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Remember when platformers had that perfect mix of charm and challenge? When pixelated heroes had real personality and every jump felt earned? That’s exactly what developer The Dude Games is aiming to bring back with Dinopunk: The Cacops Adventure, and honestly, it’s about time.
You play as Cacops, a small amphibious dinosaur living in a world that feels like the 80s had a baby with Jurassic Park. Picture this: evil ninjas have stolen your egg, and you’ve got to get it back using nothing but your wits, jumping skills, and a pretty cool water-controlling power. Yeah, water control. Not your typical platformer gimmick, and that’s what makes it interesting.
The water mechanic actually works better than you’d expect. You can shoot water projectiles at enemies, heal yourself when you find water sources, and even refill your “ammo” by jumping into ponds or smashing fire hydrants. It adds this strategic layer where you’re constantly thinking about resource management instead of just running and jumping mindlessly. Plus, when your water runs out, you can’t just button-mash your way through – you need to find more, which keeps things engaging.
Cacops rocks a stylish red Hawaiian shirt that screams surfer vibes, and the whole aesthetic feels like a love letter to Saturday morning cartoons from decades past. The developers clearly know their retro gaming history – you’ll spot nods to Wonder Boy, Alex Kidd, and even Contra if you’re paying attention.
The level design feels familiar but not stale. You’ve got your standard beach and city environments, but they’re packed with secrets and little details that make exploration worthwhile. Coins are scattered everywhere, and there’s actually a shop system where you can upgrade your abilities. It’s not revolutionary, but it works well within the classic framework.
Oh, did I mention there is a surfing minigame? It’s pure California Games nostalgia, complete with style points for aerial tricks and obstacles to dodge. It’s the kind of bonus content that shows the developers get what made old-school games special – those random diversions that broke up the main action without feeling tacked on.
The boss battles look promising too. The demo included a straightforward but fun encounter with a knife-throwing antagonist who follows classic attack patterns. You study the rhythm, dodge projectiles, and fire back when you get openings. It’s simple but satisfying, and it makes me curious about what other boss designs they have planned.
Here’s what I’m hoping to see in the full release: more variety in the water abilities (maybe different types of projectiles or environmental interactions), additional minigames beyond surfing, and some deeper exploration elements. The foundation is solid, but there’s room to expand on what makes this game unique compared to other retro-inspired platformers on the market.
The pixel art is genuinely beautiful, albeit simple. The animation feels smooth, the color palette pops without being garish, and everything has that crisp 16-bit quality that modern displays can really showcase. The soundtrack hits those nostalgic notes without feeling like a cheap imitation.
If you grew up with a Game Boy or SNES controller in your hands, Dinopunk is going to feel like coming home. But it’s not just banking on nostalgia – the water mechanics and surfing elements give it enough personality to stand on its own merits. The developer, Javi from The Dude Games, is clearly passionate about the project, and that enthusiasm shows in every pixel.
The game’s launching later this year on PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. There’s a demo available during Steam Next Fest if you want to try it yourself, and honestly, you should. It’s the kind of platformer that reminds you why the genre was so popular in the first place. Pure, uncomplicated fun with just enough depth to keep you invested.
Sometimes the best games are the ones that don’t try to reinvent everything. Dinopunk takes what worked about classic platformers, adds its own twist with the water mechanics, and wraps it all in a package that feels both familiar and fresh. That’s harder to pull off than it sounds.
The demo for Dinopunk: the Cacops adventure is expected to drop during the upcoming Steam Next Fest.
