

Much of this is down to how it emphasizes theme, atmosphere and emotion over anything else, trying to offer a mixture of mystery and fine detail which made many past games come to life. In the wrong hands it could have been a crutch, or simply a sign that the writer didn't care for a substantive story, but it ultimately works out. This only becomes more prominent as the game goes on, but that is ultimately by design. Yeah, there's no denying it, as every part of the above point really brings to mind any one of a dozen games if not a hundred stories. Taking the name Dust, the hero sets out to uncover the secrets of his past. However, the semi-sentient sword, the Blade of Ahrah, has other plans and stays with its new owner.

The sword's guardian, Fidget, soon arrives trying to get the weapon back. The narrative here starts with what should be a cliche - An amnesiac hero awakens, with no knowledge of who he is, where he is, or how he came to hold the sword in his hands. With Dust, the tight Action-RPG combat blended with a charming setting and surprising moments of drama delivered exactly what its audience (and developer) wanted: A culmination of the best 2D games of its genre can offer. By all means that's a term which should be derided, downright hated, but it does apply in a scant few cases. Dust: An Elysian Tail is one of those very rare few games which lives up to the hype.
