Odallus: The Dark Call

About Odallus: The Dark Call

Odallus: The Dark Call arrived in July 2015 from developer JoyMasher. This title targets fans of classic NES-era action but packs modern refinements into its design. You can play it on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch as a single-player experience. The story follows Haggis, a retired soldier forced back into combat after gods abandon humanity to chaos. Villages burn and families tear apart while power-hungry forces rise. You control Haggis through lush 2D environments filled with enemies and traps. The game draws heavy inspiration from titles like Ghosts'n Goblins and Demon's Crest yet adds new mechanics to keep things fresh. It is a pure platformer that respects the past without relying on it completely.

Gameplay

You move Haggis across side-scrolling levels using tight controls that demand precision. Combat involves timing your sword swings and dodging enemy attacks in real time. Puzzle elements require you to find keys or solve environmental riddles to unlock new paths. Each area hides secrets that challenge your exploration skills. The game features a health system where getting hit drains your vitality quickly, so you must learn enemy patterns fast. You will face bosses at the end of major zones that test your mastery of the mechanics. Visuals mimic 8-bit aesthetics with vibrant colors and fluid animations. Progression feels earned as you unlock new abilities to reach previously inaccessible areas. The difficulty spikes often force you to replay sections until you master them.

What Players Think

Critics rated this game an 80 on Metacritic, showing strong approval from reviewers. PlayPile data shows the community enjoys it with an average completion rate that reflects its challenging nature. Users report spending around 12 hours on a standard playthrough to see all content. The achievement system has 29 total trophies, though only 12.2% of players unlock them on average. The rarest trophy is Highlander, which just 1 percent of the community has earned. Reviews frequently mention the game's high difficulty as a defining trait that divides players. Some users praise the tight controls while others note the frustration of repeated deaths. Overall mood stays positive despite the harsh gameplay loop. People often recommend it to those who enjoy retro challenges without modern hand-holding.

PlayPile's Take

This title is worth your time if you want a tough platformer that respects your skill. At $4.99 on GOG, the price point makes it an easy buy for fans of the genre. The achievement count of 29 offers decent replay value even with low unlock rates. You should avoid this if you dislike dying repeatedly or prefer story-driven experiences over pure action. Haggis faces a brutal world where mistakes cost progress. The game delivers exactly what it promises without fluff or filler. Play it if you want to feel the satisfaction of beating something hard on your own terms.

Storyline

The old Gods have forsaken our people. In despair, we have fallen prey of those thirsty for power, human or otherwise. Villages were destroyed, children were slain and brother fought against brother. Living things that do not lust for power were reduced to a mere pursuit for survival. Haggis was once a soldier that has long abandoned the battlefield and now must take the sword once again to protect his loved ones.