DROS Review | Nintendo Switch

The cover of the title DROS, encompassing a teal-green theme and showcasing a knight in rough shape with black goo stuck to his back, somehow managed to grab my attention simply with my appreciation of the art.

Like most consumers, I, too, showed interest in something simply because of my taste in covers. Let it be known that I was not displeased with what I had experienced next. This narrative-driven adventure about a certain ‘slimeball’ and ‘dorkface’ captured my heart.

 

DROS is a game that was released on Nintendo Switch after its initial release in 2021. It has an intriguing mix of platforming, riddles, and entertaining personalities set in a charming, overgrown steampunk setting.

You will have the opportunity to assume the roles of two characters on this exciting journey; Little Dros, a cute slimeball with a kind soul, and a dork-faced and self-assured bounty-hunting Captain.

Firstly, I was introduced to Little Dros trying to break free from her confinement. The game’s lore let me know that a key characteristic of the Dros’ is that they cannot live long without acquiring a shell for their bodies. For her, it is a race against time to find a shell.

The game then cuts to the Captain; and boy! is he a punk all right. He just... felt silly to me, the way he carried himself and the fact that he cannot even jump due to his dorky armor, despite parading about and acting like a big shot.

Being a bounty hunter, he deems it his mission to find the flute currently in the hands of The Alchemist for a prize. Captain's hubris gets the better of him not too long after, leading him to a terrible state after being surrounded by adversaries - barely alive and hardly moving.

Stranded in the sewers, Little Dros finds him and decides to make him her vessel, allowing him to get back up on his feet. Now that they are interdependent, from its base to the peak, they must ascend the tower and reclaim their liberty.

 

Their interactions with each other and with other characters you come across in DROS are just downright hilarious. To illustrate, there is a verbally abusive chicken somewhere, and I will just keep it at that.

I also keep bringing up ‘dork’ when the Captain is mentioned, and that is because, in one instance of the game, he got so pouty that an enemy called him a dork-face. This prompts him to slay said enemy, and then grumbles, “I have a beautiful face,” and INSISTS on it. Like, okay, okay, I believe you. My goodness me!

The gameplay is quite simple, which is why I put heavy emphasis on the characters, as DROS is a game you will remember because of them. Still, I should elaborate more on the gameplay.

As they traverse, you will see that the tower holds different biomes for each of its four sections. You will journey through the pipes in the Sewers - avoiding the acidic and toxic water in the process.

Then the Furnace, where you will recall the childhood game ‘The floor is Lava’. And further move on to the Filtration, where you can actually touch liquid matter. And finally, the Distillery, a place where you will utilize a lot of fans to get where you need to.

There is no variation in the gameplay cycle. By navigating platforms, pressing switches, unlocking gates, and so forth, you must reach the level's exit after entering via the elevator. Because our dynamic combination is balanced and has diverse strengths and limitations, the puzzles are always environment-based and center on the two characters' capabilities.

 

I briefly touched on the Captain not being able to jump due to his armor. He is unable to climb either. That armor felt like a liability at first, and it just made me think “Oh, for Pete’s sake, just take it off already!” throughout. But, I have come to understand that the game does not allow for the Captain to refill his health bar, so it is a good thing he wears the armor and helps tank the damage.

He is also the only one who can fight our enemies. The combat system is mostly him swinging his sword and trying to dodge foe attacks. Do not let that fool you though; the fights you may get into deal quite the amount of damage, and blocking them is hard.

Alternately, Little Dros is an ideal explorer since she is swift and can squeeze through small crevices. Her abilities include floating on water, navigating obstacles, and seeing unseen bridges that the captain cannot see.

However, she is very defenseless when detached from her shell, forcing her to constantly evade various threats and avoid direct confrontations. However, when they pool their abilities, they become an unbeatable squad. The two main characters of DROS work well together, and you will have to swap between them often to complete puzzles, fight enemies, and face other challenges.

It is a rather simple game that will take up eight to ten hours of your time, and the mechanics are straightforward. I would even argue that it is relaxing but in a brain-stimulating way. You will be able to enhance your experience by going through the journal and flipping through the lore of the diverse characters you will encounter and the environments.

 

To conclude my thoughts, DROS is a game that beautifully combines hard puzzles and platforming components with an enthralling tale and an endearing cast. If you like games like this, where exploration takes center stage and combat takes a back seat, you should give DROS a go - you will not be let down. Oh, and do tell the Captain he has a beautiful face. He would like that, I think.

Jennifer,
Editor, NoobFeed