Damikira Review PS5: Run Dead Rabbit, Run

Damikira is the latest game from Eastasiasoft - at least until the 9th of October when Rogue Sentry is released. Let's focus on this frantic shooter you can pick up for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. This write-up is based on the PS5 - the publisher provided a review code.

It doesn't matter what system you play this on, as the visuals are simple, as are the controls and gameplay. Anyone stifling a yawn will get a swift clip around the ear, as these are often the best pick-up-and-play types of games that don't require a degree in fairy folklore or mastering 14-button combos to perform one uppercut. Depending on your skill level, this may take a while to get the hang of.

Damikira Review PS5

There's no driving narrative here other than your legacy and climbing the elite ranks of online leaderboards. Ok, so the 'powers that be' have spliced human DNA with animals, and now they've gone apeshit but self-contained in Texas for you to remove. You're dropped into random stages with a selection of three characters and have equally random tasks such as rescuing hostages, building combos, killing plenty of baddies, and defeating elites. Complete your task, and you're propelled to the next stage with a tidy points bonus to contribute to your overall score.

As Damikira is a twin-stick shooter, the control setup is easy to understand. Pressing R2 and a direction will shoot in that direction, or if you require some assistance, hold R1, and it'll automatically target enemies. There's a caveat to this. For a few runs, I opted for the auto-aim only to find that it meant the innocent killings of hostages, but more importantly, it affected my swinging ability. Before you move the cursor to that little 'x' in the browser, not that swinging.

Here's The Hook

Like a certain mutt, your Damikira heroes have access to a grappling hook that launches them to overhead platforms, helping to evade crowds and gain some momentum when chasing hostages. Using the auto-aim is somewhat lacking when choosing where to latch onto with the grappling hook. That's a reasonable enough incentive not to use the auto-aim in Damikira, but more so because twin-stick shooters must be played with two sticks. That's the point of the game: no excuses. Besides, the auto-aim doesn't make the game any easier.

It's pretty cliche to say, 'easy to play but tough to master,' but that's a fair description. And, with countless bodies left (including my own heroes), I'm far from a master, though I seem to have got it. The nature of this fast and furious gameplay means that you'll want to play another run immediately after dying. To exit the game requires an extra step that takes effort (pressing another button), so you're effectively coaxed into playing again. It takes a little arm twisting.

Chimaera A River

Animal hybrids will swarm your hero (or heroes if playing a two-player), and you'll greet them with shotguns, rapid-fire machine guns and ricocheting bullets, then turn them into a pulpy, bloody mess. Damikira is a gory game, but with all the cute characters, it makes it acceptable. Well, that's what the developers Brain-dead Rabbit Games might tell their therapists. Despite the somewhat repetitive yet enjoyable gameplay, there's lots to see and do for all the family.

Each of the characters has theirsty le and associated one-liners. Not that you'd hear what they say as there's so much going on; the only thing I regularly noticed were the hostages calling for help and then thanking me or the in-game operator shouting some expletive because I've topped another innocent. Other than a two-player mode, there are no extras besides some hats. They're purely cosmetic, though an excellent little addition for customising their look. The real cherry on top is that online leaderboard, the digital carrot dangling to make you a better killer, person, and owner of hi-scores, thus bragging rights. And yes, I made it to numero uno, unlocked the platinum, and, therefore, the conqueror of worlds.

Damikira is an entertaining action game that is great in short bursts, pun unintended, and good fun with another player, pending you can see and hear what you are doing. The lack of features and not-so-clear benefits of each character takes the edge off a bit, though once you get the hang of that grappling hook, Damikira is worth persisting with to obtain the best score on the planet.