Daily Dadish [Switch] Review – Vegetable Patch-y?

Reviewing a game which drip feeds you daily content across a whole year is perhaps a fool’s errand – but with Daily Dadish we’ll attempt it nonetheless. Even though we’ve not even played a third of it, technically.

This is the fourth entry in the Dadish universe, but the fundamental ‘plot’ is the same. You play as a father who’s trying to round up his errant children, but you also happen to be a radish. Hence the portmanteau ‘Dadish.’

To rescue these young vegetables you have to complete linear 2D stages filled with various obstacles and enemies – with most of these foes fast food related.

This is a little different to the previous three titles – as those were all pretty standard linear 2D platformers that saw you progress through roughly 50-60 stages and a range of bosses at the end of each world.

Dadish has always had a simple appeal, with sharp visuals that pair perfectly with responsive controls. Dadish can’t attack, but he can double jump – and this mechanic is used in a range of massively satisfying ways.

Daily Dadish is no different. You get just one level a day to complete, and that’s it. There’s a star up for grabs each day if you complete it quickly enough, and these can be used to unlock new playable characters.

The stages vary in terms of location – all taken from previous entries in the series – and are usually very short. If you don’t die they’re often over in around 30 seconds.

Thing is, you will die – as there are some brutal challenges served up at times, and one hit is all it takes for Danish to go to the great vegetable patch in the sky. It is random, but some days are much harder than others.

The stages are largely on par with previous Dadish games. However, the randomness may have made them slightly less impressive. 

It is disappointing that so few people try to capitalize on specific holidays, events or celebrations.

On Valentine’s Day we were expecting a stage flooded with the lovestruck cupcakes that chase you for instance – but none were to be seen.

There are also few special events that can explain the dialogue between Dadish, his child and his rescuer at the end each stage. 

It’s odd as the effort put into creating 366 levels (the leap year day has not been forgotten, we’re told) has clearly been gargantuan for indie developer Thomas K. Young – so not to go a small step further in this regard is a little surprising.

Ultimately Daily Dadish is a must buy for long-term fans though, and offers some enjoyable if hardly revolutionary platforming fun – in very small daily doses.