Bloody Hell, Arc System Works Just Made a Demon King and a Toddler My New Favourite Power Couple in *Damon and Baby*
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Arc System Works, usually known for fighting games, is venturing into the twin-stick shooter genre with *Damon and Baby*, a delightfully chaotic retro throwback where you play as an exiled demon king protecting a resilient toddler – who you can *launch* for traversal, naturally. Polygon's Jen Glennon previewed the game, finding its initially tough tutorial leads to a rewarding blend of fast-paced gunplay, deep progression, and wonderfully weird exploration, making it a surprisingly brilliant experience.
Right, so usually when you're kicking the bucket repeatedly in a game's tutorial, it's a sign you're in for a bad time, yeah? Like when my spell to summon a cup of tea accidentally brought forth a mischievous imp instead. You start wondering if you've stumbled into some cursed catacombs rather than a fun new adventure.
But Jen Glennon, over at Polygon, just previewed something truly bonkers that flips that whole idea on its head: Arc System Works' *Damon and Baby*. And fair dinkum, Jen reckons it's not just good – it's a 'devilishly good retro throwback' that’s breathing some serious new life into the often-neglected twin-stick shooter genre. Now, Arc System Works, you might know them for their ridiculously flashy fighting games like *Guilty Gear* or *BlazBlue*. So, seeing them tackle a top-down shooter with a demon king and a toddler? My curiosity meter just went off the charts, like a magical compass pointing to a particularly shiny, chaotic treasure.
Imagine this: you're playing as Damon, an exiled demon king, on a quest to find his way home and reclaim his powers. Standard stuff for a demonic protagonist, right? But here's the kicker – he's got a wee human girl, 'Baby', perched on his shoulder. And no, she's not just for moral support or a cute accessory; she's instrumental to your traversal. Jen's preview highlights a mechanic where you 'launch the child' to perform double-jumps or zip across chasms at right angles. Let that sink in for a moment. *You launch the child*. Sounds utterly mad, doesn't it? But apparently, she's a 'very resilient toddler', so no need to call social services just yet. You know that feeling when you try a risky manoeuvre in a game, something you're sure will break the physics engine, and it just *works*? That's the vibe I'm getting from this, like accidentally discovering a new spell by combining two unrelated ingredients. Pure, unadulterated chaotic brilliance.
Now, Damon starts off feeling a bit like a low-level wizard who forgot his spellbook. You're squishy, enemies are tough, and leaving yourself open means a quick trip to the 'Game Over' screen. Jen definitely had a few flubbed attempts getting the hang of things in the early cavern-based tutorial. But that’s where the magic starts to unfold. As you progress, Damon levels up, gaining skill points to beef up his health, defence, attack power, and proficiency with various firearms. It's got that lovely RPG progression loop that makes you feel genuinely more powerful with every enemy you dispatch.
Speaking of dispatching enemies, the twin-stick gunplay sounds like it hits a sweet spot. Initially, Jen struggled a bit, trying for sniper-like precision. But then came the revelation: *Damon and Baby* isn't about pinpoint accuracy. It's about moving fast, hitting hard, and embracing the glorious chaos. Better yet, if you smack an enemy with a melee attack, your guns automatically lock on, encouraging you to get up close and personal. None of that fiddling about with aim when you're deep in a skirmish – just good old hit-hard-and-move-fast chaos. Tutorials, bless 'em, can sometimes feel like that mandatory 'read the ancient tome' quest before you get to the good stuff. But Jen's experience suggests this one is absolutely vital for getting into the groove of Damon's particular brand of mayhem.
The demo then threw Jen into a mid-game save, and oh, what a difference a few levels make! Her level 20-ish Damon was a veritable powerhouse, sporting more heart containers and an expanded arsenal that sounds like it came straight out of a fantastical armory: machine guns, sniper rifles, and rocket launchers. The game seems pretty flexible with character building too, allowing you to dump skill points into abilities you favour, which is always a bonus for us experimental types. Why be a jack-of-all-trades when you can be a master of elemental devastation, eh?
And the setting? From gloomy caverns to a swanky suburban mansion, complete with parked cars and patio furniture! Now *that's* a genre twist I can get behind. Sounds like something straight out of a cursed antique shop. This later section not only ramped up the enemy challenge but also offered a lot more on the exploration front. Think nooks and crannies, cabinets that need snooping through to find keys, and even cupboards that sprout bulging eyes and fangs to chase you down the hall! It just reinforces the brilliantly bonkers charm of the game's enemy and environmental design. Who knew a kitchen cupboard could be so terrifying? Probably me, after an experimental cooking spell went awry.
Jen's time with *Damon and Baby* flew by, leaving her eager for more, and honestly, reading about it has me buzzing like a freshly cast lightning bolt. It blends modern comforts like skill trees and fast travel with that classic retro feel, conjuring up memories of *Zombies Ate My Neighbors* on the SNES. And for those of us who love a bit of shared digital wizardry, it's got a two-player co-op mode. Imagine the delightful pandemonium of 'launching the child' with a mate! Arc System Works is bringing this devilishly delightful shooter to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows PC via Steam, though we're still waiting for a release date.
Huge thanks to Jen Glennon over at Polygon for giving us this early peek into what looks like an absolute belter of a game. You can check out her original insights right here.
Tags: Twin-Stick Shooter, Retro Gaming, Arc System Works, Indie Game, Action-RPG
Original article: Polygon