There are few upcoming games I’m more excited for than Demon Tides, so when I got the opportunity to check out the game’s first act ahead of time, I jumped at the chance. After playing through the first third of the game, it’s clear to me that it’s really something special. I’m a big fan of 3D platformers in general, but few have the breadth and level of ingenuity this one does. As such, I’m even more hyped to get to play the rest of the game when it launches next month.
Act 1 of Demon Tides takes place in the bottom piece of the game’s map and gives series protagonist Beebz a singular task: fighting and defeating the Jester (who returns from Demon Turf’s The Tower expansion.) This is accomplished by finding all three of the Jester’s properties (such as a winery) and wrecking them. Doing so will let you fight him and unlock a new mod slot, of which there are five total. The catch is that you’re dropped into the map not knowing where anything is. The only way to find out is the old-fashioned way. Beebz’s snake form now moves incredibly fast on the water, so I had to look around manually.
As you do, you’ll come across multiple locations with a variety of items to collect. The most prevalent are Eyetems, purple collectibles that are used to purchase mods, cosmetics, and unlock challenges. There are five challenges in the act hidden around (and they’re pricey too, costing 100 Eyetems each.) You’ll also find chests with more mods and cosmetics in them. But the main collectible in Demon Tides is golden gears, which you’ll need to give to a new NPC named Runa in order for Beebz to ascend to a strange location in the centre of the map where the region’s leader, Ragnar, resides.
Seeing as Demon Tides is a platformer, you’ll obviously be jumping around the game’s locations in order to grab all of its collectibles. The controls and game feel are even better than in Demon Turf: Neon Splash, and I was continually amazed by how fluid and satisfying it all was. Exploring the levels and overcoming their challenges is incredibly fun and varied. All the different areas feel unique and well-considered, with lots of interesting sections, such as one where you have to platform upside down while the gravity field holding you in place moves.
There are other types of challenges, too, such as requiring you to beat a mini boss (which are the game’s lowest point, in my opinion) or collecting five gear pieces to complete the area’s gear. There aren’t as many golden gears kicking around as similar collectibles in other games, as there are apparently only 45 total, with 15 in Act 1.
Despite this, there’s a lot to do, and I spent about 10 hours exploring every inch of the map to find everything since I simply didn’t wish to stop playing. To say that I’m eagerly looking forward to playing the rest of Demon Tides is an understatement, as I can’t wait to see what the rest of the game has on offer.
For more platforming:
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