Time to add another colorful 3D platformer to the fray. I’m happy to see more of these pop up on the indie front, as they remind us of times long gone from the PS2 era. Dracamar from Petoons Studio feels like it came out of that era, though its simplicity won’t be for everyone.
In the game you control three different characters as you attempt to rescue the world from the evil dragon King Crad. Along the way, you’ll rescue these little roly-poly dogs called Okis, defeating enemies and solving puzzles as you go.
The thing about Dracamar is that it’s not overly complex. The game is fairly simple and can be beaten in a breezy afternoon across 15 levels. But at least it’s a pleasant journey, with trouble-free controls that all ages can grasp. And, again, it is cool to have different player types, especially when it comes to boss encounters.
Dracamar doesn’t take too many chances on its own, but it fits in comfortably in a genre that could always use more growth. And the fact kids will easily get into it is a helpful bonus.
Dracamar Delivers a Quaint Little Adventure
Dang it, King Crad. Why are you ruining everything in the land of Dracamar? No matter. Three heroes – Caliu, Foc and Esperna – are out to shut you down, while collecting little Moki-Balls and rescuing Okis along the way. They’re little dogs with a round shape that you can actually pet, if you feel like showing affection. (And if you don’t, you’re clearly a monster.)
The team at Petoons Studio channels old-school fun with Dracamar, and it shows. There’s nothing here that’s overly complex, as the game is built on such a level that older fans and younger players alike can get into it. That’s mostly a positive, making the game a breezy little run across 15 different levels. But it also fails to pose a challenge along the likes of, say, the amazing Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time!
But there’s still some pleasantries here. The boss battles are innovative and there’s a solid mixture of puzzle solving and enemies to take down. Finding all the collectibles adds to the fun, along with finding the secret levels.
Dracamar may not exactly be built for the long term. But there’s more than enough here to justify the $20 price tag, especially if you have kids looking for something to play over the summer. It won’t be a burden on either your wallet or their time, so dig in.
How’s Dracamar Do On the Presentation Front?
One thing you’ll notice about Dracamar is how colorful it is. Levels pop to life with pretty good detail, even if the frame rate is a little bit stunted. No matter, as it still looks cute enough to give a hug to. Plus the Okis are adorable, and the lead characters each have their distinctive touches. I also like the vast level design, especially in the secret stages.
As for the music, well, it doesn’t really stand out, but it doesn’t grate on the nerves either. There’s pretty good orchestration here, with 32-bit style platformer tunes you’d come to expect. That said, I would’ve preferred a little more imagination with the music. Again, though, not bad. And the sound effects are good, though not quite great. At least the Okis sound cute.
Once Upon a Time In Dracamar
There are obviously better platformers on the market loaded with more imagination and characterization. But Dracamarwill pass the time well enough to put a smile on your face. The gameplay is solid and there’s plenty to do within the world, even though the game comes to an end too soon. At least the collectibles and those squishy little Okis add some replay value. Not to mention it’s a mere $20. ($25 on consoles.)
Dracamar won’t set your world on fire like other greats in the genre, but it snugly fits right in without wearing out its welcome. For that, I hope it finds an audience that’ll appreciate it. Especially when it comes to petting roly-poly dogs. Good boy!
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Petoons Studio for providing a review code! Dracamar is available now for Steam/PC, Xbox, Nintendo Switchand PlayStation!
Need more classic platforming fun? Check out our review of Big Hops!
