Every chest requires a generic key to open as well as successfully performing a simple minigame. Within these areas there are typically several treasure chests to find and unlock. Non-player interaction can sometimes open up new side quests. Exploration is fairly non-linear, but differs from the typical Metroidvania style in that traversing from one area to another requires an intermediary visit to a world map instead of direct connection. These non-player characters typically appear in the game's many towns, and many of them unlock new areas to explore. Dust can talk with non-player characters, many of which have side quests for Dust to fulfill (earning experience and items as reward). Quests, Exploration, and Interactionīeyond combat, there are several other things to interact with in the world of Falana. This is also serves as the game's leaderboard. Each Challenge Arena can be scored up to four stars, with a three star score or better unlocking that arena's item. At the end of the course, the player's total number of accrued points is recorded as their score, which, if high enough, will earn a special reward item. Defeating enemies and breaking lamps add points, while taking damage from enemies or traps docks points.
In these arenas, players must traverse a course under a time limit, avoiding obstacles and traps, fighting enemies, and breaking certain markers to boost point totals. The meter automatically refills slowly over time, but can also be more quickly refilled by attacking enemies with regular attacks and building up a combo chain.Ĭhallenge Arenas are special areas hidden throughout the game's world. When empty, attempting to use the Dust Storm can even damage Dust slightly. However, when used in conjunction with the Dust Storm ability, Fidget's small projectiles are multiplied exponentially, and can deal greater damage and even produce more projectiles.Įvery one of these special actions (Fidget's abilities, Dust's special abilities such as dashing, Dust Storm, etc) expend amounts of Dust's Energy Meter. She can fire small projectiles at enemies, damaging them slightly. In addition to all of Dust's combat abilities, Fidget can also play a role in the game's battles. The highest of the four attributes cannot be raised more than 4 points above the lowest, limiting min-maxing. Leveling up grants Dust a Skill Gem, which can be placed in one of four attributes: Health, Attack, Defense, and Fidget (which also upgrades the Dust Storm ability). These experience bonuses disappear if Dust takes any damage, however, so maintaining a bonus is increasingly difficult as combat progresses. Longer combos yields higher experience point bonuses, and thus, more frequent level ups for Dust. The combo system of Dust's combat is also part of the role-playing aspect of the game. One early such acquisition is the Dust Storm, a special attack that allows Dust to spin his sword quickly, hitting enemies dozens of times in the span of a few seconds. Dust is able to acquire more abilities as the game progresses, opening up combat to longer and more complex combos. Its protagonist, Dust, is able to perform combos using his talking sword of Ahrah and his sidekick Fidget (who is a "nimbat," a flying creature similar to a mongoose or a ferret, and an oft-parodied aspect in some portions of the game). Gameplay CombatĪt its core, Dust: An Elysian Tail is a hack-and-slash game. The game has been praised for its art style, simplistic yet addicting gameplay, and its large world, with frequent comparisons to the " Metroidvania" style. The game was finally released on Augfor 1200 Microsoft Points (the equivalent of $15.00 USD), and quickly garnered critical acclaim from numerous publications, including top scores from Electronic Gaming Monthly, Official Xbox Magazine, Games Radar, and Game Informer. Additionally, at a PAX East 2013 panel, creators Dean Dodrill and Alex Kain announced that the game would see a release on Steam within the next few months. Very little was heard about Dust for the next two years, until it was announced in June 2012 that the game was going to be part of the 2012 Xbox Live Summer of Arcade promotion. Previously Dust was being made as an Xbox Live Indie Game after winning 2009, an annual contest held by Microsoft to highlight quality independent games, however on July 7th, 2010, Dodrill announced that Microsoft will be publishing it as an official Xbox Live Arcade title. The game itself is a tie-in to Elysian Tail, an animated feature also being worked on by Dodrill. Dodrill is the sole developer and has hand-animated and coded the game by himself, with HyperDuck Music Studios contributing the music. Dust: An Elysian Tail is a two-dimensional side-scrolling action role-playing game developed by Dean Dodrill.
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