Dust: An Elysian Tail

A side-scrolling fantasy action RPG done right, presented in lovingly detailed, hand-drawn environments of superb variety and quality.

There are some games you end up missing out when they first come out, only for you to play them years later and question yourself on how you were able to miss them at launch. That’s the case with Dust: An Elysian Tail. Originally released for the Xbox 360 in 2012, I had never even heard of it prior to its re-release on the Nintendo Switch, even though literally everybody else from WTMG’s staff was...

After reading this review, Dust: An Elysian Tail will not seem to be innovative or part of a special breed. And it’s true, there’s no real innovation to speak of. The game uses tried and tested mechanics and concepts in a very successful way. It has a sense of familiarity while still somehow, remaining fresh. The scope of the events in the game, while made to appear quite big, may ultimately feel ...

It's hard to believe that such a content rich, well-polished title could be the product of one man's hard work. Aside from the incredible orchestral soundtrack and savvy voiceovers, creator Dean Dodrill is responsible for every aspect of Dust. Sure, the RPG elements could have been stronger, and the boss battles are a bit of a letdown, but if those are the worst things about your game, you're in p...

By the end of the game, enemy grunts suddenly are overpowered, and the players may find themselves wasting health items right before the big boss battle. This is the only spot of the game that may require some grinding in order to level up and acquire the best gear. Unfortunately, that grinding brings an otherwise superbly paced game to a grinding halt.

Dust: An Elysian Tail has adorable anthros and a touching story. Let's break the fourth wall and kick up some dust, as this is one hit from Summer of Arcade that you don't want to miss.

You wake up in the middle of a field with no idea who you are, or what you’re doing. A totally foreign winged creature flitters about, its aggravatingly chipper voice flinging questions at you incessantly. The ornate sword at your feet can also talk, but thankfully its voice is mercifully sombre. It informs you that you need to go on a mission to save the world; the reasons for this mission aren’t...

Is its inherent visual beauty enough to see Dust: An Elysian Tail through?