Overview – developed by Nate Peters and Acutis Games with publishing handled by NAMI TENTOU, Doodle World Deluxe is a double pack of indie titles originally developed for NES and ported to consoles. In Doodle World and Doodle World Redux, the player must save the land from the evil King Eraser. This title is available for Nintendo Switch and PC platforms, with a link to each version of the game at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank publisher NAMI TENTOU for providing the copy of Doodle World Deluxe that was used for this piece via the Keymailer service. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of this review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. I will be discussing the two titles included in this pack separately, with details for each of the games and their performance, the plot is rather light so I will be skipping this element.
Doodle World
Gameplay – Doodle World is a retro styled platformer set in a hand-drawn world, with the game playing out across the pages of a note book. Taking place over 5 worlds, made up of 3 stages each, the player must traverse each of the stages as they dodge hazards, jump on enemies and collect crayons. When the player collects 100 crayons, they get an extra life, which can be very useful as there are no continues in this game.
In the stages, there are bonus “pages” which will take the player to a single screen stage, where the player must try to collect all of the crayons on screen. There is also a special super crayon, which will make the player invincible for a short time. This invincibility can be very useful as not all enemies can be jumped on, such as the pencil and thumbtack foes that are in the game world. Players must be careful when using this however, as the timer for the crayon is low.
At the end of each stage, the player will encounter a boss that they must battle in order to clear the world. The bosses that appear will each have their own unique attack patterns, with some firing projectiles or charging at the player. Once all of the bosses have been beaten, the player will get an ending congratulating them on their success. If the game is a little tricky, the player will be able to play a special mode called Kids Mode.
This special mode is for players who want to enjoy the game in a more relaxed way, this gives the player extra lives, replacing the enemies with erasers and takes away the pitfalls. However, there is no way to continue after a game over, meaning players will still need to collect crayons to increase their lives. This mode is easier but it can still be difficult due to the performance issues the game faces (explained further below).
Doodle World Redrawn
Gameplay – this is a fully re-imagined version of first game, with all new stage layouts, tougher boss battles and even a new double jump ability. The core mechanics of the game remain mostly unchanged, aside from the new extra jump, which allows the player to reach higher platforms and cover ground faster. The bonus stages return in this title, with new layouts which offer a different experience for this release.
Just like the previous title, the player only has a limited number of lives and no continues. This makes collecting crayons for extra lives, getting the super crayon for invincibility and approaching the hazards with a level of caution. The bosses are more challenging in this release, making them more difficult for the player and allowing Redrawn stand on its own from the other title. This title also includes the Kids Mode feature.
In this title, the Kids Mode returns with easier stage layouts, a lower difficulty level for the bosses and the removal of hazards, just like the first version. However, the story remains the same in regards to the fact there are no continues, meaning that the player will need to focus on collecting crayons for extra lives. This is a little easier as it appears there are more crayons in both games, when using the Kids Mode, but the performance issues persist.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to cover the other aspects of this release, starting off with the overall performance of both games.
Performance – this title looks fairly solid, being ported up from an NES. However, there are some rather significant issues in regards to the general performance of the game, which unfortunately ruin the fun and flow of the experience. The first is the collision detection, which can inaccurate at times, leading to the player killing an enemy and dying at the same time. Next is a spawning error, which can place the player over a pit leading to them dying without escape.
There is also an unusual feel to the physics of the game, with noticeable lag when trying to run and jump, which will lead to errors and mistakes being made. This makes the character Doodle feel heavier than it should be, with jumps that don’t always go to full height, even when holding the button down for longer. All together, these issues combine to spoil what had the potential to be a fun and rewarding platform title, with a unique aesthetic.
Controls – the controls are very simple, with two buttons for running and jumping, the thumbstick/D-pad for movement and the two shoulder buttons activate the menu. But unfortunately, as discussed further up, there is lag that occurs quite often, where it feels like the movement of the game is dragging, which can lead to missed inputs. Sadly, the input lagging and difficulties with the controls affect all control methods in game.
Difficulty – this title shouldn’t be very difficult, but due to the issues it faces the game feels poorly balanced. The lack of continues increases this feeling, as the player will be sent back to the start of the game over and over. This may not seem like an issue but it spoils the Kids Mode, putting off the younger target audience from continuing to play. There is a save/load system that can be used, but it feels like a band-aid on a bullet wound.
Presentation – visually, the world presented in this release has a unique look and feel to it, given that it was originally made for the NES. The notebook aesthetic is not something I have seen before and I applaud the game for that. But with all of that shine, there are still some parts that feel unpolished and they cannot be hidden with CRT filters or extra color pallets. The music fits the game well, with a solid soundtrack that has perfectly captured the feel of an 8-bit cartridge game.
Final Thoughts – When I first got my hands on this title, I was impressed with the overall look and feel that the game was presenting. Having something unique that I had never seen before, which can be quite the rarity in the world of indie games, especially when it comes to the homebrew scene. However, as I got stuck into the game, the cracks started to show very quickly, which is unfortunate as this title was promising from the outset.
The game has a few unfortunate flaws, which spoil the overall experience and make for an unpleasant time during play. These are the lag that occurs throughout, the bugs involving the player getting stuck spawning above a pitfall and much more. Sadly all of these issues ruin the potential for the game to be fun, and I am not sure if it is an issue with the port or not. This means that I am not able to recommend this title as a full price purchase, as it is missing the polish needed to be great.
In the end, I give Doodle World Deluxe a final score of 2/5. This title has all the potential to be a fantastic platformer double pack, with a premise that is creative and could have been a smash hit for parents and kids, but sadly the issues it suffers from spoil the experience. If you do want to check this game out for yourself, a link to each version of the game will be available below.
Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)
Link to Steam version (HERE)
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