When Arc System Works announced that it was going to be pursuing new types of video games beyond its usual wheelhouse, one of these was the unexpected title DAMON and BABY. DAMON and BABY is a mix of twin-stick shooter with Zelda style gameplay that most certainly does feel different, almost like a mix of the action and aesthetic we expect from Arc System Works and an indie title like Tunic. It definitely is a different direction for the company to go in, and could easily have gone wrong, but after playing for hours, I am genuinely impressed with what has been done here.
DAMON and BABY sees you take control of a demon appropriately enough named Damon, who is entrusted with protecting a young child after her father dies. It seems like a simple enough premise, but there is a deeper mystery involved and soon you find yourself trying to determine just what Damon has gotten himself into. I have to say that the characters in DAMON and BABY are well handled, with each having great personalities, especially Damon, and the game manages to make even fourth wall humour, something I have grown extremely tired of, feel funny and witty
As DAMON and BABY’s story progresses, Damon comes across various figures that end up introducing new mechanics and abilities to understand and make use of. As this is a Zelda-inspired game, DAMON and BABY has many elements that seem familiar, like finding new tools and abilities to proceed in a similar way, but puts its own spin on things by virtue of the game being a twin-stick shooter. As such, Damon gains a very unique variety of tools and weapons to use, but there is an issue that proves frustrating.
DAMON and BABY feels way too limited in terms of inventory space, and for a Zelda-like that is full of things to find and places containing items, this is frustrating. Yes, you will gradually find new ways to store items and increase your inventory, but the way it is handled here creates a lot of interruptions and a sense of needing to focus on what to take with, For survival games and RPGs, this makes sense, but inventory management in an action adventure game is a rather odd choice, and feels like it is just there to extend the gameplay.
All this being said, DAMON and BABY is a fun game, and once you get into the meat of the gameplay, you will have a good time. The combat is well handled and challenging, and learning how to use the baby to teleport is rather neat. DAMON and BABY may struggle when it comes to inventory management, but Arc System Works understood how to make the core combat and gameplay mechanics engaging enough to keep you hooked.
DAMON and BABY gets what makes a Zelda-like gun, and has some very well designed dungeons and boss fights that all feel distinct from each other. There is a period of adjusting to new mechanics that may throw you off for a bit but as you make that adjustment, you find yourself deeply immersed in an addictive gameplay loop. It helps of course that DAMON and BABY looks and sounds great as well, as the visual choices make everything pop off the screen, while having a unique identity, while the soundtrack keeps you pumped during combat and curious during exploration, which is what it needed to do.
Is DAMON and BABY perfect? No, but for a first step in a new direction, Arc System Works did rather well here. There is enough to DAMON and BABY that helps it stand out from other games inspired by The Legend of Zelda, and the fun and engaging combat and well designed world feel like a breath of fresh air. Yes the inventory management is a deeply frustrating aspect of the game, but once you get past that, DAMON and BABY just has so much to offer. If this is the start of the next era for Arc System Works, then I am excited to see what else is in store.
Disclaimer: A review key was provided