Derrick the Deathfin

8.1 Overall Score
Gameplay: 8/10
Presentation: 9/10
Content: 7/10

Fun and exciting gameplay | Effective visuals using papercraft

Levels are a little short | Tough to control at times

Derrick the Deathfin has just dived right into the majestic blue waters of the Playstation Network thanks to the developer, Different Tuna.  And in this case, the game has papercraft as the main theme.  What an interesting and unique concept to incorporate in a game!

You play as a shark, named Derrick obviously, who will be eating up everything in plain sight, that’s edible to him, that is.  And along the way, you’ll need to navigate through obstacles, mazes, and even face your predators.  One thing to note is the fact that Derrick the Deathfin is meant to be played solely in a single-player session.  The game plays out as a 2D platformer with all action and very little plot.  But that’s what makes Derrick the Deathfin the type that’s appropriate for gamers who just want to “dive” right in.

When you start this game up, you’ll notice right away the visual setup.  To be specific, the entire graphical style behind Derrick the Deathfin is guided by the use of papercraft, which makes it very appealing and friendly for children, especially when you consider how the characters themselves have a cartoon look.  Furthermore, the underwater environment is pleasing to the eyes because of the various colors that keep the overall appearance absolutely marvelous.

Once you get Derrick swimming around, you’ll need to make sure that he is well-fed.  On top of the screen is a life meter that keeps on depleting but gets replenished whenever you chomp on little fishes and lobsters.  You’ll be able to make leaps out of the ocean and eat humans as well.  There are also chili peppers that help you get that jolt in speed and diamonds that you can collect to gain access to new areas.  These aspects are what make Derrick the Deathfin a hoot to play.  Different Tuna definitely demonstrates a good sense of humor when you count the number of moments that either bring a smile to your face or have you bursting in laughter.

 

However, you’re not just filling up his stomach for the entire game.  You can get rewarded for jumping through flaming tires.  And you can always return to the levels you completed and try to get a better score and time. In addition, there are boss battles to engage in, in which case the adversary will be offering further challenges for the players to face.

The levels themselves are pretty short as they take a matter of a few minutes to complete.  So while the gameplay is simplistic, the enjoyment factor can be short-lived.  Luckily, there are at least 30 levels spanning across four different continents, thereby adding variety and freshness to the gaming experience.

When minor complaint one may have with Derrick the Deathfin is the fact that the controls aren’t necessarily the easiest to handle.  Don’t get me wrong.  It’s easy to figure out and play right away with the left analog stick being responsible for movement, the R2 for speed, and the one face button to allow Derrick to eat.  However, the controls seem to lack a certain degree of precision and.  If you’re just playing to complete a level, you shouldn’t find any issues.  But it’s when you are trying to complete a level to get a better time that you’ll notice Derrick bumping against walls and obstructions, which can add frustration.

You can find Derrick the Deathfin swimming inside the Playstation Network and waiting to chomp down on your $7.99.  At the end of the day, the game has cuteness and charm written all over.  The length of the levels can be viewed to players as too short.  On the other hand, it also helps to keep the game fresh and easy to play.  Nevertheless, the simplistic gameplay and humorous content is what keeps Derrick the Deathfin breathing underwater here.

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Author: jflux98 View all posts by
I am a hardcore gaming enthusiast for the Playstation 3, Vita, and Nintendo 3DS. My passion is to share my opinions and experience with the online community as well as help them find that special game. You can contact me via twitter @jflux98 or email me at jflux98@jggh.net.