Dandara ($3.99) from Long Hat House and Raw Fury is one of the best metroidvania games on the App Store, and back when it initially launched just over a year ago it was noteworthy for doing what most multi-platform games with a mobile version don’t do: Complete parity across platforms. That meant that Dandara on mobile launched with the same content, on the same day, and most shockingly at the same price as on all other platforms. Even more shocking was that its regular price was $14.99, even on mobile. A pretty bold move if I’ve ever seen one, but the experience of Dandara actually backed up its relatively high-by-mobile-standards price. Well, it was a good run, but after being on mobile for over a year Long Hat House has decided to permanently drop the price of Dandara on mobile to something that’s a little more in line with other premium games on the platform, down to just $5.99.
Like a lot of the premium experiences on mobile though, Dandara offers a healthy amount of content and gameplay for its relatively low admission price. This is a metroidvania so expect to make your way through a big open world map acquiring new abilities as you go which subsequently allow you to explore previously inaccessible areas. Dandara does a couple of things pretty differently than most metroidvanias, though. For one, gravity is almost non-existent and the world can twist and turn at a moment’s notice meaning that you’ll have to pay close attention to tell up from down. This ends up working though due to Dandara’s other unique feature, its movement. Your character is able to stick to surfaces and sort of slingshot herself around, and while it takes a bit of getting used to it won’t be long before you’re shooting around the game like an acrobat. It’s incredibly satisfying. You can read even more about our thoughts on Dandara in our original review, but if you’ve slept on this one thus far now is a great time to dive in with this new permanent price drop.
Too bad you didn’t mention it was 3.99 a couple of days ago, I guess that wasn’t newsworthy. If anyone is interested and waited this long, you might as well wait for the next sale at this point since it won’t get any more expensive.
I got it on sale recently and it is by far the best Metroidvania I’ve ever played on mobile. Fun, challenging and tons of content. Not to mention a great visual style and kickass music.
Would you say it's TOO challenging? I tend to stop playing mobile games with frustration levels that go much above a very low bar.
The mechanics are straightforward and easy to learn but like any Metroidvania, the deeper you go into the map the harder it gets. Frustrating? I haven't reach a 'part' where it frustrates me per-say but the definitely it gets harder and it'll really test your reflexes. Oh, and you'll die a lot. You can technically recover your dead body and your loot/gold but if you fail to do so you lose everything, adds a level of tension, especially if you died in a hard to access area or just manage to die before you get there. You always have to think whether to use the acquired gold to go back to camp and use it to upgrade abilities or buy new ones or push forward for greater rewards. If you find this kind of loop appealing by all means get this game. It's overall really fun!
I'm failing to see the resemblance to anything Metroid or Castlevania, other than pixelation and the side view. Is that all it takes these days?
the label metroidvania is about huge maps with interconnected areas that you gain access after acquiring upgrades or new powers/moves. pixelation or side view has nothing to do with it (we alreay have 3D or even first-person metroidvanias)
I think that it has to do with the experience that someone have when playing for example a Metroid game that it is understandable that someone expect a similar kind of gameplay when others saying it’s a Metroid/Castlevania kinda game its all in what someone expect from a Metroidvania game. https://media0.giphy.com/me...