Classic perfection
I should have my “boomer shooter” card revoked. Dusk on Switch is the first time I have experienced this game and boy, have I missed out. Created by David Szymanski and published by New Blood Interactive, this retro-inspired FPS game originally came out for PC back in 2018. I had always admired it from afar since I grew up playing DOS-based shooters and have always enjoyed when the genre comes back in style. Dusk might be the best one I have ever played. It captures the spirit of that time period while also understanding what made it so good. I am also thrilled to say that the Switch port is nearly flawless and is worth the wait to get here.
For a lack of a better description Dusk is extremely similar to games like Quake and Heretic. It is fast and visceral with spooky enemies and a pitch-perfect soundtrack. The game is broken down into three episodes with each one containing a series of missions usually culminating in a massive boss fight. Classic design only takes you so far though. Dusk excels because it plays beautifully. Even on a controller the tight aiming and movement make it feel sublime. I was popping off headshots while switching weapons and doing front flips with little effort. There is a lot to be said about a game that just controls perfectly.
MSRP: $19.99
Platforms: Switch (reviewed), PC
Price I’d Pay: $19.99
The Switch port also manages to run at a nearly locked 60fps and the controls skirt the line of fine aiming and just enough assist to compensate for the thumbsticks. The developers have also added a ton of accessibility features that include screen overlays and one-handed modes that make this game easy to get into for players of all skill levels. Of course, a game like this isn’t complete without a stupid hard mode and trust me when I say that Dusk can be challenging on these settings.
Shooting and movement just feel so good in this game as do the weapons. If I had one gripe it would be that ammo is definitely scarce at times. I was having to resort to pistols more often than I wanted. Give me that double shotgun constantly please. The Switch version even includes gyro controls, so I was able to front flip by tilting my controller. It is novel, but not something I played seriously for very long.
This version also includes some bonus features including a separate game called Dusk ‘82 which harkens back to classic top-down shooters and an endless mode that features a map parody of Mario 64. It may have taken years to come out, but the team has packed this version so full of content it is hard not to appreciate it. Also take into account that they have ported a nearly flawless shooter to the Switch that runs and feels as good as it does on PC. That is an impressive feat that cannot be overlooked.
Dusk is the kind of game I could not help but smile while I was playing it. Every level was a treat to play and the accessibility options really open it up to so many people. The attention to detail in this port is also super appreciated. It really takes advantage of the hardware while not compromising the original concept. This is a game that every fan of shooters needs to play, and I cannot recommend it enough. Get your boomer shooter pants on (or off) and buy Dusk!
Review copy of game provided by publisher.