First Impressions: Daggerhood (NS)

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of Daggerhood by Woblyware and published on the Nintendo Switch by Ratalaika Games, through Indie Gamer Chick's #IndieSelect event.  The game was given without expectation or promise of a positive review, only that the game and experience playing the game be talked about and shared through social media channels.  All of the words and experiences contained within this article, unless otherwise noted are my own.

Similar to another Woblyware title, Devious Dungeon, Daggerhood is a retro-styled pixelated platformer where you play a character who moves through a series of dungeons collecting  items and making your way to an exit without dying.  But that is about where the similarities end.  In Daggerhood, you play the character of Vincent S.  Daggerhood, a thief who is thrown into the depths of a cavernous prison, who uses a form of magical dagger that allows him to transport himself by throwing it at targets/destinations.  The dagger can also be used to attack enemies.

The game is made up of 100 levels spread across five worlds/areas, and within each of those levels contains three collectables in the form of stars (beating the level under a certain time), treasures (finding and collecting five treasures scattered throughout the level), and a fairy (which only exists in the level for a certain amount of time before disappearing).  The way that I have typically been playing Daggerhood is that I end up playing each level three times, collecting each of the collectables on a single playthrough.  And this is something that I love about Daggerhood that could have easily gone the route of a too difficult game.  In Daggerhood, you are able to play through quickly in order to earn the three stars for beating the level quickly, followed by another run through collecting all five treasures while taking all the time in the world.  The game keeps track of what you have already accomplished, not requiring you complete all three in a single playthrough in order to "complete" the level.  Granted this could make the game three times as long as someone who is better than I, but I do appreciate that I can play as many times as needed to "complete" a level.

And, at the moment, this is also kind of my main complaint about the game.  With each world area consisting of 20 levels, this makes the desire for innovation within the worlds otherwise the gameplay can start to feel old.  And where I am at, adding moving platforms around level 15 does not feel like the kind of level innovation I would classify as innovation.  Even though the levels can be completed in under 30 seconds (some have an 15 second timer in order to earn three stars), 20 levels does seem like a bit of overkill in order to pad out the game.  In Jack 'n Jill DX there were 140 levels across seven worlds/areas, but that game added game play elements throughout the world, whereas aside from the transporting dagger, I have yet to come across another change in gameplay, but maybe that is because I have not yet finished the first level; this is a First Impressions article after all.

Lastly I wanted to bring up the music, which next to saying how much I love it, I cannot really add anything else.  The only way that I could possibly be disappointed by the music, is if the music does not change at all once I reach the second world/area.  I have not been able to find out who composed the music, or if there is even a bandcamp soundtrack available.  I guess that is even more reason to beat the game, so that I can watch the credits to find out this much needed information.

So that is where I am at with Daggerhood.  It is a pretty fun game with an interesting concept for a mechanic that I have not encountered before with music that I am very much liking.  I know that there is a boss coming up in a few levels and unless something more interesting happens in World Two (presumably: "Forest") then I may have to call it somewhere around Forest Level 10 (or level 30 in the game*)



~JWfW/JDub/Jaconian
Instrumental