Demon Turf: Neon Splash Review (Switch)

At least we don’t have to travel far if we want to take a vacation.

I have to be honest, and well I’m sure you can tell since I don’t have a review posted about it, but I have not played Demon Turf. I wanted to, well still want to, play it but I haven’t really gotten around to purchasing it let alone playing it. SO it might be weird to see that I played and now reviewing the semi-sequel, but standalone Demon Turf game that just released. So I guess you can say that this is from the perspective of someone that has this as their first Demon Turf game.

While Neon Splash does take place sometime after the ending of Demon Turf, it doesn’t seem like you really need to know much about the story to play this game. It’s pretty obvious Beebz would defeat the Demon King at the end and while her two friends, Midgi and Luci, are here they don’t have much focus on them enough to say that you need to know their previous history (as their lines are mainly telling you about gameplay related stuff). Anyway, one day after defeating the Demon King, Midgi, Luci, and Beebz finds a strange blank painting that is just randomly floating at the end of the hallway (and crooked might I add). After touching it, they are all suddenly trasnported into a beach area and confirm that they must be inside the painting. And well, that’s the gist of it as all the different levels you’ll be completing are housed within these strange paintings.

Each level will put Beebz at the start and all you have in front of you is what can amount to an obstacle course. Each level has it’s own theme as well, which is fun as you go from a relaxing (or well relaxing enough) beach area to a subway station. The only thing you have to do is make your way to the end, but that’s easier said than done. You have a constant threat of water that Beebz can fall into if you run off a platform or don’t make a jump as well as various hazards that will put Beebz out as she can only take one hit. To traverse the level, Beebz has her regular jumps (which can go up to a triple jump), a spin which lets you go a bit more distance while also slowly spinning down as long as you hold it down, a rollout move which will turn you into basically a snake wheel that lets you go fast, and a glide dash which turns you into a bird and lets you dash between platforms or through the only safe hole in a hazardous wall. These moves will help you make it to the end, and while you can do all these from the get go, the game does introduce you to these and in situations where you need to use them. You also can get into learning how to use them in the most effective way possible to get through the level quicker, like the super jump (a combination of the spin and jump) that you’re taught. The levels can be pretty face paced once you get used to the controls and start experimenting more.

If Beebz happen to die, she will respawn at her flag which there is always one at the start of the level. Though, you can set down a second flag any time you’re at a regular platform just so you don’t have to start all the way at the beginning (well unless you want to) or do a section that you had a lot of trouble with.

Throughout the level, you can also collect 80 lollipops in every level that are scattered around that are either flying or chilling out (sometimes literally) which you can put into buying mods that can give you an extra leg up (like an extra hit before you die) and a vinyl record hidden somewhere within the level that will unlock a remix level (and there is one for each level apart from the last one). These remix levels don’t have any collectibles, only you against the level, but I do like these remixes as they do give you quite the challenge. Plus it was nice to see how the same level could be remade. And while you don’t have to race against the clock if you don’t have to, you can get a trophy for that level depending on your time.

One aspect on the original Demon Turf game I saw being criticized and not liked was the combat and that was completely taken out of Neon Splash. I can’t personally say my thoughts on the combat, but I do like how this is purely just a platformer where you can race against the clock if you choose to.

There is definitely a learning curve here as well, though it might have been steeper for me since I don’t have any familiarity with how the controls are with Demon Turf before jumping into Neon Splash. It took me the whole time I was in the first level (and some in the second) to get used to how Beebz handled as she seemed way too…slippery I guess you could say. I do recommend sticking with Neon Splash if you find yourself having trouble with how Beebz handles though. The way Beebz handles is frustrating at the beginning, but it’s the type that you’ll learn how to handle and suddenly you’re playing like you never had any difficulties rather than the type where you struggle the whole time.

Verdict

I’d have to say that I had fun playing Demon Turf: Neon Splash. While I did have the initial struggle at the beginning as I tried to get used to how Beebz controlled, I ended up enjoying going through all of the levels, finding all of the lollipops and vinyl records, and dreaming about getting a good enough time score (I know my limits lol). If you loved Demon Turf and want more levels that specifically focuses on platforming, or maybe you haven’t played Demon Turf yet but want to get a taste of at least the platforming for a fifth of the price, Demon Turf: Neon Splash is a steal.