I’m always down to playing side-scrolling action-adventure games where skill trees aren’t a thing, and permadeath is only a ruthless mod’s dream. So, when I stumbled across a game where you play as an octopus traveling through the world, I knew I had to check out Darwin’s Paradox!
What I came across was a ridiculous game in the best way possible, that, however, struggled from time to time to provide the smooth experience I had hoped for based on the game’s trailer. Let’s break down my experience with ZDT Studio’s Darwin’s Paradox!
Story and Gameplay
Story-wise, Darwin’s Paradox! is pretty straightforward. You are an octopus, Darwin, who is snatched from the sea alongside your red octopus pal and transferred into an industrial complex run by alien robots set to dominate the world.
Delivered with cartoonish comedic chops, the story’s premise is enticing, albeit a bit cliché. After all, alien world domination can very well be considered an overplayed narrative trope. Still, in a game such as this, the story is secondary to its most important aspect: the gameplay.
The issues I have with the game certainly come almost exclusively from the gameplay. While Darwin moves well enough (after all, he has 9 brains), and his skills, which are unlocked throughout the adventure, are helpful, the enemies and obstacles are frustrating to contend with. This is largely thanks to less-than-stellar mid-air control and unforgiving hitbox.
This results in the game garnering difficulty points for the wrong reasons, as the puzzle-solving and platforming do not pose a significant challenge otherwise.
Graphics and Sound
From the get-go, the game looks great. Other than the occasional low-quality and low-FPS cutscene, the world of Darwin’s Paradox! was very enticing. Each level ups the ante and introduces narrative storytelling through the environment, constantly introducing scenarios that will take your breath away and force you to use your skills to escape unscathed.
I did encounter a couple of bugs while speeding through a zone, leading to a black screen followed by the game spontaneously coming into existence, and the game also crashed near the end. However, I had a very smooth performance experience overall.
Regarding sound, I think Darwin’s Paradox! shines during its tensest moments, particularly during an anglerfish chase later in the game in which the music and sound effects really sell the encounter. Other than that, the game delivers a decent OST that struggled with identity at times, which makes sense as you visit lots of zones that are diametrically different from each other.
Feedback
More complex puzzles might have made my time with the game a lot more entertaining. While I had fun with what I tackled, the whole “remain still until the enemy moves away” shtick gets old pretty fast. Specific zones like the ocean depths do feature some environmental hazards and clever solutions, such as avoiding mines in complete darkness, thanks to a light moving downward illuminating the pitch-black water. I would have appreciated more of this.
Darwin swims great, allowing you to avoid underwater obstacles and enemies with grace. The octopus skills you learn along the way let the player choose how to tackle these, too, though they’re a bit too few in number. If the game were longer, I’m sure more could’ve been introduced, but the game manages to counter that subtly, such as when Darwin controls an alien suit.
Verdict
Overall, Darwin’s Paradox! is a short and fun game that delivers an endearing story and a compelling world that will make you laugh and go full Captain America with its pop culture references. Sure, you’ll probably rage quit from time to time when the game punishes you for touching a foe with half a pixel, but once you get the hang of things, you might find that Darwin’s Paradox! has a way of getting its tentacles stuck on you.
