Damon and Baby

Damon and Baby has some endearing qualities and decent gameplay at its core, but its repetitive nature and a few clunky mechanics keep it from being a truly grand AA game. The core gameplay and world are intriguing, but they can’t quite make the game truly stand out.

I went into DAMON and BABY with almost no experience in twin-stick shooters, but it ended up being a genuinely fun and charming surprise that kept me coming back. While the story and some mechanics feel undercooked, and losing progress can be frustrating, the combat, customization, and overall journey easily carry the experience. It’s not perfect, but it left me smiling by the end and excited to see where Arc System Works goes next.

I love when a developer mainly known for a specific genre decides to delve into something completely different from their usual output. Sometimes, this results in unexpectedly good results. Remember when Rockstar came up with the shockingly fun Table Tennis? Or when Ubisoft teamed up with Nintendo to make a gun-based, Mario-themed turn-based strategy game? Today’s experimental anomaly comes from Arc System Works, the folks mainly known for their FANTASTIC fighting games such as Guilty Gear ...

Damon and Baby is an interesting experiment from one of the greatest developers in the fighting genre. While the game’s DNA contains strong ideas, they never evolve into anything that leaves a lasting impact. Combat is fun, but lacks the speed and style of its peers, and while combining this with adventuring is novel, it struggles to deliver something that competes in either sub-genre. The result is an experience that feels competent but ultimately underwhelming. A bold shift in direction, but one that struggles to justify itself.

To be completely up front about it, I really want to like Damon and Baby, but I just don’t. The premise is cute, the world has its charms, and the gameplay has an old-school feeling which should be ticking my boxes, but instead leaves me feeling rather flat. I do think this could hit just right for a lot of people, but for me, it’s just not engaging enough.