Duskfade is one of those games that knows exactly what it wants to be and wastes no time in absolutely nailing it. With gameplay and artistic inspiration pulled from PlayStation 2 action platformers like Kingdom Hearts and Jak and Daxter, Duskfade often feels like a game from another time. If it weren’t for the surprisingly accomplished visuals there would be little to give away that it isn’t actually from the turn of the millennium.

Being a game lost in time pairs well thematically with Duskfade’s story as well. Set in a post temporal calamity world you follow some of the few humans living in a world otherwise inhabited by cloud-like entities. A mysterious accident causes your sister to be trapped within a clocktower. To access this tower, you’ll need to sever chains that reach out from it across the shattered world. As you explore each region you’ll pick up details about the world that was as you piece together what happened to your sister in the present, and the calamity of the past.

Gameplay is a blend of 3D platforming and hack-and-slash combat. The platforming is definitely the star here. Level design, despite being overall linear, feels very open. Environments are full of branching paths and optional areas. I was impressed by how naturally levels funneled me where I needed to go even as I felt I was taking random paths. I felt like I ought to be getting lost and yet I never did. Combat by comparison isn’t quite as accomplished but isn’t bad. It would be fair to say that while platforming emulates early 2000’s action platformers (complimentary) combat emulates early 2000’s action platformers (derogatory). It arguably still accomplishes what it sets out to, the source material there just hasn’t aged as well. The main issue just comes down to a slightly slow dodge mechanic and enemies suffering unsatisfactory hit knockback.

From a central hub town where you can buy upgrades and cosmetics, you’ll set off to different regions to sever the chains connected to the tower. Each one will have a fairly open field zone which eventually leads into a dungeon before culminating in a boss. Each region also has upgrades that can expand your movement and combat abilities. Hidden collectibles abound and there is always more to be found by returning to a completed area later in the game with new abilities. One early combat ability gives you a shotgun-blast style attack. One of the movement abilities allows you to zip freely across floating grapple points. I’d have liked to see the two sets blend together a bit more with abilities being useful in both contexts rather than one or the other. There are a few examples of this, such as a heavy attack that can also be used to shatter strong crystal formations. But in general, each unlock is tailored specifically for either combat or exploration.

Presentation both visual and auditory is a strength for Duskfade. At time of review the Switch 2 version targets 60 frames per second docked, and 40 frames per second in handheld. The implementation of 40 frames per second in handheld mode to help accommodate the drop in power is a smart move and is much less jarring than dropping all the way down to 30. Image quality is perhaps a little soft in handheld mode but both configurations wind up looking very good overall. The frame rate isn’t perfect however and regularly fluctuates, though I didn't see any particularly hard drops. The developer has commented on potentially experimenting with additional frame rate and resolution settings in the future, and I am curious to see how that plays out. Duskfade offers a visual style that dances with being garish at times in how aggressively colorful it is, but somehow it all works. Despite some very modern rendering tech, there is something nostalgically warm about the art design. Likewise, the music is incredible. There were moments that reminded me of some of the later work of Grant Kirkhope in games like Kingdoms of Amalur.

It isn’t hard to spot where Duskfade is pulling from. There are plenty of little tips of the hat to anyone who grew up playing PlayStation 2. But despite that Duskfade does manage to carve out a nice identity for itself. Not everything is perfectly polished but the love and care that went into this world is clear in every detail. The Switch 2 version has received some nice focus. That being said, there is certainly room for a little extra optimization in places. Still, it makes very smart use of the hardware to know where best to make compromises. Great visuals, a fun world, inspiring soundtrack, and solid mechanics make this one an easy recommendation.