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Dadish returns... in 3D!
Dadish's first foray into the third dimension doesn't fail to impress. The controls felt a little floaty at first but proved to be performant when it came to judging trajectory and landing safely. The humour is all there - puns and dad jokes galore - this really is Dadish but in 3D. It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, and I'm fine with that. It's nice to see a simple 3D platformer without delusions of grandeur. It knows what it is and what it wants to be. As ever, it likes to break the fourth wall, and hilarity ensues. Of particular note should be the method the radishes find to escape from the Internet at the end of the game. The music is serviceable, with some tracks new to the series, although they feel a little bland and forgettable in comparison to the bangers from the original four games. It's a shame not to see some more of those tracks return.
Breaking the fourth wall
Dadish has always drawn inspiration from the 8 bit version of Sonic 2, and this game is no exception. The final world seems to pay homage to the "Green Hills" [yes, plural, as Sonic veterans will understand] and “Sky High” zones, featuring a focus on springs, and an uncanny similarity in terms of design aesthetic. This world even features on the icon for the game itself. The game is fairly well polished and has some nice decorative touches, such as birds, mountain goats, and floating leaves when you rustle through bushes.
Note the similarities of the trees and flowers, and the iconic checkerboard design
Stand here to evade the daikon
Burgurgular is your friend
I encountered a strange situation in which I was able to evade the giant turnip and subsequently complete the Crash Bandicoot inspired chase-towards-the-camera level at my leisure. The camera even unlocked after a certain point. As it so happens, this turns out to be a feature employed near the end of the game for a very well hidden star.
For fans of the series, this game is a no brainer, although speedrunners might miss the apparent lack of timed rankings which feature so prominently in Daily Dadish, and a somewhat bigger focus on exploration than speed, insofar as the method for obtaining gold stars, which is actually more akin to Daily Dadish's predecessors; although it should be pointed out that a timer is available after completing the game. Amidst my Daily Dadish obsession, it was also refreshing to return to boss battles, and enjoy some Burgurgular auto running sequences; however once the game is completed after perhaps 4 hours or so, it feels all over too soon in comparison to the Daily Dadish conceit of a single level per day, which was a stroke of genius in refreshing the 2D Dadish formula which was perhaps beginning to feel a little tired at times after three outings.
There are a few mechanics missing from previous titles, such as barrels and underwater or space areas. Here's hoping a sequel will include such things and sate one's appetite for a more full fledged 3D Dadish experience. Perhaps Momato might also make a return. Overall, Dadish 3D is an excellent platformer and a brilliant introduction to the third dimension for Dadish fans and newcomers alike.
First published 27 April 2024. Images used under "fair use".
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