Description:
The dash has become a staple of gaming almost as much as the double jump and there are games based entirely around short fast movements like in Dash Masters. It drops you into a futuristic world where the only direction you can go is up. This is quite literal since the characters you guide are trapped in a long and tall metal shaft that only stretches vertically. They have the technology to keep dashing and climbing up the shaft, but that doesn't mean that they won't be faced with plenty of dangers to stop their ascent.
We like to see our characters move in ways that show and feel like they're making progress or reaching for something greater. Since this game, little have you boosting and bouncing onwards and upwards, that feeling is present. It'll throw plenty at you so that you feel that you've earned all the progress that you've made and provide you with items and rewards to encourage you to keep going or to try again when you fall. The missions differ from each other, but the real goal is to see how far you can go in each one that you undertake.
Instructions:
Dash Master is a 2.5D vertical platform game that is controlled with either the mouse or the keyboard. The keyboard is recommended for convenience and response time. Press the Spacebar to have your hero do a little hop either left or right upwards which alternates automatically and press the Up Arrow to dash straight upwards a short distance. The goal is to complete the mission objective while still trying to get as high as you can.
As your hero moves up the shaft, they'll encounter robots blocking their way. These robots can be destroyed by dashing up into them or destroying them with missiles. They can also be avoided by hopping around them. As you get higher, you'll encounter boss robots that block your way forward and require multiple hits to destroy. Each robot you defeat will earn you a few coins.
Both dashing and missiles have their own limitations. Missiles fire automatically, are unlimited, and home in on the nearest target, but take time to reload. Dashing consumes energy which is represented by a Lightning Bolt counter on the left side of the screen. One dash costs one bolt but can be refilled by collecting them in the shaft. You also have a health counter in the top right corner represented by hearts and when those run out, you'll need to restart or spend Power Cells to keep going. Hopping and using boost pads will let you ascend without expending resources.
The biggest threat is a horizontal orange laser that slowly moves up behind you. If it touches you, you'll be knocked out and you'll have to restart. The good news is that you can use the coins you get during and from completing missions to buy upgrades that improve your Health counter, your Energy counter, your Missile Reload speed, and your Coin Magnet. At the start of each run, you can also spend coins on boosters like shields and increased dash power.
Tips and Tricks
Since hopping is the only free movement that you have, you need to use it rhythmically while managing your timing to maneuver upcoming obstacles. However, you want to make sure not to slow down as the laser chasing you moves much faster than you realize.
Game Details
Developer: Playmous
Platforms: Web Browser (PC and mobile), iOS, and Android
Languages: English, French, Italian, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Russian
Categories:
Sports