For a few years Ratalaika Games has been publishing games from small Indie game developers. They have run the gambit from precision platformers to shoot em ups. Many of the games also share a few things in common – a $5 price tag and an easy 1,000 gamerscore. Most of the time, achievements could be completed in under 30 minutes without even playing half the game. One of their newest releases, Dandy & Randy DX by Astereistic Game Studio, moves away from these ideals.
You play as Dandy or Randy in this old school, top down adventure game. You are broke, but get information about a priceless jewel that is rumored to have been buried on one of the islands near you. You race against pirates to discover the gems location so that you can pay off all your debts and finally live in the lap of luxury.
As you traverse the six areas you will gain new abilities and encounter others that are searching for the gem. It is up to you to figure out how to defeat those trying to claim the treasure you are searching and use your new abilities to grow your wealth. Each area is themed – desert, mines, snow and the like. Search the area to find the keys needed to progress to the end of the level.
While the gameplay and locations are pretty common fair, the game is enjoyable. It has a great retro feel, and you actually have to complete the entire game to get all of the achievements. One of the great things about this title is that there is local multiplayer, so friends can drop in and play. There are 3 difficulty levels that can be changed at will. While many will play on normal or hard, there is also a “practice” difficulty that allows you to invoke God Mode and receive no damage, no matter what you do.
The game is available on Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo Switch and Steam with a price tag under $7. There are multiple characters to play, which are mainly cosmetic, and a fun adventure to be had, so it is a good value. If you are into speed running, this could be a title to check out. It is also a great introduction to the genre for new or younger players.
