Donut Dodo is an arcade-style single-screen platformer in the vein of games like Donkey Kong and Popeye. It was developed by Pixel Games and is published by Flynn’s Arcade.
Donut Dodo looks and plays like it’s fallen to 2022 from the early 1980s in an alternate universe.
As with Donkey Kong, the titular Dodo is the main baddie. He sits atop the screen guarding a giant donut.
Donut Dodo is beautifully presented, with stunning colourful, characterful graphics and a border consisting of arcade bezel artwork, as if Donut Dodo really was an arcade conversion. The border means the game plays in 4:3, adding extra arcade authenticity.
You play the baker and to complete each level, you must retrieve your giant donut from the Dodo. To do this, you must first collect smaller donuts, which the Dodo has scattered throughout the level, collecting every small donut will make the giant donut flash, unlocking it.
Donut Dodo requires forward planning and quick reflexes to avoid the baddies, most of whom can’t be jumped over. And if you’re of a certain vintage, the toilet baddies will inevitably bring Jet Set Willy to mind, while the collectible fruit recalls Pacman.
In keeping with the 1980s style, Donut Dodo is as rock-hard as month-old donuts, but it’s rarely unfair, and it’s as addictive as snacking on a box of donuts, always demanding “one more go”. Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security by the “Easy-Medium” difficulty level! It’s never easy! Completing Easy-Medium unlocks Medium-Hard mode, and completing Medium-Hard unlocks speedrun mode (good luck with that!)
If Donut Dodo is from an alternate early 1980s, we’d love a sequel from an alternate early 1990s, when the likes of Rodland and Parasol Stars ruled the platforming roost. How about it, Pixel?
Donut Dodo is old-school performing perfection, combining old-school graphics and level design (and difficulty) with slick contemporary gameplay, making for a gaming experience that has the unmistakable delicious taste of nostalgia while also feeling as fresh as hot donuts.
