3D platform games are dead, or since the poor sales of GameCube, I have heard of it at least once a year. Thanks to Mario, Nintendo has such a close relationship with the genre that any flash in its fate will cause panic, so that the classic genre is close to extinction. In fact, it has never been, and probably never will.
The game is constantly evolving, and more battles and fewer precise jumps may be added, but this type is still very powerful. However, if you want proper skill testing, a game designed around the provided platform mechanics and competing to be the best game, Demon Turf is a game that should jump to the top of your most wanted list.
Initially, the most compelling aspect of Demon Turf was the 3D environment that mixed 2D playable characters and NPCs. This effect gives the game a rather unique look, and despite some initial concerns, I think it looks great. I have a feeling that the aesthetics will be quite divided, but I like small development teams to pursue different things.
This is really made by a very small team. Although the publisher Playtonic provided assistance, the core team consisted of only three people. Therefore, Demon Turf has such rich features and rich content, which is really a feat. It has a script for the distribution of sounds, an evolving action set, a substantial exercise, a large collection of items, and an online leaderboard designed to encourage high-level speed.
The star is Beebz, a 1,000-year-old girl who is very attitude, but not annoying-she has a witty bark, but does not bite. Luci and Midgi also joined her, and their wits were equally free. This story revolves around taking back the area from the demons. It didn’t really attract me when I played it, but the characters are great, and even the NPCs have interesting things to say.
However, platform games are the main attraction. These levels are designed to test your skills and far exceed any other 3D platform games I have played in recent years. You start with the basic jump, double jump, hover, hover jump, and wall jump actions, but these are added to make Beebz a bit like a platform star (you get a grappling hook before the first boss fight). I would not say that it is as rich as Super Mario Odyssey played at a high level, but it is very good.
Fighting, at least so far, is the perfect function, but it’s not as exciting as platform jumping and can be distracting at times. Demon Turf also uses a manual checkpoint system in which Beebz planted returnable flags. This is good because you can control these rebirth points, but I find myself forgetting to do this in many cases, which caused me to say some swear words when I returned to the beginning of the tricky level. Side note: The development team seems to be aware of this, so reminders are placed in the level to avoid such things from happening.
I would love to play more games, and I would love to see how the community is built around Demon Turf. There may be some good competition around the completion time of the level in the fast running scene, or just to make your partner better. Currently, Demon Turf is priced at less than £20, and it is an easy-to-recommend game. If you desire a pure platform game, it seems to be separated from a different decade.
Disclaimer: Tested on Xbox Series X. A copy of the game is provided by the publisher. It can also be used on Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC and Switch.
