I’m completely behind the idea of Donut Dodo. I don’t must inform you of the numerous retro-inspired video games out there for Nintendo Swap, however most of these are patterned after NES-era video games. Donut Dodo goals squarely to supply a brand new coin-op arcade recreation expertise, and it principally succeeds.
Largely.
A half dozen totally different titles come to thoughts when wanting on the display screen captures: Donkey Kong, Popeye, Kangaroo, Burger Time, and so forth. Truthfully, Donut Dodo pulls parts from all of them and extra, some blatantly. Anybody who spent half an hour in an arcade within the ’80s goes to search out loads of acquainted gadgets on even the primary playthrough, quick as it will likely be.
The issue, you see, is not harking back to ’80s arcade video games. Again then, the primary degree or two had been designed to provide you some confidence so that you’d need to drop one other quarter after rapidly burning via your lives by degree three. Donut Dodo offers no false hope.
As one would count on, the purpose is to wash up the display screen. Donuts have been scattered about, and Baker Billy Burns must navigate platforms and ladders to seize all of them, unlocking entry to the prin… no, to the larger donut. On one hand, it’s good we’re now not presenting girls as objects who should be rescued. However, ought to they be offended they’ve been changed by an enormous donut? Residence Simpson thinks not!
The degrees are trickier than I initially anticipated, full with traps and partitions that prevented me from attending to the ladder I wanted. As well as, the velocity of the sport is way sooner than these again within the ’80s. Lastly, there are not any weapons to gradual the enemies down, a few of which can’t be averted by leaping over them. Consequently, Donut Dodo is extra about technique than talent. Ranges are accomplished by analyzing and memorizing enemy motion patterns. It took about half a dozen tries earlier than I bought previous degree one, a half dozen extra earlier than I labored via degree two. Degree three was truly fairly straightforward, however then…you get the concept.
There are 5 ranges in whole, plus a bonus stage. This may increasingly not seem to be quite a bit, however that’s the way in which arcade video games labored (take into account Donkey Kong). Just like the video games that impressed it, you possibly can’t save your progress. Not like the video games that impressed it, you possibly can’t add one other quarter to proceed. You possibly can purchase further lives, but it surely’s again to the beginning whenever you run out. As such, reaching the final display screen turns into an enormous donut of its personal.
There’s extra to chase past that. Worldwide leaderboards (three initials solely—who’s going to be the humorous one who writes ASS?) provides you with some bragging rights, and racking up the mandatory factors would require some technique. For instance, you get rating multipliers in case you seize the donuts within the order during which they flash. This offers a problem that’s extra enjoyable than merely going out of your strategy to get the bonus fruit…though these can be found, too.
All the motion is offered in primary, brilliant, 16-bit colours towards a black background, totally accented by an authentic chiptune soundtrack from CosmicGem. It’s completely accomplished in that regard. It appears to be like and feels like a recreation that may’ve match naturally between Mouse Lure and Joust, proper all the way down to the welcoming screens.
The velocity and problem are a bit off, however they do enhance the sport’s longevity and, actually, the hilarity whenever you’re watching somebody play it for the primary time.
At solely $5.00, Donut Dodo is nicely definitely worth the buy. Enjoying it in 2022, I felt as if I’d warped again to the Ashland Arcade in 1982, simply after some new machines had arrived (however oh no, they changed Pink Baron and Tailgunner!). I can’t say how lengthy Donut Dodo will maintain my curiosity, but it surely has earned a spot amongst all of the Arcade Archive video games I play once I’m feeling nostalgic. Extra importantly, it has me wanting ahead to the brand new machines to come back.
