Demon Tides Review: The Beauty of A Strong Identity

If you’ve heard of worldwide game development studio Fabraz, it’s because they’re the developers of the upcoming Bubsy 4D. But what you may not know about them is that they’ve been around since 2014, creating both 2D and 3D platformers. And their most recent release, Demon Tides, is one of the best 3D platformers I’ve ever played.

I know that sounds hyperbolic. How could this game stand up with masterpieces like Super Mario Odyssey or Astro Bot? It’s by having movement so expressive and varied that only a handful of games can live up to it. Combine that with solid level design and personality and charm that oozes through every minute, thanks in no small part to the main character Beebz, and you have a game so good that its few flaws don’t matter when you’re racing around in style.

The Movement

In Demon Tides, there are your usual movement options; a boost attack that gives a burst of horizontal momentum, a double jump, wall jump and wall climb. However, what makes the movement special are the forms. The first is a bat form that allows for the double jump. Beebz’s second form is a spin form that lets you move horizontally, and the last one is a snake that moves around at breakneck speeds. Demon Tides lets you chain and combine these forms together for advancement movement options. For example, after moving with the spin form, you can then jump using the bat form, then combine that with the boost button to continue your horizontal momentum. Or you can start with the boost button, jump once, use the spin form, then jump a second time to also continue that horizontal momentum.

Then there’s the talisman system on top of that. Each talisman changes your moveset or appearance, with some being more drastic than others. For example, one talisman gives Beebz roller skates, improving her base speed while decreasing her friction at the same time. Another talisman reduces Beebz’s gravity, allowing her to jump much higher than normal. And then there’s a talisman that lets you wall jump and wall climb while in snake form. There are so many movement possibilities, and the game lets you switch between two different loadouts on the fly. It’s to the point that speedruns of individual levels use completely different talisman loadouts, and each one is completely valid. The movement in this game is second to none.

The World You’re Exploring

Now, for as much praise as I’ve given the movement, that wouldn’t matter if there wasn’t anything to do. Thankfully, the game excels in that area as well. The game’s world of Ragnar’s Rock is open world. It’s divided into three sections that unlock the further into the game you progress. The way to unlock each section is by collecting golden gears scattered across the islands that make up the world. Some gears require you to collect pieces scattered around the island, while others have Beebz climb through obstacle courses. Along with gears, there are sidequests like reuniting babies with their mothers. There’s also a currency called Eyetems that are used to unlock new outfits, new talismans, and platforming challenges.

Normally, Demon Tides lets you place a checkpoint anywhere in the world, as long as the surface is solid. For the platforming challenges, the game takes that option away. If you die somewhere along the way, you’ll be sent back to the start of the challenge. There were times where the end of the challenge was within reach, but then I jumped wrong, fell into the bottomless void, and had to start all the way from the beginning of the level. It provides an extra challenge for players who are used to Demon Tides’ normally forgiving checkpoint system.

A Stumble With Combat

Unfortunately, the variety in the movement and level design don’t extend to the combat system. There’s only one attack with the boost form, and every enemy is the same generic humanoid creature. They do slightly expand with different armor and weapons, but for every enemy you can just bash them with your boost attack to beat them. Combat only makes up a small part of the game, though, so it’s not a deal-breaker. A champion rules over each of the areas, and they have their own lair and boss fight. The boss battles fare better than the regular grunts. The joy and challenge comes from avoiding each boss’s varied set of attacks. As a reward for beating each champion, you unlock more talisman slots. Beating each boss also contains tons of character and story moments.

A Bold, Brash, Anime Identity

Demon Tides wears its anime identity on its sleeve. This includes the character designs, which contain the signature large eyes synonymous with the medium. However, this also extends to the writing, from the main character of Beebz to the overarching story. While the game is a sequel to Demon Turf, there’s a recap in the beginning that goes over the previous game’s plot. Beebz is an orphan, and she receives a letter from her father asking her to meet him. Along with her friends DK, Midgi and Luci, she sets out for Ragnar’s Rock to find out the truth behind her past. Each character has a distinct personality, from Midgi’s scientific and shy demeanor to DK and how he talks in internet lingo, including the use of the word “poggers.” The cutscenes are both a highlight of the game

However, no one has a stronger personality than Beebz. She doesn’t take nonsense from anyone and moves at her own pace. Beebz does things at her own pace, isn’t polite in the slightest, and has only the slightest concept of a filter. But on the other hand, she also loves and appreciates her friends and hates injustice and tyranny from wherever it comes from. You can also customize her outfit and her hair style and hair color, which include dozens of options by the time the game is over. The soundtrack was composed by Fat Bard and 2 Mello. They infuse the game with a funk and electronic soundtrack that fits the against authority atmosphere of the game. I caught myself nodding along to more than one track when hearing them for the first time.

Punching Above Their Weight

It doesn’t take long for Beebz and her friends to realize that Ragnar’s Rock isn’t the greatest place to live in. The citizens live in fear of their king, to the point that they wear bags and masks over their heads and faces to make themselves less noticeable. Beebz and her friends spend the game fighting back against the tyrant. She goes through some self-reflection and character development. It’s very impressive for an indie 3D platformer, even if it falters bigtime in one area – the cutscenes.

The writing of the cutscenes are fine. The issue comes with the camera work, which, for lack of a better word, struggles. There are times when it lingers too long on characters, and other times it lacks the cinematography to give emotional scenes their full emotional weight. This is further compounded by how the game doesn’t have full voice acting, which would’ve mitigated some of the issues. There was one cutscene where I couldn’t see Beebz through the wall, no matter where I positioned myself. It’s one of the biggest blemishes on an otherwise incredible game, but I can forgive it because this is an indie studio that’s trying their best to pull above their weight and managing to succeed in every other area.

Demon Tides Is A Masterpiece

Depsite my shortcomings with the combat and the cutscene camera, Demon Tides excels in every other area. It’s a masterclass in platforming goodness, with a strong world and anime style that’s well fleshed out by a team that enjoys the medium. I spent almost every minute of my 21-hour road to 100 percent completion with a grin on my face, and it’s become one of my favorite platformers of all time. It’s bringing 3D platformers into the modern age. With Fabraz’s upcoming collaboration with Atari on Bubsy 4D, I hope it brings more eyes on the studio and Demon Tides. It’s one of my favorite games of all time and deserves to sit alongside the greats of the genre.