Dustforce speed platforming�s new standard
Noirit Mustapha
A couple of years ago, a rather new studio by the name of Hitbox Team released a little game known as Dustforce. The game is a side-scrolling 2D platformer that takes direct inspiration from the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog and Super Meat Boy in its mechanics and gameplay style. There is no real plot to the game, other than a simple premise of the characters. The player can take control of one of four different janitors, who must traverse through the many stages of the game and clean it all up, quite literally. There are four main locations in the game, each conquered by its own foe meant to be a rival to a janitor. Other than that, the name of the game is platform speedrunning.
The core platforming mechanics still exist in Dustforce. You can run, jump, sometimes slide down slopes, and attack if necessary. All around a stage will be a kind of filth, across the floor and the walls. This can be leaves, slime, or even literal dust. The object of each stage is to not only complete a stage as quickly as possible, but also to clean up and not miss a single speck of dust when doing so. An added challenge also comes from never breaking a combo chain when cleaning up, maintaining it all the way from start to end of a level. Simple though the mechanics may be, each one can be used and exploited in many ways. For example, attacking and hitting something while in midair actually resets the jump, letting you jump again to new heights, or the impact of a fall can be softened and made faster by sliding down and forwards almost immediately afterwards.
It is these many intricacies within the fundamental mechanics of the game that ultimately make Dustforce such a challenge and a treat. Coupled with the beautiful art and soundtrack to ease any frustration during playing, Dustforce will quickly become a challenge lovers new dream in platforming.
