How's game compared to Dust: An Elysian Tale?

[magiuspaulus]

So, i am quite a fan of Super Metroid and Castlevania (IV). Last game i played that made me think of that is Dust, which imho was an absolute jewel, especially for the money. Now, this game seems like it fits in this category as wellm but as the price is quite steep (compared to other games discounted after 1.5 years since release), i like your opinion. Is this game comparable to other games mentioned?

[dog]

If you want to see how the game is, there's a pretty old demo at http://www.valdisstory.com
Lot's of things have changed, but the feel of the game in the demo is still the same.

I'm fairly biased towards Valdis. But my most objective statement is that Valdis is centered around learning and mastering the combat and mechanics of the game. It can be punishing for people who don't spend a little time to learn some aspects.

[TKhaos]

It's currently 9.74. It's a game with near endless replay value if you get into it, with the four playable characters, plethora of bosses, areas to explore and just overall high quality in every department. This is a biased view as it's one of my absolute favorite games of all time.

If you're looking for a Metroidvania game, this is arguably the best one on Steam right now. At least, that's my opinion.

[myhr2]

Having played Dust a little and Valdis a LOT, I'm not really objective, but I'd say they feel quite similar, Valdis being less accessible (precise inputs are needed, and lots of the game's mechanics you'll have to discover by yourself) but having better replay value (4 characters with 4 different weapons and a big skill tree).

After that, it's a matter of taste...But Valdis Story is da best!

[Pudding]

All I can say is Valdis is definitely harder than Elysian Tail......and it's underrated. It's all thanks to Humbele Bundle that I get to know Valdis Story.....and I must say that's one of the best discovery I have ever made

[Gryffe]

VS:AC is somehow easier than D:AET since you don't die in two hits even in the highest difficulty. However, it has a mark system that make boss fights (and there A LOT of them, 21 with optionnal bosses, and 24 because of a certain choice you can make) way more technical. You'll have to master the pattern and the combo system, with little tolerance to mistakes.

The way I see it, it has more depth in its mechanics than Dust because of multiple characters, set of weapons wih their own combos and skill trees and attributes that can let you play a single character in multiple ways. And this is said by someone who 100% both those games.

I would say that while I prefered Dust for its Disney touch and some wonderful scenery, Valdis Story has a flesh out background and story with more complex challenges to face than Dust. Not to mention that Gilda is brilliant.

[Pudding]

Yep, Gilda's interactions with other ppl is enough reason to buy this game....simply love her

[Lorebot]

I've enjoyed both games, but Valdis Story is by far the more technically demanding game. It's possible to finish Dust pretty much just mashing buttons, VS will destroy you if you don't learn how to play it properly.

[magiuspaulus]

Tx for all your replies guys. For me Dust was a great game because it felt a bit more casual than i used to and tbh, i am getting older :) Also, although i respect the replay value, with more than 90 games on steam i haven't played...:) Still, there seems to be a lot of praise for Valdis so i guess i am going to buy it anyway. Tx again!

[Gryffe]

Originally posted by magiuspaulus:

Tx for all your replies guys. For me Dust was a great game because it felt a bit more casual than i used to and tbh, i am getting older :) Also, although i respect the replay value, with more than 90 games on steam i haven't played...:) Still, there seems to be a lot of praise for Valdis so i guess i am going to buy it anyway. Tx again!

I hope you'll like it. If you're not interested in the difficulty, there is many difficulty settings available from the start, so do not hesitate to tune the challenge down a bit (I would recommend Hard, Normal is a joke). Not only HP and damages are lower, but monsters and bosses might lack some moves they only do in higher difficulty.

Originally posted by Tribe Lorebot:

I've enjoyed both games, but Valdis Story is by far the more technically demanding game. It's possible to finish Dust pretty much just mashing buttons, VS will destroy you if you don't learn how to play it properly.

"Mash the buttons ! MASH THE BUTTONS !!"

[letir]

Dust is more about story. Battle system is mostly button mashing, and travelling is simple.

VA is more about fighthing. It's 2D slasher, and very good one. There is also acrobatics, magic, and 4 personages. Story... well, not the strongest point, indeed.


If you want to hear good story in relaxing atmosphere, play Dust.

If you want challenge and replability, play VA.

[Pudding]

still, i hope there would be a sequel for VS

[Gryffe]

Originally posted by Orchid:

still, i hope there would be a sequel for VS

Given that the latest patch is 4 days old, not before two or three years x)

[BoswerLK]

dust is more about plot and just exploration. progression is linear and branching out is only for items. combat is more or less just spam fidget while spamming psychocrusher to blow up everything within 3 screens of you

VS has multiple routes and deep gameplay mechanics, and is more hardcore in general. production value isn't quite as high as dust though


basically, dust is more metroid fusion and classic castlevania-ish without the difficulty, while VS is closer to super metroid, zero mission, and the SOTN-ish castlevanias with higher difficulty

[a cartoon duck]

I got both games. I got around 20 hours on Dust: An Elysian Tale and somehow 170 on Valdis Story.

Honestly, Dust has the higher production values, it has nicer graphics, voice acting, it's probably the longer game too if you're going by number of rooms to traverse or time to hit the ending credits. Plus, Dust had a proof-reader, the basic grammar mistakes in VS can get pretty tiresome.

There's just something about Valdis Story that grabbed me more, though. Dust tried to have a combo system, it ultimately ended up feeling pretty shallow and eventually I just resorted to spamming that familiar-shot/sword-spin combo if I wanted to end fights in a reasonable amount of time. I still ended up beating Dust a couple times because I like getting my money's worth out of the games I buy, but after finishing it on the hardest difficulty I haven't touched it again.

Valdis Story is a game I keep getting back to, though. While Dust is prettier on the surface, I feel VS has significantly more depth. People mentioned this game having four characters, but each character also has four different unlockable weapons (that stay unlocked for future playthroughs!) as well as their own unique unarmed combat styles. Plus going for strength, crit or magic-based builds is equally valid on each character, and while there are definitely over-powred builds I don't feel pressured into them even on the highest difficulties like I felt in Dust.

This is all highly subjective really, but the bottom line is I can get way more into VS and I can into Dust. VS has its blemishes, but it's a cool game underneath them.

Edit: Well damn, Boswer said it in less words while I was typing this.

[magiuspaulus]

Still apprecaite your comments though, always nice to read what people think about these games :)