The vibe of this is impeccable. Visually it really nails the old school arcade vibe.
But the gameplay doesn't quite match up. Too much stuff is random, which never really happened in old arcade games. That's why people could reach kill screens in Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, or wraparound after the final level in games like Flicky.
The flashing donuts are the best example: classic arcade game Bomb Jack has the same mechanic, you can collect flashing bombs in order, and you can start at any point in the chain, which is both fun and teaches you how to best approach each level. But in Donut Dodo the flashing donuts appear in random order, so instead of learning the best way to approach the stage you're running about like a headless chicken which is both annoying and not as fun as it could be.
I can recommend the game as a great example of how to make a modern game look retro, but I can't in good faith recommend it for the gameplay. It was so close to being great!
But the gameplay doesn't quite match up. Too much stuff is random, which never really happened in old arcade games. That's why people could reach kill screens in Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, or wraparound after the final level in games like Flicky.
The flashing donuts are the best example: classic arcade game Bomb Jack has the same mechanic, you can collect flashing bombs in order, and you can start at any point in the chain, which is both fun and teaches you how to best approach each level. But in Donut Dodo the flashing donuts appear in random order, so instead of learning the best way to approach the stage you're running about like a headless chicken which is both annoying and not as fun as it could be.
I can recommend the game as a great example of how to make a modern game look retro, but I can't in good faith recommend it for the gameplay. It was so close to being great!
Anyone who enjoys games that capture the 80s arcade vibe should absolutely check out Donut Dodo. It's got a super-fun soundtrack, spiffy pixel art & gameplay that's easy to understand while offering a fun & fair challenge. And the best part? It's a one-time purchase on Steam! No need to put in 25 cents for each round!