When you heard the words Arc System Works, you usually think of something pertaining to hardcore fighting experiences. You know, like Guilty Gear and Dragon Ball FighterZ. But the company is also known for creating some fun, offbeat experiences as well. For instance, Super Technos World: River City & Technos Arcade Classics. And don’t forget Bubble Bobble. But their latest game, Damon and Baby, hits different.
What looks like another typical top-down shooter is instead a story about redemption. You control a demon that volunteers to look after a child after his buddy unexpectedly passes away. That angers his peers, forcing him to scrap it out on his own and eventually earn redemption. Not to mention that humans aren’t too crazy about the decision either.
Arc System Works was kind enough to send over a preview build of the game for us to check out, allowing us to try the first two levels. And after a little bit of difficulty at first, we’re happy to say it’s one of the company’s most innovative games to date. Here’s why you should be excited for the game, which drops on consoles and PC later this month.
Damon and Baby Is a Unique Partnership
In the game, you and the child work your way through various worlds, exploring for extra goodies while also keeping an eye out for enemies. But don’t worry, this isn’t one of those situations where you run from them. You can either hit them with a three-strike combo or with a variety of guns. (You start with a basic handgun, but can pick up others along the way, very helpful against bosses.)
What’s neat here is that you can hit an enemy and that instantly locks them on for additional gunfire. That can be tricky in a crowded room when others are firing on you, but a dependable tactic if you need to eliminate someone quickly.
It’s not just about combat, though. Damon and Baby also includes puzzle solving, as well as a unique tactic where you can actually throw the child (non-violently, of course) and then teleport to where they end up. It took us a bit of practice to get used to this, but it’s a remarkable feature that expands where you can explore.
On top of that, the world is charming. Yeah, I did note that everyone isn’t happy to see a demon in a human’s realm. But there are some charming characters here, including an automated assistant who’s a wee bit too cheerful. (That’s okay, be happy!)
So far, so good, as the first two levels of Damon and Baby has us eager to see the rest of this adventure.
What About Damon and Baby’s Art Style?
I’m happy to report that the top-down/isometric approach that Damon and Baby takes is pretty good. Occasional glitches aside, the world looks fantastic, with dark, decadent features and light-hearted human worlds to look through. I also enjoyed Damon’s animations, a charming character that looks like he just wants a hug. A demon hug, sure, but nevertheless.
Damon and Baby also has good audio thus far, including great garbled dialogue and touching music that make the journey all the more sweeter. We’ll see how the soundtrack fares in the final game.
Damon and Baby Should Be On Your Radar
Despite some hiccups with the early preview build, we enjoyed our time with Damon and Baby. It’s a nice change of pace for Arc System Works, a sweet little adventure that will keep you on your toes. It’s not every day a game can test your trigger fingers and tug on your heart strings at the same time.
We’ll be back for a review later this month. In the meantime, you can wishlist the game on Steam now. It’s also coming to consoles!
