Moons of Darsalon is a kind of uncommon platformers that right away captivated me. Whether or not they be extra about puzzle fixing, adventuring, or arcade motion, platformers have a tendency to contain a sluggish construct into what they’re about. Moons of Darsalon begins with its foot at the gasoline and doesn’t let up.
The basis is that groups of darsanauts (thus named as a result of they’re exploring the moons of the planet Darsalon, one assumes; as though we might have moonstranauts or marstranauts) have grow to be misplaced of their missions. As is the best way, you’re a lone Dollar Rogers-esque pilot despatched out to rescue all of them. This comes to touchdown in harsh environments, finding all the lacking darsanauts, and main them to the protection in their bunkers.
The issue is that the darsanauts are slightly silly. They may be able to’t to find the most productive path from level A to indicate B with out particular directions. They don’t acknowledge threat. They’re petrified of the darkish and gained’t transfer when the lighting cross out. As such, you’ll want to lead with particular directions, protecting them secure the entire whilst.
To start with, this isn’t too exhausting. Darsanauts are simple to seek out as you discover a moon’s floor, they usually’ll in most cases tag alongside in the back of you till one thing (darkness, a chasm, your instructions) makes them forestall. When that occurs, you’ll want to determine tips on how to allow them to growth. If it’s darkness, shine your flashlight. If it’s a chasm, push a field or rock for them to leap right down to. If it’s your command, that’s most probably since you made them forestall at a selected level to cause an environmental puzzle mechanism or to stay them out of injury’s approach when you blast an enemy.
Instructions are simply assigned by the use of the D-pad to each and every darsanaut in vary: apply, keep, transfer left, transfer proper. The issue (which is vital, after all, with a purpose to have a sport) is they’ll stay following that command even if commonplace sense says differently. Welcome to our AI long run, youngsters.
So, when you’re making an attempt to damage the enemies, open paths, and clear up the puzzles that lie sooner than you, any choice of darsanauts in the back of you want consistent babysitting with a purpose to keep alive. The gameplay is worrying, it’s nerve-wracking, and it’s lots of amusing.
It’s additionally slightly exhausting, relying upon your objectives. I used to be ready to just about at all times push via a degree at the first take a look at, even past due within the sport. Doing so whilst finishing the bonus targets is every other tale. Conserving all the darsanauts alive? Tough. Taking completely no harm? Even tougher. Finishing the extent inside the designated cut-off date? Smartly nigh unattainable. And while you begin to unencumber jetpacks and moonbuggies, issues cross totally off the rails.
Fortunately, except you or all the darsanauts die, you’re now not punished for any of your failings. So, you’re loose to take at all times you wish to have to determine issues out or simply pressure/fly round those bonkers moons.
And sure, they’re bonkers. The extent designs in Moons of Darsalon are visually fascinating and conceptually artful, making every a surprise to discover despite the fact that the motion doesn’t in point of fact come up with a possibility to soak up all of it. The graphics are unfashionable, certain, however they’re additionally slightly dense and full of life, and will also be altered to reach the antiquated show of your opting for.
This denseness does, sadly, create a platforming downside. Ledges and partitions are frequently exhausting to discern, making timed jumps and grabs tricky to drag off. The controls also are somewhat sluggish and unwieldy (reputedly purposefully according to the sport’s meta jokes about building choices). For probably the most phase, this isn’t an issue. However while you’re wrestling with enemies, darsanauts, and confined environments at one time, you don’t wish to even be wrestling along with your Pleasure-Con.
Additionally the dense however pixelated graphics frequently making it exhausting to discern the gameplay gadgets from the background when taking part in in hand-held mode. Degree of completion is so much more uncomplicated at the giant display of your TV.
However the ones are my handiest court cases. The whole lot else in Moons of Darsalon works to close perfection. It’s constantly amusing and continuously humorous. The unfashionable way is completely accomplished each visually and aurally. And feature I discussed the song but? The eShop will inform you it’s “according to MOS 6581 (SID) chip from 1982.” I do not know what this is, however that gained’t forestall me from arguing, “You haven’t heard Ravel’s Bolero till you’ve heard it according to MOS 6581 (SID) chip from 1982,” on the subsequent Cleveland Orchestra fundraiser*. Additionally, 8-bit speech synthesis hasn’t sounded this excellent because the Intellivoice ultimate instructed me, “That used to be oooooon taaaargit.”
So, yeah, I very much loved Moons of Darsalon, as would any puzzle/platform fan with a humorousness and penchant for unfashionable design and gameplay. It is helping when you’re additionally a sci-fi buff, as there’s lots in right here to spark nostalgia. The sport will also be irritating now and then, and that can most probably save you me from ever seeking to 100% the targets. However the first time via used to be a blast, and it’s nearly as a lot amusing to look at others take a look at it for the primary time. Moons of Darsalon is my first nice Transfer sport of 2025.
* Complete disclosure – I’ve by no means been to a Cleveland Orchestra fundraiser.
