First Look PSN #5

Dustforce by Hitbox Team / Capcom (2014) - PlayStation Network (PS3)

I've played a few environmentally-themed games in recent years but this one is probably the first that actually makes you do the menial labour yourself. Dustforce takes place within a world that has been tainted by 'dust and disorder', you see, and it's your job to cleanse its 50+ stages using one of the four selectable janitors. This is done simply by running over all the dirty areas (which only seem to be covered in leaves - surely not that big a deal?) which are dotted around all surfaces of the side-viewed, scrolling landscapes, including the walls and ceilings, and also by smacking up all the poor creatures living there. That means you'll need a fast and agile janitor and luckily all four of them are, to varying degrees. Time to get cracking with your trusty broom!

The idea is to clean each stage as quickly as possible. You get graded by your 'finesse' as well as percent complete. The janitors are mighty agile and can perform wall-jumps, double-jumps, and can even run up walls and along ceilings, and it's a fast-paced game so these skills are put to frequent use, with fast, flowing, precise movements being of paramount importance. It works well too, thanks to smooth, intuitive controls. I found the graphics somewhat gloomy for a game like this though - shouldn't your hard work, if sufficient, reveal a bright, vibrant world beneath the grime? Hmm, the style is nice anyway, as is the fantastic soundtrack, and I enjoyed the time I spent with it, but I can't help feeling the similar stages would get a bit tiresome after a while. Good in short bursts.

RKS Score: 3/5