Dual Force

Recommended — amazing art style, tactical combat, but the gameplay loop gets repetitive fast. I played the game for 7 hours. Solo, but I hope co-op will be added in the near future. The difficulty depends on the level and playstyle, but I think the game perfectly strikes the balance between casual and competitive. The art style is unique. There were some performance issues at the beginning, but fortunately they are being fixed quickly and continuously. The soundtrack is captivating and helps you immerse yourself in the gameplay. The gameplay is fast, methodical and rewarding — excellent for players who enjoy strategy and have quick reflexes. Pros Affordable Amazing art style Strong soundtrack Good controller support Cons Repetitive enemies and environment Occasional bugs It’s not perfect, but I kept thinking about it even when I wasn’t playing — and that says something.

平面的ながら鮮明でわかりやすいグラフィック。 強制スクロール中にジャンプ＆アタック＆アイテムタッチ入手というシンプルな内容と、 入力後キャラが動き出すまでの不快にならない範囲でのタイムラグ。操作ミスが生み出す失敗は大きい。 これらは「主体的にゲームをしている自分」を感じさせてくれる。古のフラッシュゲームなら上物だろう。 もちろんフラッシュゲームレベルだったら満足はできないだろうが、 キャラ強化の愉しみも用意されているので、繰り返しプレイすれば爽快感も増してゆくだろう。 しかし長くプレーするには少々薄味すぎる。個人的には、快感の有る攻撃サウンドを加えてくれたら繰り返し遊べると思う。

Love how this games makes you think in the beginning that it's simple, and then it gets pretty tricky. The audio, sounds and the characters can bring back many good childhood memories.

I hope this game brings as much joy and fun to everyone else as it has brought me, and that a really great and positive community will grow from this game and all the other games from the studio as well. :)

Dual Force is a fast and energetic 2D action game that combines arcade-style combat, roguelike progression systems, and cooperative gameplay into a colorful fantasy adventure focused entirely on momentum and replayability. Developed and published by Howling Beast Entertainment, the game embraces a straightforward design philosophy where combat, upgrades, and teamwork take center stage. Instead of attempting to deliver a massive narrative-driven experience, Dual Force focuses on creating satisfying combat encounters and repeatable runs that reward experimentation and persistence. The result is an indie action title that may lack polish in some areas but still offers a surprisingly enjoyable gameplay loop filled with chaotic battles and cooperative fun. The combat system is easily the strongest aspect of the experience. Players control heroes capable of chaining together melee attacks, abilities, and movement techniques while fighting through waves of enemies across fantasy-themed environments. Battles are designed around speed and aggression, encouraging players to stay mobile and constantly pressure opponents instead of playing defensively. The controls feel responsive enough to make combat satisfying, especially during larger encounters where positioning and timing become increasingly important. Enemy groups frequently surround the player, forcing quick reactions and constant movement to avoid becoming overwhelmed. The roguelike progression systems help give the game replay value beyond simple combat encounters. As players complete runs and defeat enemies, they unlock upgrades and improve their characters over time. These progression mechanics encourage experimentation with different playstyles and ability combinations, helping each session feel slightly different from the previous one. While the upgrade systems are not especially deep compared to larger roguelikes, they provide enough variety to keep the gameplay loop engaging over repeated runs. The steady flow of unlocks also creates a satisfying sense of long-term advancement that motivates players to continue improving. One of the game’s biggest strengths is its cooperative gameplay. Dual Force clearly feels designed with multiplayer in mind, and the experience becomes significantly more entertaining when played alongside another person. Local split-screen co-op allows players to coordinate attacks, revive teammates during difficult fights, and divide enemy attention during chaotic battles. The combat system benefits heavily from teamwork because the increased activity and coordination create much more dynamic encounters than solo play alone. While the game can still be enjoyable alone, cooperative sessions bring out the arcade spirit at the center of the experience. Visually, the game adopts a bright and stylized comic-book-inspired art direction that complements the exaggerated action nicely. Character animations are expressive during combat, and colorful ability effects help make battles feel energetic and impactful. The environments themselves are relatively simple, but the clean visual presentation works well because it keeps the action readable during crowded encounters. Rather than aiming for realism, the game embraces a playful fantasy aesthetic that gives it personality and separates it from darker action roguelikes. The soundtrack and audio design fit the fast-paced gameplay effectively. Combat sound effects provide enough impact to make attacks feel satisfying, while the upbeat music helps maintain momentum throughout long play sessions. The soundtrack itself may not be especially memorable outside the game, but it supports the energetic atmosphere consistently. Audio cues also help players react during chaotic fights, particularly when coordinating with another player in cooperative mode. One particularly admirable aspect of Dual Force is the passion behind the project. Howling Beast Entertainment has openly described the game as a long-term effort with ongoing plans for additional characters, updates, and content expansions. That sense of active development gives the game potential beyond its current form and makes the experience feel like the foundation of something larger. Considering this is the studio’s debut title, the ambition behind the project is noticeable throughout the game. At the same time, the indie limitations are difficult to ignore. Enemy variety becomes repetitive after several runs, and certain combat encounters begin to blend together once players become familiar with the available content. Some animations and environmental assets also lack refinement compared to larger action games. Difficulty balancing can occasionally feel uneven as well, with some encounters becoming unexpectedly punishing while others remain too easy. The game still feels like a project in active development rather than a fully polished release. The relatively small player community is another challenge. Since the game is still building an audience, multiplayer activity may feel limited for players hoping for a consistently active cooperative scene. This issue is especially important for a game that clearly shines brightest during multiplayer sessions. The long-term success of Dual Force will likely depend heavily on how much ongoing support and content the developers continue providing after launch. Despite these shortcomings, Dual Force succeeds because it understands the appeal of simple arcade action. It does not burden players with overly complicated mechanics or endless systems. Instead, it focuses on responsive combat, replay-driven progression, colorful visuals, and cooperative chaos. That straightforward approach gives the game an immediate pick-up-and-play quality that makes it easy to enjoy casually while still offering enough challenge to encourage repeated sessions. Dual Force ultimately feels like a promising indie action game built around satisfying combat and energetic multiplayer gameplay. While it still needs additional refinement, more content variety, and stronger balancing to fully realize its potential, the foundation already provides plenty of entertainment for fans of arcade-style roguelikes and cooperative beat ’em ups. Its fast pacing, accessible mechanics, and colorful presentation make it a fun and engaging experience, especially when shared with another player. Rating: 7/10