Dust: An Elysian Tail Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 59 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 77 Ratings

  • Summary: Immerse yourself in a hand-painted world on a search for your true identity. As the mysterious warrior Dust, you must master the ancient Blade of Ahrah to battle dozens of enemies with an intuitive combat system, take on a variety of quests, discover powerful upgrades throughout the massive, open world, and uncover the story of an ancient civilization on the brink of extinction as you fight to uncover your own past. Collapse
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 49 out of 59
  2. Negative: 0 out of 59
  1. Aug 21, 2012
    100
    It's a great, 2D experience that harkens back to the popular Metroidvania sub-genre of adventures games, but manages to blaze its own path and stand out as a wholly unique experience. There's certainly little like it on XBLA, and I highly suggest picking it up.
  2. Aug 23, 2012
    85
    With a superb animation and visual style, this action-RPG by Dean Dodrill is definitely one of the best games in this year's Summer of Arcade.
  3. Aug 24, 2012
    85
    An obvious labor of love, Dust: An Elysian Tail more than earns its asking price of 1,200 MSP ($15 USD) through a mix of strong characters and solid gameplay. It's wholly old-school, and we wouldn't have it any other way.
  4. Aug 29, 2012
    70
    For years, Dust: An Elysian Tail will be a testament to what one person is able to create. But it also shows how problems in a game can sometimes be missed by the creator as well as the players.

See all 59 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 23
  2. Negative: 2 out of 23
  1. It is one of those games that captivates you from the moment you see it. Dust: An Elysian Tail to my opinion, is the best game to come out on Xbox Live Arcade to date. RPG, platform, action, a combat system that is not boring, otherworldly visuals. In short, by 1200MSP can play a game that easily surpasses many physical games that have flooded the market these days. Expand
  2. Dust: An Elysian Tail is a very fascinating and extremely entertaining game. It reminds me a lot of Castlevania or Metroid in way. Combat is very creative and imaginative with several different action packed ways to dispatch your enemies. It is also worh mentioning that while the game is side scrolling it feels very expansive. Every area has different paths to take where hidden items or treasure could be hidden. The characters and art style is also very stunning as well. Dust: An Elysian Tail is a visually distinct game and when you factor in that it is hand drawn, it is even more impressive. Overall this game is well worth the 1200 Microsoft points (14.99 in real people money). Expand
  3. 6
    The game looks pretty. It looks dang good. But it plays like a crazy combo, flying all over the place beat em up. The level designs are great. I really don't have anything bad to say about this game. But, why do I have to be a blue ninja bunny rabbit with a talking squirrel fox thing? Voice acting is below average until that flying rat talks. Whoever did her voice acting needs to realize her voice alone is what ruins the game! It's horrid. My skin crawls just thinking about it. I'm glad i just downloaded the trial. And yep I took points off because of that stupid voice. Why do I have to fly and dash all over the screen? It's a side scrolling action game. This isn't street fighter! I could give this a 1 out of 10 but I'm trying to be fair. Sometimes the smallest of things can add up and ruin a great game. Expand
  4. Though you'd think differently reading the other reviews here, but this game brings nothing new to a genre that had it's peak sometime about when Schwarzenegger and Van Damme were considered actors,
    the 2D shoot-it-all, and though the game brings very responsive controls and nice enough creatures to kill, it's just the same old blur...might as well play frogger with your frying pan.
    Expand

See all 23 User Reviews