The magic of the PC platform is that we get games of all types and styles on a regular basis. This also means that we tend to get a lot more crap than the consoles, especially far too many ports of less than stellar mobile games. While I normally ignore mobile ports, sometimes one comes down the pipe that is so solid that it doesn’t matter what platform it’s on. While Dub Dash isn’t going to win any awards on the PC, it is one damn fine music based game.
Following the footsteps and ideas of games like Amplitude and Frequency, Dub Dash sees you controlling a techno, Tron like wheel across a number of music based levels. As a former musician this sort of game falls right into my wheelhouse, so it makes this review a bit biased as my skills are better than most. Being a drummer, rhythm based games, or any game that requires precise timing, come easier to me and as such are more fun on more personal level.
As the name suggests, Dub Dash is a very techno inspired music game, so if you like sort of musical style you’ll dig this. I’m not all that fond of the genre as I’m over the age of 18, (sick burn, bro!) but it isn’t grating on the ears in any fashion. Music flows well and you’ll benefit from having some nice speakers, or some good headphones. I don’t think there are any big name tracks on the soundtrack, but as I don’t know much other than something about dropping bases of some variety, I can’t be sure.
Where the game does really shine is in the controls and variety of gameplay styles it employs. Each track/level is broken up into a number of sections that will keep you on your toes. All you need to worry about is hitting the left and right keys as your wheel automatically moves down the track, doing your best to avoid obstacles. As these things go it starts off quite easy, but just as soon as you get comfortable Dub Dash changes the rules on you. There are other segments where the game changes into a few side-scrolling flying segments, although these are the weakest sections as they don’t really stick to the rhythm elements.
You will also get thrown into these sort of first-person sections, as well as segments that feel very Super Mario Galaxy in their approach. Some of these segments also invert the controls, or require you to think on your toes to just to be able to get through as obstacles will present themselves immediately on start. Each segment is split with a number of warp gates, but the time in between is so tiny that it requires lighting fast reflexes to not get yourself killed if you don’t know the level. The game really knows just when to ramp things up so that you never get all that comfortable with what you are doing.
Graphics are pretty basic, this being a mobile port and all, but the Tron inspired style really help makes things look nice and stand out, even on a larger screen. Everything is bright and colorful and this graphical style really complements the music well and makes you feel like you are at one of those EDM concerts that all the kids like to go see? Do? I don’t know. While the graphics won’t blow you away the game really benefits from being on the bigger screen of a PC and the more precise controls of a keyboard.
One larger issue can plague those without perfect rhythm. Each of the games levels are pretty long, and while this is great from a gameplay perspective, when you die you are going to be sent back to the beginning of the stage. You can also play a practice mode that lets you restart at checkpoints and allow you to learn the basics of each level if things get too rough for you. The game also has a local multiplayer mode which is pretty impressive for a small indie game of this nature.
There is a great deal of content for a game like this, and as you’ll be spending $2.99 while it’s on sale (regularly $4.99) you really can’t go wrong, especially if you are a rhythm game fan.
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