If a long lost arcade game from 1983 resurfaced today, it would be Donut Dodo - a classic 2D platformer from the golden era, tough as nails and challenging for the whole family! Ready to top the high score table?
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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!
Dearly loved this one, great start to the year. Super chaotic and that perfect "easy to learn, tricky to master" skill curve. I do think the ferris wheel level could be slightly better balanced (there's a lot of waiting around if you elect to go for the highest score) but each level is incredibly fun to learn the intricacies of. Will continue to be a bus-stop mainstay going forward, I reckon.
genuinely one of the best arcade high score farming type games i've played. super fluid control, pretty charming nes/early arcade graphics, and some pretty solid music. the donut mechanic is really fun to farm high scores and get extra lives to help yourself out! i do wish there was an infinite mode though, and also these kind of games have a bit of a ceiling to them for me personally but very easily on the higher end of this kind of game for me!
You should listen to our episode found right here or wherever you get your podcasts to hear Sam talk about playing this game, the Evercade, and more!
Love this game and it's music to death. Kudos to CosmicGem!