Duskfade on Xbox: Weird Beluga’s Early-2000s 3D Platformer

A new action-platformer is arriving on Xbox with a clear mission: bringing back the 3D adventure feel that defined a lot of early-2000s PlayStation 2-era games. The project is indie-sized, but early impressions suggest it lands its mark.

Duskfade aims to revive early-2000s 3D platforming on Xbox

Duskfade is a 3D action and platform adventure developed by Weird Beluga. Comparisons to Kingdom Hearts and Jak and Daxter have shown up around launch, largely tied to its overall design, combat, and the sense of inspiration from that period.

The story follows Zirian, who must rescue his sister after a mysterious Clock Tower plunges the world into an endless night. He travels with Cuckoo, his mechanical companion, as he uses a distinctive clockwork sword to push through the adventure.

Quick facts

Game: Duskfade
Genre: 3D action platformer
Developer: Weird Beluga
Main character: Zirian
Companion: Cuckoo (mechanical partner)
Core weapon: clockwork sword
Setting premise: world plunged into an endless night by a Clock Tower
Early reception: 78 average on Metacritic
Availability: available on Xbox and includes a free demo

Gameplay blends several recognizable pillars. Players navigate 3D stages with jumping and movement through different areas, fight using the mechanical sword, and explore fantastical worlds and zones. The adventure is built around the journey between Zirian and Cuckoo, with the project openly drawing from action platforming trends of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

While it’s not being positioned as a literal new entry in either franchise, the inspiration and the specific “feel” it’s trying to recreate are described as evident by early observers.

Metacritic early average: 78

On the critical side, the launch period is starting with solid momentum. Duskfade is currently sitting at a 78 average on Metacritic, which stands out for an indie release attempting to revive a genre and presentation associated with major releases from that earlier console generation.

Reviewers and early coverage emphasize the game’s role as a love letter to classic action platformers. More analysis is expected as additional reviews come in, which will determine where its score ultimately stabilizes.