Eight arms and all heart
By Paul Hunter
A UFO yanking an octopus out of the ocean and dropping him in a junkyard sounds like a ridiculous setup, but Darwin's Paradox! on PS5 makes it work in a big way. ZDT Studio and Konami's 2.5D precision platformer puts you in control of Darwin, a young octopus trapped inside a massive industrial complex, using his natural octopus abilities to survive and find his way back to the ocean.
I loved this game. It plays like an animated movie, and Darwin is so likeable that I was rooting for him from the opening scene.
What makes Darwin's Paradox! such a fun platforming game? Let's dive in and find out!
The factory turns out to be run by UFood, a food corporation that's actually a front for an alien world domination operation. Once that becomes clear, Darwin stops trying to just get home and starts attempting to burn the whole thing down. I was completely on board with that decision after seeing just how elaborate this alien takeover scheme was. Darwin moves through factory floors, military grounds, labs, and sewer networks, and the more ground he covers, the worse UFood's plan turns out to be.
Here's the thing about Darwin's Paradox! though. Darwin never says a word. Not once. And yet I was completely enamoured by him because his animations and expressions carry everything. Often times silent protagonists can come off as a little dull, but not in this game. Darwin is full of personality and extremely likeable as a result, and I couldn't wait for the next mini cutscene just to see more of his funny expressions. Also adding flavour to the story are poster collectibles scattered through the levels that provide extra world details if you care to read them. Steven the Seagull, a recurring aerial threat who seems to have made Darwin's suffering his entire personality, is a standout antagonist. So too are the factory workers with their floppy arms and absurd tin can human faces that look fake from a mile away.
All considered, Darwin's Paradox! tells a genuinely loveable tale through animation and environmental storytelling alone, and it earns every bit of the emotional payoff at the end.
That starts with surface-sticking, his Gex-like ability to grip and climb walls and ceilings. The levels are built around it, with exits just as often being a grate or hole in the ceiling as they are a regular door to walk through. You have to watch out though for the pools of green ooze that complicate things by stripping the wall stick ability in certain sections, leaving Darwin too slippery to grab onto anything. Fortunately, the same ooze coats Darwin in a green glow that not only lets you see in dark areas, but also repels rats ready to devour poor Darwin. Water sections let Darwin cover ground quickly via Swim Dash, a speed burst that accelerates him through water, which is a nice contrast to the more careful pace on land.
A bit further into the adventure and you'll unlock Darwin's stealth abilities, as the game leans into it's Metal Gear influence. Firstly, the camouflage ability turns Darwin invisible on a button hold but stops him from moving, so working it around patrol routes and enemy vision cones takes patience and attention. Secondly, the ink jet lets Darwin blind guards, hit distant switches, knock objects loose to create distractions, and get past security cameras. While underwater, the ink jet disperses into a large ink circle that lets you avoid detection and escape tricky situation. Darwin can also use grapple points to slingshot himself higher, and touching an air exhaust inflates Darwin into a balloon for reaching higher spots.
A hint button is frequently available but gives fairly general guidance, however, it's usually enough to get you through to the next section. And on the plus side, checkpoints are frequent so you won't need to redo large sections.
All considered, Darwin's Paradox! is a demanding platformer that takes its difficulty seriously and backs it up with great gameplay and level design throughout.
Smoke stacks. whirling machines, military drills and blaring factory sirens fill the backdrop and reinforce that nowhere is safe for Darwin. I loved how the backgrounds also slip in moments of alien absurdity, with guards and workers doing ridiculous things in the distance while Darwin is supposed to be focused on surviving. There's also plenty of hilarious signage, like step-by-step instructions on a chalkboard showing how the aliens plan to take over the world, that give more silliness to the story.
The cinematic cutscenes are superb, too, featuring a cartoony style and are frequently hilarious. Even Darwin's death animations are comically expressive, and I appreciated the game going all-in on that humour. That extends to the memorable alien character design, which is robotic and silly in their suits and genuinely bizarre without them.
Turning our attention to audio, the soundtrack keeps the stealth atmosphere lighthearted with groovy aquatic-themed music including the catchy “Back to the Sea” title song written and produced by French musical producer Franck Lascombe of the indie-pop group FlyPop. Ambient audio from electrical hazards, rats, heavy machinery, and alien chatter makes the world feel dangerous at all times. Performance on PS5 ran smooth across the entire playthrough, and load times are minimal.
All considered, Darwin's Paradox! delivers strong visual presentation, excellent audio design, and crisp PS5 performance that holds up from start to finish.
Final Score: 7.5/10 - Good
Developer: ZDT Studio
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Platformer
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
A UFO yanking an octopus out of the ocean and dropping him in a junkyard sounds like a ridiculous setup, but Darwin's Paradox! on PS5 makes it work in a big way. ZDT Studio and Konami's 2.5D precision platformer puts you in control of Darwin, a young octopus trapped inside a massive industrial complex, using his natural octopus abilities to survive and find his way back to the ocean.
I loved this game. It plays like an animated movie, and Darwin is so likeable that I was rooting for him from the opening scene.
What makes Darwin's Paradox! such a fun platforming game? Let's dive in and find out!
Story and Narrative
Darwin is having an objectively terrible day. Not only has a mysterious beam of light teared him from the ocean and dropped him in a hostile factory, he's also been separated from another octopus he deeply cares about. It's a surprising and sad start, but it's told in a charming and funny way almost like what you'd expect from a Pixar movie.The factory turns out to be run by UFood, a food corporation that's actually a front for an alien world domination operation. Once that becomes clear, Darwin stops trying to just get home and starts attempting to burn the whole thing down. I was completely on board with that decision after seeing just how elaborate this alien takeover scheme was. Darwin moves through factory floors, military grounds, labs, and sewer networks, and the more ground he covers, the worse UFood's plan turns out to be.
Here's the thing about Darwin's Paradox! though. Darwin never says a word. Not once. And yet I was completely enamoured by him because his animations and expressions carry everything. Often times silent protagonists can come off as a little dull, but not in this game. Darwin is full of personality and extremely likeable as a result, and I couldn't wait for the next mini cutscene just to see more of his funny expressions. Also adding flavour to the story are poster collectibles scattered through the levels that provide extra world details if you care to read them. Steven the Seagull, a recurring aerial threat who seems to have made Darwin's suffering his entire personality, is a standout antagonist. So too are the factory workers with their floppy arms and absurd tin can human faces that look fake from a mile away.
All considered, Darwin's Paradox! tells a genuinely loveable tale through animation and environmental storytelling alone, and it earns every bit of the emotional payoff at the end.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Darwin's Paradox! is tougher than the charming octopus character would have you believe. The precision-based platforming demands exact timing, and the levels are designed to make sure you use every tool Darwin has.That starts with surface-sticking, his Gex-like ability to grip and climb walls and ceilings. The levels are built around it, with exits just as often being a grate or hole in the ceiling as they are a regular door to walk through. You have to watch out though for the pools of green ooze that complicate things by stripping the wall stick ability in certain sections, leaving Darwin too slippery to grab onto anything. Fortunately, the same ooze coats Darwin in a green glow that not only lets you see in dark areas, but also repels rats ready to devour poor Darwin. Water sections let Darwin cover ground quickly via Swim Dash, a speed burst that accelerates him through water, which is a nice contrast to the more careful pace on land.
A bit further into the adventure and you'll unlock Darwin's stealth abilities, as the game leans into it's Metal Gear influence. Firstly, the camouflage ability turns Darwin invisible on a button hold but stops him from moving, so working it around patrol routes and enemy vision cones takes patience and attention. Secondly, the ink jet lets Darwin blind guards, hit distant switches, knock objects loose to create distractions, and get past security cameras. While underwater, the ink jet disperses into a large ink circle that lets you avoid detection and escape tricky situation. Darwin can also use grapple points to slingshot himself higher, and touching an air exhaust inflates Darwin into a balloon for reaching higher spots.
A hint button is frequently available but gives fairly general guidance, however, it's usually enough to get you through to the next section. And on the plus side, checkpoints are frequent so you won't need to redo large sections.
All considered, Darwin's Paradox! is a demanding platformer that takes its difficulty seriously and backs it up with great gameplay and level design throughout.
Presentation and Audio
Darwin's Paradox! looks like DreamWorks or Pixar animated movie with beautiful 2.5D artwork across every level. Underwater sections look fantastic, with detailed environments and lighting that make Darwin's ocean home genuinely gorgeous. Industrial areas including junkyard stretches, factory floors, military grounds, office buildings, and sewer sections all have their own vibe, and the lighting brings everything to life with its excellent atmospheric mood setting.Smoke stacks. whirling machines, military drills and blaring factory sirens fill the backdrop and reinforce that nowhere is safe for Darwin. I loved how the backgrounds also slip in moments of alien absurdity, with guards and workers doing ridiculous things in the distance while Darwin is supposed to be focused on surviving. There's also plenty of hilarious signage, like step-by-step instructions on a chalkboard showing how the aliens plan to take over the world, that give more silliness to the story.
The cinematic cutscenes are superb, too, featuring a cartoony style and are frequently hilarious. Even Darwin's death animations are comically expressive, and I appreciated the game going all-in on that humour. That extends to the memorable alien character design, which is robotic and silly in their suits and genuinely bizarre without them.
Turning our attention to audio, the soundtrack keeps the stealth atmosphere lighthearted with groovy aquatic-themed music including the catchy “Back to the Sea” title song written and produced by French musical producer Franck Lascombe of the indie-pop group FlyPop. Ambient audio from electrical hazards, rats, heavy machinery, and alien chatter makes the world feel dangerous at all times. Performance on PS5 ran smooth across the entire playthrough, and load times are minimal.
All considered, Darwin's Paradox! delivers strong visual presentation, excellent audio design, and crisp PS5 performance that holds up from start to finish.
The Verdict
Darwin's Paradox! is a top-notch platformer on PS5. ZDT Studio delivers a debut title with a charming lead, great level design, and a presentation the quality of an animated movie. The expressive storytelling immediately hooks you in, and Darwin himself is impossible not to root for. It's short, but I loved every minute of this game.Final Score: 7.5/10 - Good
Darwin's Paradox! details
Platform: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch 2Developer: ZDT Studio
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Platformer
Modes: Single-player
A key was provided by the publisher.