Dev update #2

We're back with another wrap-up of all things Duskfade. Diving straight in:

Check out our gamescom merch!

This week Duskfade will be at gamescom in the Indie Arena Booth and we're super excited! We'll be at the event with our first-ever public demo and some limited-edition merch. If you're headed to gamescom, do drop by to dodge, slash, and grapple your way through the first boss of Duskfade!

Your most-asked questions

We recently asked on X whether you had any burning questions about our game. We thought we'd compile a handy list of answers to give you more of an insight into what Duskfade is all about!

Q: When did you start development? A: 15 months ago

Q: Will the main hand weapon always be 3 hit or will there be some way to upgrade it to do extended 4-5 combo hits 👀 Side question: Favorite ps2 game? 😂 A: What we've shown so far is the basic combat - We're working on adding more moves and combinations between them. Fav PS2 game: Shadow of the Colossus!

Q: Will there will be animals? And if yes, you can pet them? A: We do have chickens, although they'll get scared if you get too close. You can pet someone, though—it’s less of an animal and more of a dragon made of clouds!

Q: What were the inspirations behind Duskfade? A: KH is definitely one of our main inspirations, especially in terms of visuals and aesthetics. That said, Duskfade’s gameplay leans more toward platforming in the vein of Jak & Daxter, so the combat doesn’t quite follow KH’s style.

Q: Are there multiple weapons with different attributes, or do you just have one? Is there any sort of level up system in play with that? A: In Duskfade, Zirian always wields Minutero, his grandfather’s trusty sword. This clockwork blade is full of surprises and can transform to unleash special moves. While Duskfade doesn’t have traditional leveling, you’ll be able to upgrade Minutero’s attributes and unlock those special moves… if you manage to uncover the right secrets, of course.

Q: Can we expect some quick time events in boss battles? A: There are no QTEs in Duskfade, but we can confirm that boss battles will push your combat and platforming skills to the limit!

Q: How do you avoid scope creep? That is, the fear of the project going over budget or going bigger than intended? A: The key is knowing that, no matter what, the project will grow or end up bigger than you originally planned. So it’s important to keep that in mind from the very beginning to plan wisely and allocate your resources properly.

Q: Will you have customizable gamepad controls? Please? =) A: We're working on it!

Q: Why specifically Kingdom Hearts Jak and Daxter and Ratchet and Clank for your inspiration? Are those games mechanics in your game? A: They’re games that many of us on the team have played and loved. We wanted to bring back the mechanics we enjoyed most from them and apply them in the way we felt would be the most fun.

Q: What was the motivation behind creating a new i.p and genre of game instead of a sequel to Clid the Snail or a different top down shooter? A: It makes us so happy to see a comment about Clid! After releasing Clid the Snail, we wanted to take on a slightly bigger and more ambitious project. At Weird Beluga, we’ve always aimed to create games that we genuinely love and that move us as much as possible—and this time, we felt the need to tell a more heartfelt, emotional story and explore the gameplay of a platformer.

Q: I'm curious about some of the ranged options? Or is it going to be primarily melee focused? A: Combat in Duskfade is primarily melee-focused, though there are a few ways to deal some damage from a distance using the gadgets you’ll find throughout the levels.

Q: What’s your favorite ability you've made so far? A: There’s an ability called Chronoblast—though we like to call it “the Shotgun”—that we’ve found super fun right from the start.

Q: Is there gonna be magic element skill in this game or it will be just focused on main weapon A: Yes, there are several mechanical/magical gadgets that make Zirian’s kit a lot more fun and varied.

Q: How long will the game be at release? And will there be any DLC? A: Around 12 to 15 hours is what we’re currently estimating, but we’ve still got a way to go so that may change! We can’t say anything about DLCs… Yet.

We'll answer more of your questions soon, and if there's anything you'd like to ask, please let us know in the comments!

New screenshots showing Duskfade's environment

We also wanted to share these new screenshots. The last one is what you'll see if you 'die' in Duskfade.

A question for you

We'll leave you with a slightly different question to last time, but one equally as nostalgic. If you could pick any PS2 game as your number 1 favourite, what game would it be?

We'll be back after gamescom with more Duskfade updates - talk soon!