DUST: An Elysian Tail is a game that encompasses a massive world of unique creatures, folklore, and a story that is unlike anything I have seen to date. At the heart of this fantasy rpg platformer is a protagonist with an identity crisis, and a destined future future that is not entirely his own. When "Dust" first awakens in the world he is void of any memories related to himself. Soon after gathering what thoughts he does have he is joined by a talking Elysium sword named "Ahrah", and it's flying Nimbat guardian named "Fidget". The odd pair introduce themselves, and soon become an indivisible part of Dust's tale. With Ahrah's guidance, and Fidget's aid the three unlikely comrades set out to solve the mystery of Dust's past, and aid the troubled creatures/citizens that they find along the way. The quest they have taken on is truly nothing less than grand in scale.
This 2.5D rpg action platformer may look a little familiar at first glance to some gamers out there. I'm not saying it's copied or anything, but if you have played Nintendo's "Muramasa: The Demon Blade" then you will know what I'm talking about. As I mentioned in the previous paragraph the game follows the story of a feral creature/assassin named "Dust". As the player you take control of Dust, and guide him through the multi-tiered stages that make up the game's fantasy world. At your disposal you have the sword Ahrah who doubles as a guide, and means of offense. Fidget, the flying Nimbat (cat-like creature) doubles as moral support, and assists with Dust's attacks. Like any properly created rpg this game includes a complex yet very understandable system with detailed equipment, and inventory customization options. Along with these character customizations comes a character leveling system that also enhances how the game plays.
You'll find that DUST (as I'm going to refer to it) offers detailed character evolution. In other words you, as the gamer will be able to suit up Dust with the best possible weapons, Fidget related spells, defense items, accessories, and even attribute enhancements as you find/earn them. Like most rpgs out there DUST includes a specific set of "Skills/Attributes" that can be increased upon as you gain XP via enemy fights, or quest completions. Among these said "Skills" are Attack, Defense, Life, and Fidget. The first three skills I mentioned are fairly self-explanatory, but the "Fidget" skill is a little less so. The "Fidget" skill basically enhances the assist spells that your partner Fidget is able to cast. Each time you level up the "Fidget" skill her power will increase accordingly.
Quests also play a huge role in the story of DUST. As you make your way through each area on the world map you will encounter various characters who will ask for your assistance with various problems. Some of these quests are simple, but you'll find that others are significantly more important. You'll also find that certain quests are necessary for the advancement of the plot. When it comes down to completing a given area on the map you will notice that there is a map completion percentage as well as a treasure found percentage underneath each location's name. In order to gain 100% completion of this game you will not only need to complete all the quests, but all of the level areas must also be visited as well as all the treasures/hidden items found. One unique thing that DUST has going for it is the cameos (appearances) of XBLA related characters. If you look hard enough you'll be able to find such game characters as "Super Meatboy", and even 'Miku' from "Dishwasher: Vampire Smile". These "Easter Eggs", and completion objectives will no doubt have you busy for hours.
Within DUST you'll find that the main story is played out through animated cutscenes which feature each the character that is talking during that specific time/area. Each character within a cutscene is animated in a way that allows for their mouth to move as they speak, and their arms, hands, or body parts to move showing gestures/emotions related to the voice acting that is taking place. Aside for the audio, visual, and dialogue related cutscenes you'll find yourself (Dust) talking to the various characters as you interact with them forwarding the story through character specific side-quests. As you play DUST you'll find that 60% of the game is dialogue/cutscene related, and that only about 40% of it is actually action oriented. Don't let this deter you though as the story is very much worth paying attention to.
DUST is a game that is definitely filled to the brim with details. You'll find exquisite special effects, beautiful animations, an awesome soundtrack, and a cast of characters that you'll grow to care about. Every character within DUST has their own unique personality, and in some cases a stereotypical accent to go along with their voices. Among the cast of characters you'll find an Australian speaking mouse/bear adventurer named "Avgusten", a rabbit-like villager who has a hint of Scottish/Irish in his voice, and some otherworldly creatures who have augmented voices fitting of such a character type. The neatest thing about the character designs, and voice-overs in this game is that there are no two alike. In that way this game is more true to life than a lot of the lower priced video games you'll find today.
In closing I have to honestly say that DUST: An Elysian Tail impressed me on so many levels. The overall presentation was brilliant. While there were some graphic hiccups associated with save points the game pretty much played out smoothly. I absolutely loved the mixture of rpg elements, the fact that the game was a a 2.5D platformer, the awe-inspiring soundtrack, and the amazing story that made up the game. I found that the cutscene narrations, and the animated sequences were well worth the time. Normally I would have said there was too much dialogue driven plot, but the story was so intriguing that it was hard for me to stop playing the game in order to let my Xbox 360 cool down. This is definitely a game that you will invest many hours in. There's plenty of side-quests to complete, and hidden extras that make the game worth revisiting. I'm going to go ahead, and say that this is a "Must Buy!". When this game is finally released on the Xbox 360 marketplace be sure to add it to your game library!!!
*NOTE*: Do not use the manual save feature if you have the game set to auto-save. It will cause lag if you do.
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