Dub Dash
Gameplay 7
Graphics 8
Sound 8

Take control of a spherical object without brakes as it rolls straight into danger with this fast-paced and colorful rhythm action game. Your job is to dodge whatever is coming at you, something which is easier said than done. We could have done without some of the modes, especially the Flappy Bird style sections, but overall this is a great game for those who relish a proper challenge. It is not perfect, but making it through all the tracks in one piece will keep you busy for a while.

Gameplay: Simple controls and straightforward objectives, but the challenge is quite steep.

Graphics: Good, but there is rarely time to gawk at your surroundings.

Sound: The soundtrack is excellent, but until you are good you will be hearing it in bits and pieces

Summary 7.7 Great
Gameplay 0
Graphics 0
Sound 0
Summary rating from user's marks. You can set own marks for this article - just click on stars above and press "Accept".
Accept
Summary 0.0 Terrible

Dub Dash

Developer: Incodra | Publisher: Headup Games | Release Date: 2016 | Genre: Action / Indie / Racing | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

Do you like electronic dance music? Do you enjoy games that crank the difficulty up to extreme and then break off the knob? Do you have the reaction times of a hummingbird? If you answered “Yes” to any of these questions then many hours of enjoyment awaits you in Dub Dash. If you answered “No” to any of the questions your time with the game will probably be tinged with a touch of frustration.

Dub Dash is a rhythm based action game, but don’t expect something tranquil where you can sit back and enjoy the beats. Instead it is a fast paced battle for survival as you try to steer your wheel past a gauntlet of deadly obstacles. Touch anything on the levels apart from the special music notes scattered about and it is instant death. Even worse, unless you built up a stash of extra lives by playing the “challenge” mode it is back to the very start of the level.

Don’t expect any type of story or justification for your actions in this game. It is all about reaching the portal at the end of each level segment and continuing to do so until the music stops. Initially you are dumped in what appears to be a trench running through a spherical equalizer where your only goal is to dodge left or right to avoid hazards. Reach one of the portals at the end of each section however and you might be confronted with a brand new mode. The worst of these is a type of Flappy Bird style mode where you have to keep your craft aloft without crashing into the scenery. There are also modes where the action is viewed from above and just when you think you have the hang of things you encounter sections where you move in the opposite direction. In total there are seven different modes and the changes in playing style makes an already difficult game feel borderline impossible at times.

Fast reaction times is a must for Dub Dash as the slightest mistake is usually instantly punished. Since having to restart a level from scratch is really annoying it is best to play the random levels available in the “Challenge” mode to stock up on extra lives. You earn five for each successful run, but can only accumulate a total of 15. This might sound like more than enough to complete the regular levels, but you still need plenty of practice, especially on later tracks. Some sections instantly throws an obstacle right in your path, so while you are still getting used to the shift in perspective or playing style it is already too late. Fortunately, there is a “Practice” mode where you can continue from the start of each section as many times as you need to complete the level. The bad news is that the song that ordinarily plays is replaced by a generic tune when you switch to practice mode. You are also required to complete a level before the next one is unlocked and this cannot be done with practice mode.

Dub Dash was previously released on mobile, so the visuals are not exactly state of the art, but they are certainly colorful and get the job done. The speed at which the game moves means there is never any time to stop and admire the scenery in any case as you must concentrate on what is coming at you. You might notice some shifting colors and wobbling scenery in your peripheral vision, but take your eyes of your craft and you can kiss it goodbye. The controls are very responsive, so crashing into something is usually due to your own slow reflexes.

The soundtrack of Dub Dash contains some very nice electronic dance music, which is awesome if you are a fan of the genre. If not you are out of luck as there is no option to import your own tunes. The music synchs nicely with the colorful visuals and when playing while wearing earphones it is hard not to nod your head along with the beat. Doing this is not recommended however as it typically results in your sphere smacking into something because you were not paying attention. In fact it would probably be best if you don’t blink at all while playing (note: this is obviously not recommended and we take no responsibility for anyone attempting such a feat).

As much as we like the soundtrack, which features music from Bossfight as well as the Djs of Geometry Dash, the game makes it a bit hard to really enjoy the tunes until you have mastered a level. You see every time you crash your sphere the level restarts and along with it the music. This means that often just as you really get into the music it ends and restarts. Due to the nature of the game this is probably unavoidable, but one difficult levels it can feel like trying to listen to scratched CD. When you tire of punishing yourself with the difficulty of the game you can round up a few friends for the four player split screen mode and share the pain. The multiplayer is actually quite enjoyable, but restricted to local mode only and not online unfortunately.

Dub Dash is a game that starts out tough and then just continues to increase the difficulty. Successfully completing levels requires plenty of practice and a bit of memorization, but pulling it off is very rewarding. Players who have patience, perseverance and above all, good reflexes will enjoy the challenge, but those without decent hand eye coordination need not apply. The eye catching visuals, thumping soundtrack and fast paced gameplay make it worth a look, but don’t expect it to be a walk in the park.

System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 7
  • Processor: 1.5+ GHz
  • Memory: 512 MB RAM
  • Graphics: OpenGL 2.1 support
  • Storage: 100 MB available space
  • OS: Mac OS X 10.8
  • Processor: 1.5+ GHz
  • Graphics: OpenGL 2.1 support

Related posts

Hook

Hook

Hook is a concise and minimal puzzle game that is worth every cent of its wallet-friendly price. It features 50 levels of “hooks” that need to be reeled in using the buttons connected to them. The challenge doesn’t kick in until late in the game, but the monochrome visuals and relaxing music make for a very meditative experience. It is not a game that will tax you too much, but completing it is still very rewarding. Gameplay: While simple and easy to grasp, the concept is quite clever. Graphics: The visuals are very, very minimal but still stylish. Sound: The audio is calm and relaxing enough to make for a meditative experience.

Unrest

Unrest

If you value interesting dialogue and moral choices more than loot gathering and monster slaying then you will enjoy Unrest. The game dares to do things a bit differently and for the most it works quite well. The lack of puzzles or any real combat means that the pace of the game is very slow, but just like a good book you will want to know what is going to happen next once you are hooked. Gameplay: The focus is very much on the story, so action junkies might become bored of all the reading. Graphics: The hand-painted visuals give the game an unique look. Sound: Outstanding tunes, but no speech.

Sunblaze

Sunblaze

Sunblaze is a precision platformer offering six challenging chapters of action, with some goofy humor and a charming protagonist. The game is unforgiving but fair, so it always feels like victory is just one more attempt away from attaining. The developers have also included enough “accessibility” options to ensure players of any skill level can enjoy the game. As with all games in this genre, Sunblaze can sometimes be frustrating, but the feeling of overcoming its challenges is worth the blood, sweat, and tears. Gameplay: You will die frequently, but it’s hard not to give each level just one more try. Graphics: The game features beautiful pixel art visuals and neat themes for each chapter. Sound: Sunblaze has decent music and sound effects.

>observer_

>observer_

Observer is a slow-paced, cyberpunk themed thriller from the same developers that brought us Layers of Fear. Despite the change of setting, Observer shares a lot of similarities with LOF, especially during the surreal hacking sequences where you invade the thoughts of other people and experience their worst fears. The incredibly detailed visuals and gripping environments make Observer a game that is hard to put down, but the slower pace and lack of control beyond observing your surroundings and scanning things might deter the action crowd. Overall, it is a title that all fans of the cyberpunk genre will enjoy and it offers an enthralling experience despite some technical issues. Gameplay: There is little to do apart from exploring your surroundings and scanning things for clues, but the game remains engrossing nonetheless. Graphics: The abundance of post-processing effects might be a bit much for some players, but there is no faulting the highly detailed visuals. Sound: The soundtrack is just as tense as you’d expect from a title like this and it is great to hear Rutger Hauer lending his vocals to the lead character.

Highschool Possession

Highschool Possession

Highschool Possession tells the tale of a student named Hikaru, who one day finds his conscience mysteriously alternating between the bodies of two girls in his school. It is an interesting premise, but due to the short length of the game not a lot of time is spent on fleshing it out more. While the art and audio is decent enough the story could definitely have benefited from a bit more work. Gameplay: The basic story is quite interesting, but due to its short length a lot of things feels glossed over. Graphics: Nice artwork, but not many different backgrounds Sound: The soundtrack is decent, but the game features no voice acting.

Grimm

Grimm

Grimm offers a very unique look at some classic fairy tales and with 23 episodes there is something for everyone. The episodes are short enough to remain fun despite the repetition and the gruesome visual transformations are still impressive. The budget price also makes it an attractive package for players who missed the original release. Gameplay: Very easy to pick up and play. Graphics: The way everything transfers from light to dark is pretty impressive. Sound: Good voice acting and some very suitable music.

Leave a comment

eight + 5 =