There are a number of companions to seek out by the levels of Moons of Darsalon, and while solely a set quantity are required for the standard ‘degree completion’ chances are you’ll properly end up making an attempt to avoid wasting ‘em all, if solely to tick off additional secondary challenges that in return provide stars. Extra may be earned for finishing further aims too, like ending a stage inside a set time, making certain a automobile doesn’t take injury and the like. It’s this which provides in a ton of Moons of Darsalon replayability.
Environmental Mayhem and Retro Vibes
For us, the actual pleasure of Darsalon although is within the environmental adjustments which can be attainable. Taking to the skies with a jetpack, hovering in place as you fireplace the ground-maker to create new pathways is an actual pleasure, as is dragging out the laser to blast new avenues and to take out oncoming enemies. It comes with a reasonably first rate physics system at play too, ragdolling when instances name. That stated, from time to time we’ve been left screaming as issues really feel a bit too finicky, somewhat bit dodgy.
However, we’ve bought to recollect these retro vibes, and while a few of us could properly have been gaming for greater than 4 many years already, the CRT and Spectrum-y take discovered within the graphics and audio can turn into a bit tiresome. We’d have completely been down for enjoying by a sharper, extra visually-appealing Moons of Darsalon, one during which the juddery digital camera is gone, changed by smoothness all through. And while there’s no doubting that the old-school take does work, we will’t assist however really feel that many modern-day avid gamers, these a lot youthful than us, will likely be delay from the get-go. On the flip, the 8-bit audio primarily based on the MOS 6581 (SID) chip from 1982 actually does deserve a pay attention, if just for the enjoyment and silliness it permits.
![Moons of Darsalon Review 3](https://www.thexboxhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Moons-of-Darsalon-Review-3-640x360.jpg)
A Madcap and Distinctive Platformer That’s Value a Look
We hope that the majority avid gamers can look by these components, because the gameplay and mechanics alone just about demand that this one be performed. Moons of Darsalon might not be a looker, but it surely’s large enjoyable, extraordinarily intelligent and filled with concepts that add to the enchantment. A madcap rollercoaster trip it could be, however you may ensure that when you’ve strapped your self in, the highs greater than outweigh the few lows.
Essential Hyperlinks
Purchase Moons of Darsalon on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/moons-of-darsalon/9nzrv62wkcm8
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